Stewart, Minnesota Public Records

Stewart does not have its own municipal court; all violations of city ordinances are prosecuted in McLeod County District Court. Minnesota offers a statewide online court records search through the Minnesota Judicial Branch website at www.mncourts.gov/CourtRecordsOnline.aspx, where users can search for case information by party name, case number, or attorney. The system provides access to case summaries, party information, scheduled hearings, and case outcomes, though some records involving juveniles or sealed matters are not publicly accessible. Certified copies of court documents can be obtained from the McLeod County Court Administration office at the courthouse address above. The fee for a certified copy is typically $14 for the first page and $5 for each additional page, though fees are subject to change and users should verify current rates. Filing fees vary by case type: civil filing fees range from approximately $285 to $400 depending on the claim amount, small claims filing fees are approximately $75 to $85, and fees for certified copies of judgments and other documents are set by state statute. Remote appearance options and electronic filing through the Minnesota Court Electronic Filing System (eFS) are available for many case types.

Residents can search by property address, parcel ID number, or owner name. The McLeod County Recorder's Office, located at 520 Chandler Avenue North, Suite 2, Glencoe, MN 55336, phone (320) 864-1204, maintains the official records of all documents affecting real property in Stewart and throughout the county. These documents include warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, mortgages, satisfactions of mortgage, liens, easements, plat maps, and certificates of real estate value. The Recorder's website at www.co.mcleod.mn.us/recorder provides free online access to recorded documents dating back to the earliest county records. Users can search by name (grantor or grantee), document type, recording date, or legal description. Most documents can be viewed and printed at no charge, though certified copies require payment of statutory fees (currently $10 for the first page and $5 for each additional page). McLeod County also maintains a GIS (Geographic Information System) mapping portal accessible through the county website, which allows users to view parcel boundaries, aerial photography, zoning information, and other geographic data layers. The GIS system is particularly useful for viewing property boundaries and accessing detailed parcel information for properties in Stewart.

Local employers in Stewart include the city government, Stewart Public School (part of Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart School District 2159, which consolidated in 2009), the local grain elevator, and small businesses along Fourth Street including convenience stores and service providers. Many Stewart residents commute to larger employment centers including Hutchinson (approximately 15 miles northeast), Glencoe (10 miles northeast), and the Twin Cities metro area. The median household income in Stewart is estimated at approximately $55,000 to $65,000, somewhat lower than the Minnesota state average but consistent with other small rural communities in McLeod County. Recent years have seen gradual population decline, a trend common in rural Minnesota communities as younger residents migrate to urban areas for employment and educational opportunities. However, Stewart maintains a stable residential base with affordable housing attracting some families seeking small-town living within reasonable commuting distance of regional job centers. The city's economy benefits from its location along County Road 1, which provides access to State Highway 22 and other regional transportation routes. Agricultural services, retail trade, and education constitute the dominant employment sectors for Stewart residents, with healthcare and manufacturing providing additional employment through facilities in nearby Hutchinson and Glencoe.

Stewart does not operate its own municipal police department. Law enforcement services for Stewart and the surrounding area are provided by the McLeod County Sheriff's Office, located at 2135 14th Street East, Glencoe, MN 55336. The Sheriff's Office can be reached at (320) 864-5191, and their website is www.co.mcleod.mn.us/sheriff. The Sheriff's Office handles all calls for service in Stewart, including criminal investigations, traffic enforcement, and emergency response. Residents seeking police reports or incident records can submit requests in person at the Sheriff's Office or by contacting their records division during regular business hours. Under Minnesota Statutes Section 13.82, law enforcement data including arrest records and incident reports are generally public, though some data may be classified as private or confidential depending on the nature of the investigation and whether charges have been filed. Arrest and booking information for McLeod County is available through the Sheriff's Office jail roster, which can be accessed online at www.co.mcleod.mn.us/sheriff. The jail roster typically includes inmate names, booking dates, charges, bond amounts, and booking photographs when available. The McLeod County Jail, located adjacent to the Sheriff's Office in Glencoe, serves as the primary detention facility for arrestees from Stewart and throughout the county. To request specific law enforcement records under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13), residents should submit a written request to the McLeod County Sheriff's Office Records Division, specifying the type of record sought and the relevant dates or case numbers. Some records may require payment of copying fees as established by county policy.

Processing time is typically 3-4 weeks by mail or immediate for in-person requests. Online orders through VitalChek incur additional service fees but offer expedited processing. Death certificates are also issued by the Minnesota Office of Vital Records at the same address and fee structure as birth certificates. Death records less than 90 days old are private data and available only to certain family members; records older than 90 days are public. Marriage licenses for Stewart residents must be obtained from the McLeod County Recorder's Office at 520 Chandler Avenue North, Suite 2, Glencoe, MN 55336, phone (320) 864-1204. The marriage license fee is $115, and there is no waiting period in Minnesota. Both parties must apply in person, and the license is valid for six months. Certified copies of marriage certificates cost $10. Divorce records are maintained as part of court case files in the McLeod County District Court and can be accessed through the Court Administration office at (320) 864-1218. Minnesota law requires requestors of birth and death certificates to complete an application verifying their relationship to the subject or their legal authority to access the record. Acceptable identification includes a driver's license, state ID, or passport. Historical vital records dating back to the late 1800s are available, though access to some older records may require additional research time.

For businesses operating in unincorporated areas of McLeod County outside Stewart city limits, county-level zoning and land use permits may be required from the McLeod County Planning and Zoning Department at (320) 864-1212. Fictitious business name registrations (Doing Business As or DBA) in Minnesota are typically filed with the Minnesota Secretary of State rather than at the county level. However, businesses should verify local requirements with Stewart City Hall or the McLeod County Recorder's Office. Minnesota business entity formation and searches are handled by the Minnesota Secretary of State's Office. The Business Services Division maintains a free online database at https://mblsportal.sos.state.mn.us/ where users can search for corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, and other registered business entities. The search function allows lookup by business name, registered agent, or file number, and provides information on entity status, formation date, registered office address, and registered agent. UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) lien searches for secured transactions are also available through the Secretary of State's UCC database. New business entity formation can be completed online, with filing fees of $135 for LLCs and $155 for corporations. Business owners in Stewart should also be aware of property tax obligations; commercial property assessments can be searched through the McLeod County Assessor's Office online database at www.co.mcleod.mn.us/assessor. The McLeod County Auditor-Treasurer's Office at (320) 864-1201 handles business personal property tax statements and commercial property tax payments.

Stewart residents' voting and election services are administered by the McLeod County Auditor-Treasurer's Office, Elections Division, located at 520 Chandler Avenue North, Glencoe, MN 55336. The office can be reached at (320) 864-1201, and election information is available at www.co.mcleod.mn.us/auditor. Minnesota residents can register to vote online through the Minnesota Secretary of State's website at https://mnvotes.sos.state.mn.us/VoterRegistration/VoterRegistrationMain.aspx up until 21 days before an election, or in person at their polling place on Election Day. Minnesota's same-day voter registration allows eligible residents to register and vote on Election Day by providing proof of residence such as a Minnesota driver's license, state ID, tribal ID, or a utility bill with current address. Stewart holds municipal elections for mayor and city council members in even-numbered years, with the next election scheduled for November 2026. Municipal elections in Minnesota typically occur on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, consolidated with county, state, and federal elections. Stewart residents can find their assigned polling place by using the Polling Place Finder at https://pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us/ or by contacting the McLeod County Elections Office. Stewart's polling location is typically at Stewart City Hall, 506 Fourth Street, Stewart, MN 55385, though voters should verify their specific polling location before Election Day. Under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13.37 and 201.091, voter registration lists are public data, and the county maintains precinct-level election results that are posted on the county website following certification. Campaign finance reports for local candidates are filed with the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board at www.cfboard.state.mn.us. In the November 2024 presidential election, McLeod County reported approximately 68-70% voter turnout, with approximately 7,500 to 8,000 ballots cast countywide. On November 3, 2026, Stewart and McLeod County voters will decide several key races: Minnesota does not have a U.S. Senate seat up for election in 2026; the Minnesota Governor's office will be on the ballot as Governor Tim Walz's term expires (assuming normal four-year cycle); state legislature seats including Minnesota House District 16A and Minnesota Senate District 16; McLeod County offices including County Commissioner, Sheriff, Attorney, Auditor-Treasurer, and Recorder; and Stewart municipal offices including Mayor and City Council positions. Minnesota offers no-excuse absentee voting; residents can request an absentee ballot online at https://mnvotes.sos.state.mn.us/AbsenteeBallotRequest/AbsenteeBallotRequest or by contacting the McLeod County Elections Office. Absentee ballot applications must be received by the county no later than one week before Election Day, and completed ballots must be received by 3:00 PM on Election Day to be counted.