Court Rules

Full text of Minnesota Court Rules: Civil Procedure, Criminal Procedure, Evidence, Family, and General Practice. Free and searchable.

Full text of Minnesota Court Rules, sourced from the Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Court rules govern how cases are filed, heard, and decided.

What Are Court Rules?

Statutes tell you what the law is. Court rules tell you how courts operate — filing deadlines, what to include in a motion, how evidence is presented, and what procedures to follow. If you are going to court, you need to know the rules that apply to your case type.

Rule Categories

• Civil Procedure — Rules for lawsuits between private parties (contract disputes, personal injury, property). These are the Minnesota Rules of Civil Procedure, based on the Federal Rules but adapted for state courts.

• Criminal Procedure — Rules for criminal cases, from arraignment through trial and sentencing. Covers bail, discovery, plea procedures, and jury instructions.

• Evidence — Rules governing what evidence can be presented in court. Covers testimony, documents, hearsay, privilege, and expert witnesses. Apply in both civil and criminal cases.

• General Rules of Practice — Day-to-day court procedures — how to file documents, schedule hearings, request continuances, and communicate with the court. These apply across case types.

• Adoption Procedure — Rules governing adoption cases in district court, including petitions, consent, background studies, and finalization.

• Juvenile Delinquency Procedure — Rules for criminal matters involving minors, including detention hearings, adjudication, disposition, and certification to adult court.

• Juvenile Protection Procedure — Rules for child protection cases (CHIPS), emergency protective care, permanency hearings, and termination of parental rights.

Tips for Self-Represented Litigants

Courts hold everyone to the same rules, whether you have a lawyer or not. If you are representing yourself:

1. Read the rules for your case type before filing anything
2. Pay attention to deadlines — missing a filing deadline can result in losing your case by default
3. Use the court’s self-help resources — many courthouses have self-help centers with staff who can answer procedural questions
4. Ask about local rules — individual courts may have additional local rules beyond what is listed here