St. Louis County Conciliation Court: Filing a Small Claim in the 6th Judicial District

St. Louis County is the largest county in Minnesota by area — bigger than Connecticut and Rhode Island combined — and part of the 6th Judicial District. It covers Duluth, Hibbing, Virginia, Eveleth and the Iron Range communities. If the person or business you're suing resides or has a principal place of business in St. Louis County, this is the Conciliation Court where you file.

Filing Fee and How to File

The filing fee is the $65 statewide base plus St. Louis County's law library surcharge, totaling approximately $70–$80. You pay this when you submit Form CCT102 (Plaintiff's Statement of Claim and Summons).

You can file through Minnesota's Guide & File portal, through eFile & eServe, or in person at one of the county's courthouses — the main one is in Duluth, with additional locations in Hibbing and Virginia. For anyone filing without a lawyer, Guide & File is the simplest path. It runs you through an interview that populates Form CCT102 automatically. Completing the interview does not file your case — you still need to finish the final submission and pay the fee.

If you can't afford the filing fee, natural persons can apply for a waiver using Form CCT104. Automatic eligibility covers public assistance recipients, representation by a civil legal services program based on indigency, or household income at or below 125% of the federal poverty guidelines.

Service Rules

Service rules in Minnesota are statewide, so they work the same way in St. Louis County:

• Claims of $2,500 or less: the court clerk handles service by first-class mail at no extra cost
• Claims over $2,500: you're responsible for serving the defendant through certified mail with restricted delivery and return receipt, or through a process server, and filing Form CCT103 within 60 calendar days

St. Louis County's sheer size makes service logistics worth thinking about early. If you're in Duluth filing against someone on the Iron Range — or the other way around — make sure you have a confirmed current address. A process server traveling long distances may cost more than in the metro, and the 60-day clock starts when the court issues your summons regardless of geography.

Hearings

Conciliation Court hearings in the 6th Judicial District are informal proceedings — no court reporter, no strict evidence rules. In Greater Minnesota rural counties like St. Louis, hearings are typically integrated into the general civil calendar of the local District Court judge rather than being assigned to dedicated referees. Hearings may be scheduled on designated term days.

Bring three organized copies of your evidence: contracts, invoices, photos, text messages, bank statements. One for the judge, one for the opposing party, one for yourself. If your county location offers virtual hearing options, check with court administration when you file.

Local Legal Resources

St. Louis County residents have access to:

• Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota, which provides free legal help to income-qualifying residents across the 6th Judicial District
• The St. Louis County Law Library at the Duluth courthouse
• Minnesota Judicial Branch Self-Help Center (651-435-6535 or mncourts.gov/selfhelp), which provides procedural guidance statewide
• Community Mediation Minnesota centers for voluntary pre-filing dispute resolution

For the complete filing process — demand letter, forms, fees, service, evidence preparation and hearing — the Minnesota Small Claims Filing Guide walks through every step with checklists and deadline calendars.

See more Minnesota guides →