Washington County Small Claims Court: Filing in the 10th Judicial District

Washington County sits east of St. Paul in the 10th Judicial District, covering Stillwater, Woodbury, Cottage Grove, Forest Lake and Oakdale. If the person or business you're suing resides or maintains a principal place of business in Washington County, this is where you file your Conciliation Court case.

Filing Fee and How to File

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

File through Minnesota's Guide & File portal online, through eFile & eServe, or in person at the Washington County Government Center in Stillwater. Guide & File is the easiest option for self-represented filers — it walks you through an interview and populates the claim form automatically. Finishing the interview alone does not file your case. You need to complete the submission step and pay the fee.

Natural persons who can't afford the fee can apply for a waiver using Form CCT104. Automatic eligibility covers public assistance recipients, people represented by a civil legal services program based on indigency, or anyone with household income at or below 125% of the federal poverty guidelines.

Service Rules

Service rules are statewide, so they apply the same way in Washington County as everywhere else in Minnesota:

• Claims of $2,500 or less: the court clerk mails the summons by first-class mail — no extra cost to you
• Claims over $2,500: you handle service yourself through certified mail with restricted delivery and return receipt, or hire a process server, and file Form CCT103 (Affidavit of Service) within 60 calendar days of summons issuance

Washington County mixes suburban Woodbury and Cottage Grove with more rural stretches toward the St. Croix River. If your defendant is in one of the smaller townships, confirm you have a valid mailing address before filing — a failed service attempt costs you time without stopping the 60-day clock.

Hearings

Conciliation Court hearings in the 10th Judicial District are informal. There's no court reporter, no formal evidence rules. The judge or referee hears both sides, may ask clarifying questions, and typically takes the case under advisement — the court administrator later mails or electronically transmits the decision notice.

Bring three organized sets of your evidence: contracts, invoices, photos, text messages, receipts. One for the judge, one for the other party, one for yourself.

If you need a witness who won't come voluntarily, you can request a subpoena through the court administrator. You'll need to pay the statutory $20-per-day witness fee plus mileage upon service.

Local Legal Resources

Washington County residents can access:

• Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS), which covers Washington County and provides free legal help to income-qualifying residents
• The Washington County Law Library at the Government Center, with legal research tools and form packets
• LawHelpMN (lawhelpmn.org), the statewide portal for civil legal aid resources and conciliation court fact sheets
• Community Mediation Minnesota centers for voluntary pre-filing dispute resolution

For a step-by-step walkthrough of the entire process — from the demand letter through filing, service, evidence prep and the hearing — the Minnesota Small Claims Filing Guide covers everything with checklists and deadline trackers.

See more Minnesota guides →