How to Look Up Eviction Records in North Dakota 2026
Court portal, certified copy fees, and expungement laws for North Dakota
Where to Search North Dakota Eviction Records
In North Dakota, an eviction case lives with the District Court in the county where the rental sits, filed as a summary eviction (forcible detainer) action. Reaching that record is not as simple as in fully digitized states: North Dakota offers only limited online access through North Dakota Court Records, so many lookups still mean an in-person visit to the clerk of court's office or a written request rather than a complete name-search portal you can run from a browser.
That access gap matters for both sides. A landlord screening an applicant cannot assume a clean online search means a clean history, and a tenant trying to confirm what is on file may need to contact the clerk directly. It also shapes the bigger question renters ask: North Dakota has no statutory eviction-record expungement right, so once a case is filed it generally stays in the public District Court file. Below, the Eviction Risk Map research team walks through how to actually pull a record here, how to read what you find, and what the absence of a sealing law means at screening.
How to look up an eviction record in North Dakota
Start with the county. Because North Dakota eviction cases are filed in the District Court for the county where the property is located, the surest path is the clerk of court in that county. The statewide North Dakota Court Records service provides only limited online access, so a digital search may return partial results or none at all for a given case.
When online access falls short, request the file directly from the clerk, in person or in writing, using the tenant's full name and, if you have it, the case number or filing year. Ask specifically for the eviction (forcible detainer) action. Clerks can confirm whether a case exists, provide the docket, and tell you what is available for inspection. If you need official proof of a filing or judgment, you can order certified copies at $0.25 per page.
How to read a North Dakota result: a filing is not a judgment
The single most important habit when reading a District Court eviction file is to find the disposition. A filing is not a judgment. A landlord may open a case that is later dismissed, settled, or decided for the tenant, and an unresolved or dismissed filing says very little about whether the renter actually did anything wrong.
On the docket, look for how the case ended: dismissed, judgment for plaintiff (landlord), judgment for defendant (tenant), or a stipulated agreement. Note the date and whether any money judgment or writ of restitution was entered. A pending case has no outcome yet at all. For context, North Dakota's average rent of about $768 sits low among the states, but a single eviction filing, regardless of result, can still follow a tenant for years because the record itself does not disappear on its own.
Expungement and what it means for landlord screening
North Dakota has no statutory right to expunge or seal an eviction record. Unlike states that let tenants petition to clear a dismissed or old case, North Dakota provides no general sealing mechanism for forcible detainer files, so an eviction action in the District Court typically remains part of the public record.
For landlords, that permanence is exactly why screening must be careful. The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) governs how tenant-screening companies report court records and requires reasonable accuracy; old, dismissed, or misattributed cases are a common source of disputes. Do not deny an applicant on a bare filing without confirming the disposition. Pull the underlying District Court record, verify identity and outcome, and follow FCRA adverse-action steps before acting on anything a screening report flags.
The tenant's side: no sealing route, so manage the record
Because North Dakota offers no statutory expungement, a tenant cannot simply petition to erase an eviction case from the District Court file. The practical strategy is accuracy and context rather than removal. First, pull your own record through the clerk or North Dakota Court Records so you know exactly what a landlord will see, including whether the case was dismissed or decided in your favor.
If a tenant-screening report misstates the outcome, lists a case that is not yours, or reports a dismissed matter as a judgment, you have rights under the FCRA to dispute the entry with the screening company and demand correction. When applying, it often helps to bring a copy of the favorable disposition, settlement, or proof of dismissal directly to a prospective landlord so the filing is read in context instead of at face value.
Step-by-Step: How to Search North Dakota Eviction Records
- Go to North Dakota Court Records. Open https://www.ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help/court-records in your browser.
- Search by party name. Enter the prospective tenant's full legal name (last name, first name) as a defendant/respondent. Try name variations including maiden names.
- Filter by case type. Select eviction, forcible detainer, unlawful detainer, or summary possession as the case type depending on the court's terminology.
- Review the disposition. Identify whether the case resulted in a judgment for the landlord (eviction), dismissal (tenant won or case settled), or is still pending. A filing alone does not mean the tenant was evicted.
- Check the filing date. Consider how old the record is, most tenant-screening best practices recommend discounting records older than 5-7 years.
- Request certified copies if needed. For a certified copy of the court record, contact the District Court clerk's office directly. Fees are typically $0.25/page.
This guide was prepared by the Eviction Risk Map research team using public information from the North Dakota Court System (the District Court and its clerk-of-court offices) regarding case access and the $0.25-per-page copy fee; North Dakota provides no statutory eviction-record expungement law. Last reviewed June 2026. This is general information, not legal advice; consult a licensed North Dakota attorney about a specific case.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I look up an eviction record in North Dakota?
Eviction cases are filed in the District Court for the county where the rental is located. North Dakota offers only limited online access through North Dakota Court Records, so the most reliable route is contacting that county's clerk of court, in person or in writing, with the tenant's full name and, if known, the case number. The clerk can confirm the case and provide the docket and file for inspection.
Are North Dakota eviction records public?
Yes. Eviction (forcible detainer) cases in the District Court are part of the public court record. However, North Dakota provides only limited online access, so a full search often requires a request to the clerk of court rather than a complete name search online. Remember that a filing is not a judgment, so always check how the case was resolved.
Can a tenant expunge an eviction record in North Dakota?
No. North Dakota has no statutory right to expunge or seal an eviction record, so a filed case generally stays in the public District Court file. Tenants cannot petition to erase it, but they can dispute inaccurate tenant-screening reports under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act and provide landlords with proof of a dismissal or favorable outcome for context.
How much does a certified copy of a North Dakota eviction record cost?
Certified copies of court records run $0.25 per page in North Dakota. You can order them from the clerk of court in the county where the case was filed. Certified copies are useful when you need official proof of a filing, a judgment, or a dismissal, for example to correct an inaccurate tenant-screening report.
Related North Dakota Landlord Guides
Court portal information sourced from the North Dakota court administrative office official website. Expungement laws from published North Dakota statutes (see citations above). Last updated August 27, 2026. For informational purposes only, not legal advice.