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1. How much does it cost and where do I get the forms for conciliation court?

You may get the form from the court administrator's office or information is available on the state website.

2. What happens in court?

When your case is called, you will have a chance to state your case to the court. The other party will then have a chance to explain their side of the story. The judge may ask questions. The judge will either rule on the case or tell you that you will receive his/her decision within so many days in the mail.

3. How do I collect a judgment?

Court administration has a pamphlet explaining the steps in paying, collecting, and appealing a conciliation court judgment. You may pick up the pamphlet at the Court Administration Office at 710 Second Avenue South, St. James, MN 56081 or the information is available on the state website.

4. What forms for civil filings do you have and what are the fees for filing?

We have some forms for filing some types of civil cases, but we do not have them all. You may call us at 507-375-1236 and see what forms we have or you may go to the public website and print out the form you need.

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1. What is the sentence?

The sentence depends on the level of the offense.

• A felony is no less than 1 year and 1 day and it goes up from that depending on the charge


• A gross misdemeanor is $3,000 and 1 year in jail


• A misdemeanor is a $1,000 and/or 90 days in jail


• A petty misdemeanor is a maximum of a $300 fine

2. What is my court date?

This is assigned by the officer on the citation or at the first appearance in court.

3. Can I get an extension to pay my fine?

Extensions are granted. Arraignments can be continued 30 days to pay the fine. Extensions beyond that are handled through our screener / collector.

4. How do I change my court date?

Arraignments, Rule 5, and Rule 8 hearings can be continued by our office one time only for one week; requests for further continuances on these hearings and all other types of hearings must be agreed to by the prosecuting attorney and approved by the court. These requests must be made in writing.

5. What do I do to get my driver's license back? It is suspended.

If the suspension is for an unpaid fine, the defendant must pay the fine. If it is suspended by the state for too many violations or some other reason, the defendant must contact the state at 651-296-6911.

6. I have a warrant, what do I do?

The defendant has a couple of choices. He or she may post bail at their local law enforcement agency or at the Watonwan County Sheriff's department and obtain a new date from them at that time. They could also turn themselves in and wait to be brought up to court to see the judge.

7. How do I get copies of paperwork in a file?

The copies can be requested by letter or in person. The copies must be paid for before they are issued. The cost is $8 per copy for each filed document or $14 per copy if it needs to be a certified copy of the original.

8. Does "someone" have a warrant for his or her arrest?

Our office does not give this information over the phone to anyone but the defendant. You can use the public terminal to check for this information.

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1. How do I apply for a public defender?

If you, the parent, are requesting a public defender, you need to complete the application form and it will be presented to the judge for determination. If one is granted, you will be notified of the name and phone number of the attorney. If one is not granted, you will have to obtain your own attorney if you wish to have one. You may pick up the form at the court administrator's office at:
710 Second Avenue S
St. James, MN 56081

2. Will my son / daughter be represented by an attorney?

Yes, if this is a felony or Children In Need of Protection or Services (CHIPs) case, the child is automatically appointed a public defender. If it is a petty misdemeanor, the child is not entitled to one. You will have to obtain your own attorney if the child wants one.

3. My son / daughter got a ticket. What do we do? He/she is a juvenile.

When our office receives the ticket, we will send it over to the county attorney's office and they will determine if it is to be processed through the adult court, set up in juvenile court, or transferred to the county of residence.

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1. Who do I contact if I want to throw away old paint cans or find out collection times?

You should contact Kyla Schlomann at the Resource Center at 507-375-2518.

2. Who do I contact if I need a new 9-1-1 address assigned?

You should contact the Watonwan County Land Management & Zoning office at 507-375-1225.

3. Who do I contact if I have questions regarding radon?

You should contact the Minnesota Department of Health at 800-798-9050 or 651-201-4601.

4. Who do I call if I suspect that my septic system is failing?

Contact the Land Managemant and Zoning Office at 507-375-1225 for a listing of licensed contractors who are registered with the county or you can print a contractor listing under the Septic System section located in this website. These contractors have undergone extensive training in the process of securing their state license and are thoroughly familiar with county and state requirements.

5. Do I need a building permit if I am replacing shingles, replacing siding, or replacing windows?

If you are just replacing the above items and not changing the dimensions of the structure, then you do not need a building permit.

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1. Where can I get contact information for county departments?

Visit the Staff Directory to find all department and staff contact information.

2. How can I apply for open county jobs?

Browse through a list of open positions for Watonwan County, MN.

3. What days can I expect my recycling to be picked up?

Visit our Recycling/Solid Waste page to view the recycling schedule.