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How to Find Public Records in Williams County in 2026

Members of the public seeking government documents in Williams County, North Dakota may access a range of publicly available information through official county and state channels. WilliamsRecords.us provides a directory of data and publicly available information related to public records maintained by government agencies in Williams County. Records that may be available through official sources include court filings, property documents, vital records, law enforcement logs, and county commission materials. The availability and completeness of any particular record depends on the custodial agency, the nature of the record, and applicable state law.

Records in Williams County may be searched through official court resources, county clerk offices, public access terminals located at the courthouse, and online tools maintained by state and county agencies.

Online Access:

The North Dakota District Court public access portal provides case information for criminal, traffic, and civil case types filed in district courts statewide, including Williams County.
The ND Court Records search tool allows members of the public to search by county, case number, or party name; no registration is required for basic case lookups.
Property records, tax assessments, and recorded documents may be accessed through the Williams County Recorder's office or the county's online land records system.
Vital records are maintained at the state level and are accessible through the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services vital records division.

In-Person Requests: Members of the public may visit the Williams County Courthouse to inspect records at the Clerk of District Court's office or the County Recorder's office. The courthouse is located at 206 E Broadway, Williston, ND 58801. Regular courthouse hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Requestors should identify the record type sought and the relevant case number, parcel number, or party name to facilitate retrieval.

Written/Mail Requests: Written requests may be submitted to the Clerk of District Court at P.O. Box 2047, Williston, ND 58802-2047. Requests should include the requestor's name, contact information, a description of the records sought, and any known identifiers such as case numbers or dates. Under North Dakota Century Code § 44-04-18, agencies are required to respond to public records requests promptly.

Phone/Email: The Clerk of District Court for Williams County may be reached by telephone at (701) 577-4518. Contact information for specific county offices is available through the Williams County court location page.

What Are Public Records in Williams County?

Public records in Williams County are government-created or government-maintained documents that are open to inspection by members of the public under North Dakota law. Under North Dakota Century Code § 44-04-18, a "public record" includes any document, paper, correspondence, memorandum, book, journal, or digital file made or received by a public entity in connection with the transaction of public business.

The following categories of records are maintained by Williams County agencies and are subject to public access:

Court records — civil, criminal, probate, and family court filings maintained by the Clerk of District Court; searchable through the district court case search system
Property records — deeds, mortgages, liens, and recorded instruments maintained by the Williams County Recorder
Vital records — birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates maintained by the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services; certified copies are available through the state vital records office
Tax records — property tax assessments and payment histories maintained by the Williams County Auditor and Treasurer
Business records — business licenses, permits, and fictitious name registrations maintained by the County Auditor or Secretary of State
Voting and election records — voter registration data and election results maintained by the Williams County Auditor
Meeting minutes and agendas — county commission and board meeting records maintained by the County Auditor
Budget and financial documents — annual budgets, expenditure reports, and audit records
Law enforcement records — arrest logs and incident reports, subject to applicable exemptions, maintained by the Williams County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records — maintained by the Williams County Planning and Zoning office

Is Williams County an Open Records County?

Williams County operates in full compliance with North Dakota's statewide open records framework. Under North Dakota Century Code § 44-04-18, all records made or received by a public entity in the transaction of public business are presumed open to inspection and copying by members of the public unless a specific statutory exemption applies. The law does not require a requestor to state a reason for seeking records, and no special status or residency is required.

As stated in the North Dakota Attorney General's open records guidance: "The general rule in North Dakota is that government records are open to the public. The burden is on the government agency to justify withholding a record, not on the requester to justify access."

The county does not maintain a separate local open records ordinance; state law governs all public records access uniformly across North Dakota's counties. The North Dakota Attorney General's office publishes an open records guide that outlines agency obligations and requestor rights under the state sunshine framework.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Williams County?

Members of the public may inspect public records at no charge. Fees apply when copies or certified documents are requested. The following fee structure reflects current standard charges:

Record Type	Fee
Standard paper copies	$0.25 per page (standard rate)
Certified court document copies	$10.00 per document (plus per-page copy fee)
Certified vital records (birth, death, marriage)	$7.00 per certified copy (state fee)
Electronic copies	Varies by office; some records available at no charge online
Search fees	Not charged for standard public records requests

Accepted payment methods at the Williams County Courthouse include cash, check, and money order. Some online portals accept credit or debit card payments. Under North Dakota law, agencies may charge only the actual cost of reproduction and are not permitted to impose fees that exceed the direct cost of providing the record. Fee waiver provisions may apply in cases where disclosure is determined to be in the public interest, at the discretion of the custodial agency.

Does Williams County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to any member of the public at the offices of the custodial agency during regular business hours. North Dakota law affirms the right to inspect records without charge; fees apply only when physical or electronic copies are requested.

The following resources provide free online access to Williams County public records:

The ND Court Records portal provides free online access to district court case information, including criminal, civil, and traffic case types, without requiring registration.
The North Dakota sex offender registry provides free public access to registered offender information, including name, address, and offense history, searchable by name or geographic area.
Property tax and assessment records are available for free inspection through the Williams County Assessor's office during regular business hours.
Meeting minutes, agendas, and budget documents posted to the Williams County official website are available at no cost.

The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: members of the public have the right to view records at no cost, but reproduction of those records is subject to the fee schedule described above.

Who Can Request Public Records in Williams County?

Any person may request public records in Williams County. North Dakota law does not restrict access to residents of the state, and non-residents retain the same rights of access as North Dakota residents. Under the state open records statute, requestors are not required to provide identification or state the purpose of their request for most record types.

Specific record categories carry additional access requirements:

Vital records — certified copies of birth, death, and marriage records are restricted to the subject of the record, immediate family members, legal representatives, and others with a demonstrated legal interest, as governed by state vital records statutes.
Adoption records — access is restricted by statute and requires a court order in most circumstances.
Juvenile court records — access is limited to parties and authorized individuals under North Dakota law.
Criminal history records — full background check reports through the Bureau of Criminal Investigation require a signed release from the subject or a lawful purpose.

Members of the public requesting their own records may be required to provide identification to verify identity before access to restricted personal records is granted. Requests for records pertaining to other individuals are subject to the same open records framework, with exemptions applied as required by law.

What Records Are Confidential in Williams County?

Not all government records in Williams County are subject to public disclosure. North Dakota Century Code § 44-04-18.1 through § 44-04-24 enumerates categories of records that are exempt from the general public access requirement. The following record types are currently withheld from public disclosure:

Sealed court records — records sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the general public
Juvenile records — records pertaining to juvenile proceedings are confidential under state law
Ongoing criminal investigation records — law enforcement records compiled during active investigations are exempt to the extent disclosure would interfere with enforcement proceedings
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar data are redacted from publicly released documents
Medical and health records — protected under both state law and federal HIPAA provisions
Adoption records — sealed by statute and accessible only by court order
Child welfare and protective services records — confidential under North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services regulations
Personnel records — employee performance evaluations and disciplinary records are exempt, with limited exceptions for final disciplinary actions
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — submitted to government agencies under confidentiality protections
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — exempt to protect public safety

Agencies bear the burden of demonstrating that a specific exemption applies before withholding a requested record. Partial disclosure is required when only portions of a document are exempt; non-exempt portions must be released with exempt material redacted.

Williams County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Williams County Clerk of District Court
206 E Broadway, Williston, ND 58801
P.O. Box 2047, Williston, ND 58802-2047
(701) 577-4518
Williams County – North Dakota Court System

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays

Williams County Recorder / Auditor
206 E Broadway, Williston, ND 58801
(701) 577-4530
Williams County official government website

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services – Vital Records
600 E Boulevard Ave, Bismarck, ND 58505
(701) 328-2360
North Dakota Vital Records