Minnesota Statutes codify the sheriff’s responsibility as “a sheriff shall execute all processes, writs, precepts and orders issued or made by lawful authority and to the sheriff delivered . . .” MS 387.03

Civil process is how a court asserts jurisdiction over a cause of action involving legal rights & obligations and to enforce its orders.  A large share of a sheriff’s duties involves civil process responsibilities to include these most common subjects:

• Summons and Complaint
• Summons and Petition (marriage dissolution proceedings)
• Motions
• Order to Show Cause
• Affidavit and Order in Supplementary Proceedings
• Garnishment Summons
• Land Title Summons
• Subpoena
• Notice of Condemnation (Eminent Domain)
• Notice of Cancellation of Contract for Deed,
• Summons and Complaint in Eviction Actions (Unlawful Detainer)
• Writ of Recovery and Order to Vacate,
• Domestic Abuse, Restraining Orders.
• Order for Seizure
• Money Judgment Writs,
• Mortgage Foreclosure by Advertisement
• Mortgage Foreclosure by Action & Redemption.

Sheriff’s sales are used to satisfy a money judgment out of the personal or real property of the judgment debtor, to protect the value of perishable property under levy of Writ of Attachment by converting it to cash, or to enforce a lien against property under foreclosure proceedings and mortgage foreclosure sales.   

The Sheriff also conducts Uniform Commercial Code sales and mechanic and warehouse lien sales, but acts only as an auctioneer at those sales pursuant to MS 330.06.

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