Missouri Court Records

Missouri court records are held by Circuit Clerks across the state's 45 judicial circuits. These circuits serve all 114 counties plus the City of St. Louis. You can search most case records free through Case.net, the state's public access portal. It covers civil, criminal, family, and probate filings from courts that use the Missouri Court Automation Program. For certified copies or older files not yet in the system, visit any Circuit Clerk office in person or send a request by mail. The Missouri State Archives also holds historical court records that go back to the territorial period.

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Where to Find Missouri Court Records

Missouri has a three-tier court system. Cases start at the circuit court level, which is the trial court. The state splits into 45 judicial circuits, each covering one or more counties. Every circuit has a Circuit Clerk who keeps all court records for that area. These files include civil lawsuits, criminal cases, family law matters, juvenile proceedings, and probate filings. The clerk stores these at the local courthouse and can give you copies on request.

The Office of State Courts Administrator runs Case.net, which is the main way most people look up Missouri court records online. It pulls data from courts that participate in the Missouri Court Automation Program. You can search by name, case number, or filing date. The tool shows docket entries, party names, charges, judgments, and scheduled hearings. It is free to use for basic searches and works around the clock. Not all courts have their full history in the system, but most active cases are there.

Missouri Judiciary homepage for court records access

Above the circuit courts sit three Courts of Appeals. The Eastern District is in St. Louis at One Post Office Square, 815 Olive Street. The Western District is in Kansas City at 1300 Oak Street. The Southern District is in Springfield at 300 Hammons Parkway. Appeals from circuit court decisions go to the district that covers that part of the state. The Supreme Court of Missouri in Jefferson City is the highest court and has the final say on state law questions.

How to Search Court Records in Missouri

Case.net is your best starting point. Visit courts.mo.gov/casenet and pick the type of search you want. You can look up a person by name, type in a case number, or search by filing date. The system lets you narrow results by county, case type, and date range. It covers circuit courts, associate circuit courts, and municipal courts that are part of the automation program.

To run a search on Case.net, you need at least one of these:

Full name of a party to the case
A case number from the filing court
The county and approximate date of filing

Case.net also has a "Track This Case" tool. Once you find a case, you can sign up to get alerts by email or text when something new is filed. This is helpful if you are watching a case that is still open. The system sends you updates so you don't have to keep checking back. There is no charge for this feature.

For in-person searches, go to the Circuit Clerk in the county where the case was filed. Court staff can pull up records by name or case number. Bring a valid ID. Most offices are open Monday through Friday during normal business hours. You can ask to view the file at no cost. If you want copies, the clerk will charge a per-page fee. Certified copies cost more than plain ones. Call ahead to make sure the records you need are at that location.

Missouri state portal judicial branch page for court records

Types of Missouri Court Records

Missouri circuit courts handle a wide mix of case types. Each one creates a different set of records. Criminal cases range from traffic tickets and misdemeanors heard by associate circuit judges to serious felonies tried before circuit judges. Criminal court records include the charging document, bond information, plea entries, trial transcripts, and sentencing orders. Under Section 610.100 RSMo, arrest and incident reports from law enforcement are public records once an investigation becomes inactive.

Civil court records cover lawsuits between people or businesses. These include the petition, answer, motions, discovery materials, and the final judgment. Small claims cases (up to $5,000) are heard by associate circuit judges. Larger disputes go before circuit judges. Civil records are open to the public unless a judge orders them sealed, which is rare.

Family court records deal with divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, and protective orders. Most of these records are public, though cases involving minors may have parts that are restricted. Under Section 211.321 RSMo, juvenile court proceedings are not open to the public except in cases involving serious felonies. Probate court records cover wills, estates, guardianships, and conservatorships. These are generally public and available through the Circuit Clerk.

Missouri Court Records and Public Access

Court records in Missouri are public. This right comes from two places. The Missouri Constitution, Article I, Section 14, states that "the courts of justice shall be open to every person." And Section 476.170 RSMo says that "the sitting of every court shall be public and every person may freely attend the same." These are strong protections for open access.

The Sunshine Law (Chapter 610 RSMo) adds more detail. It says government records are presumed open unless a specific law says otherwise. Under Section 610.023, a public body must respond to a records request within three business days. You don't need to be a Missouri resident. You don't need to give a reason for your request. The law applies to court records when the court acts in an administrative role.

Some court records are closed. Section 610.021 lists 25 categories that may be exempt from public access. Juvenile records, adoption files, mental health proceedings, and sealed cases are not available to the general public. A judge can seal records in other cases too, but must have a strong reason. Expunged records under Section 610.140 are also closed to the public.

Court Record Fees in Missouri

Searching court records on Case.net is free. You can view docket entries, party names, and case details at no cost. If you need paper copies from a Circuit Clerk, fees apply. Under Section 610.026 RSMo, the fee for paper copies cannot be more than ten cents per page for standard sizes. Clerks may also charge an hourly rate for research time, but it can't be more than the average pay of their clerical staff.

Certified copies cost more. Each circuit sets its own rate for certification, but it is typically a few dollars per document on top of the copy fee. If you need records sent by mail, add postage. Electronic copies are charged at actual cost. Filing fees for new cases vary by type and circuit. A civil lawsuit filing can range from about $50 to $200 or more depending on the county and the kind of case.

Note: Fees change from time to time, so call the specific Circuit Clerk to check current rates before you send payment.

Historical Court Records in Missouri

The Missouri State Archives in Jefferson City holds court records dating back to the territorial period, starting in 1804. The collection includes Supreme Court case files from 1821 to the present, with an alphabetical index on microfilm. Appellate court records from the Eastern, Western, and Southern districts are also stored there.

The Archives runs the Judicial Records Project, which rescues court records from county facilities that lack storage space. County circuit court files and probate records are microfilmed and made available to researchers. You can visit the Archives research room in person or request records through interlibrary loan. Contact archref@sos.mo.gov for help with specific record requests.

Missouri Digital Heritage is an online portal run by the State Archives and the State Historical Society. It includes the Missouri Judicial Records database with abstracts of selected civil, criminal, and probate cases from county courts all the way up to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court Historical Database has abstracts of criminal and civil cases appealed to the territorial and state Supreme Court through 1861. This is a strong tool for genealogists and history researchers who need old Missouri court records.

For federal court records in Missouri, the National Archives at Kansas City (400 West Pershing Road) holds records from both the Eastern and Western District courts going back to the territorial era. Active federal cases are searchable through the PACER system online. Missouri has two federal district courts and falls under the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Legal Help with Missouri Court Records

If you need help with a court case or understanding your records, several groups can assist. Legal Services of Missouri offers free legal aid to people who qualify based on income. They handle civil matters including family law, housing, and consumer issues. Call their intake line to find out if you are eligible.

The Missouri Bar Association runs a Lawyer Referral Service. You can search for attorneys by location and practice area. This is useful if you need a lawyer for a specific court matter. Missouri Legal Help provides free self-help guides for people who want to handle their own cases. The site has step-by-step instructions for common legal issues.

The Missouri Courts website has standardized forms approved by the Supreme Court. You can download forms for civil, criminal, family, juvenile, probate, and small claims cases at no charge. These forms work in any Missouri circuit court. The Office of State Courts Administrator updates them when laws or rules change.

Missouri Court System Structure

Missouri splits its trial courts into 45 judicial circuits. Some circuits cover one county. Others span several. Each circuit has at least one circuit judge and one or more associate circuit judges. Circuit judges hear major cases including serious felonies and large civil disputes. Associate circuit judges handle traffic violations, misdemeanors, small claims, and civil cases under $25,000. Both types of judges work out of the same courthouse, and the Circuit Clerk keeps records for all of them.

Under Section 487.010 RSMo, the Missouri Court Automation Program provides the technology backbone for the court system. This includes Case.net, the electronic filing system, and the case management tools that clerks use every day. The Office of State Courts Administrator oversees this program and sets standards for how courts operate across the state. OSCA also trains judges and court staff, collects data on court workloads, and prepares the judicial branch budget.

Municipal courts in Missouri handle city ordinance violations. Some cities have their own municipal court; others contract with the county circuit court. Municipal court records may be available through Case.net if the city participates in the automation program. Otherwise, contact the city clerk or municipal court directly for records.

Note: The City of St. Louis operates as an independent city, separate from any county, and has its own circuit court in the 22nd Judicial Circuit.

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Browse Missouri Court Records by County

Each county in Missouri has a Circuit Clerk who maintains court records. Pick a county below to find local contact details and resources for court records in that area.