St. Louis County Court Records Search
St. Louis County court records are housed at the 21st Judicial Circuit Court in Clayton, Missouri. This is one of the busiest court systems in the state, handling tens of thousands of cases each year across civil, criminal, family, juvenile, and probate divisions. You can search many records for free through Case.net or visit the Circuit Clerk's office at 105 South Central Avenue. The county also has its own court website with tools to help you find your case and learn about court procedures.
St. Louis County Quick Facts
St. Louis County Circuit Clerk
The Circuit Clerk serves as the custodian of all court records in the 21st Judicial Circuit. The office processes new filings, keeps case files, and provides copies to the public. Joan M. Gilmer serves as Circuit Clerk at the courthouse in Clayton. Her office manages an enormous volume of paperwork each year, given that St. Louis County is the most populous county in Missouri.
The St. Louis County Courts website is a good starting point for anyone looking for court information. It has sections for each division of the court and includes contact numbers, office hours, and directions. The clerk's office is at 105 South Central Avenue, Clayton, MO 63105. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The phone number is 314-615-8029.
St. Louis County court records include pleadings, motions, evidence, transcripts, judgments, orders, and docket entries. The county keeps all of these on file, and most are open to the public under Missouri law. If you need to find a case, the court recommends starting with their case lookup guide, which walks you through searching Case.net step by step.
| Office | St. Louis County Circuit Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 105 South Central Avenue, Clayton, MO 63105 |
| Phone | 314-615-8029 |
| Circuit | 21st Judicial Circuit |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
How to Search St. Louis County Records
The primary online tool for searching St. Louis County court records is Case.net. It is free and covers all Missouri counties. You can search by litigant name, case number, or filing date to find cases in the 21st Judicial Circuit. The results show docket entries, parties, charges, judgments, and hearing dates. Case.net also has a "Track This Case" feature that sends you updates by email or text when something new happens on a case.
For the full case file, including motions, briefs, and exhibits, you need to go through the Circuit Clerk's office in Clayton. Not everything in a case file appears on Case.net. The online system gives you the key data points, but the paper file has the complete picture. Photocopies at the St. Louis County clerk's office cost $0.30 per page. Certified copies run $1.50 for the first page plus $0.30 for each additional page. Authenticated copies are $3.50 each. These fees are set under Missouri Supreme Court Operating Rule 2 and the Sunshine Law.
Under Chapter 610 RSMo, most St. Louis County court records are open to the public. You do not need to be a party to the case or explain your reason for wanting access. The clerk must respond within three business days under Section 610.023. Juvenile records, adoption files, sealed cases, and expunged records under Section 610.140 are not available. Section 476.170 also guarantees that court sittings are public and anyone may attend.
Types of Court Cases in St. Louis County
The 21st Judicial Circuit runs several divisions at the Clayton courthouse. Civil, criminal, family, juvenile, probate, and treatment court all operate here. Circuit judges handle felony cases, large civil disputes, and complex family matters. Associate circuit judges cover misdemeanors, traffic cases, small claims, and lesser civil disputes. Each division creates its own set of records that feed into the clerk's system.
Family law is a major part of the St. Louis County court docket. Divorce, custody, child support, and protection orders are filed here in high numbers. Criminal cases run from traffic tickets all the way up to serious felonies. The probate division handles estates, wills, guardianships, and conservatorships. St. Louis County also has a treatment court program for defendants dealing with substance abuse or mental health challenges. The sheer size of the county means the courts process more cases than almost any other jurisdiction in Missouri.
The Recorder of Deeds, Gerald E. Smith, handles property records at 41 South Central Avenue in Clayton. His office is separate from the Circuit Clerk but deals with land records that sometimes overlap with court cases, especially in civil litigation over property.
St. Louis County Court Record Fees
Searching Case.net is free. When you need physical copies from the clerk, fees apply. St. Louis County charges $0.30 per photocopy, $1.50 per certified copy plus $0.30 for each extra page, and $3.50 for authenticated copies. These rates come from Missouri Supreme Court Operating Rule 2.
Filing fees for new cases depend on the type. Small claims are the cheapest. Civil suits, family law cases, and criminal filings each have their own fee schedule. If you cannot afford the fees, file a motion to proceed in forma pauperis. The court will review your finances and decide. Section 610.026 RSMo also limits research fees for electronic records to the actual cost of staff time.
Historical Records for St. Louis County
The Missouri State Archives holds older court records from across the state, including St. Louis County. These may include circuit court case files and probate records on microfilm. Historical court records from the St. Louis metro area are especially rich given the region's long history going back to French colonial times.
The Missouri Digital Heritage portal offers digital access to some of these materials. The Judicial Records database on that site has abstracts of cases from around the state. For St. Louis County research, you can also try FamilySearch, which has microfilmed many Missouri court records for genealogical use.
Legal Help in St. Louis County
Legal Services of Missouri provides free legal help to low-income residents in St. Louis County. They handle family law, housing disputes, consumer issues, and other civil matters. If you meet their income guidelines, they can represent you in court or help you with paperwork.
The Missouri Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service to connect you with attorneys practicing in the 21st Judicial Circuit. Missouri Legal Help has self-help guides for people going through the court process on their own. You can find information about your rights, step-by-step filing guides, and links to official court forms.
Note: The Circuit Clerk's staff in Clayton can help with filing procedures but cannot provide legal advice about your case.
Cities in St. Louis County
St. Louis County contains dozens of municipalities. All circuit court cases for residents of these communities are filed at the 21st Judicial Circuit Court in Clayton. Some cities also have their own municipal courts for local ordinance violations.
Other large communities in St. Louis County include University City, Chesterfield, Wildwood, Ballwin, Creve Coeur, Maryland Heights, and Hazelwood. All use the same circuit court in Clayton for state-level cases.
Nearby Counties
St. Louis County borders several counties in the metro area. Note that the City of St. Louis is an independent city with its own separate court system and is not part of St. Louis County.