How to Search Missouri Public Records

Missouri's court, criminal, vital, property, voter, and licensing records are maintained across state agencies and the 115 counties listed below. Use the tabs to filter by record type, or jump directly to any source.

  • Courts: The Missouri Supreme Court sits at the top of the system; trial-court business is handled by the Circuit Court (46 circuits). Most courts publish dockets and case lookups online.
  • Criminal history: The state's criminal-history repository handles official background checks. Fees and procedures are set by the state agency — see the linked official source.
  • Vital records: Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates are issued by the state Department of Health (or equivalent) and may also be available locally.
  • Property & recorded documents: Maintained at the county level by the Assessor, Recorder, or Clerk's office.
  • Business filings: The Secretary of State (or equivalent) operates the official business-entity search.
Population
6,263,220
Households
2,470,000
Median Income
$65,920
Median Home Value
$199,400

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (2024 Population Estimates Program; 2022 ACS 5-year)

Court Records Databases

8 official Missouri court records sources.

Court Records

Court Dockets | Missouri Supreme Court
Official Free
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Court Records | Historical Judicial Index
Official Free
Search 19th century through the early 20th century historical court records in Missouri.
Court Records | Jury Verdicts
Official Free
16th Judicial Circuit Court of Jackson County recent jury verdicts.
Jackson County | Probate
Official Free
Probate records search from the Missouri 16th Judicial Circuit Court in Jackson County.
Protective Orders
Official Free
Search for protective orders in Missouri by case number and respondent name and county of issuance.
Kansas City | Parking Tickets
Official Free
Kansas City, Missouri Municipal Court parking ticket search and online payments.
Springfield Parking Violations
Official Free
Search for and pay your 31st Circuit Court of Missouri Springfield Municipal Division parking violations online.
PACER Missouri Federal District Court Records
Official Paid
Search United States District Courts in Missouri for Federal appellate, bankruptcy, criminal, and civil court records. Access to PACER requires registration and a small fee per search. Note: PACER charges $0.10/page; the first $30 per quarter is free.

Missouri Counties

All 114 Missouri counties. Click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.

Frequently Asked Questions

Missouri's official criminal-history repository is operated by the state law-enforcement agency. Free public access to a complete criminal history is generally not available; an official background check typically requires fingerprints and a fee. Countie-level court records can be searched at no cost through individual court websites.

Missouri's court system is headed by the Missouri Supreme Court. Trial-court business is handled by the Circuit Court (46 circuits). Many Missouri courts publish docket searches and case lookups online — see the Court Records tab above for direct links.

The Missouri Secretary of State (or equivalent agency) operates the official business-entity search. You can typically search corporations, LLCs, LPs, and other registered entities by name or registration number. See the Licenses or Business tab above.

The Assessor determines property values for tax purposes. The Recorder (or Clerk-Recorder) records deeds, mortgages, liens, and other property documents. Some county offices combine these roles, others keep them separate. Check the specific county page for details.

Missouri vital records (birth, death, marriage, divorce certificates) are issued by the state Department of Health (or equivalent) and, in many cases, by local county clerks. Fees and ID requirements are set by the issuing agency.

Most county-level property and recorded-document searches are free for basic information through the Assessor or Recorder website. Certified copies of deeds typically have a per-page fee. Direct links are in the Property Records tab above.

The Missouri sex offender registry is maintained by the state law-enforcement agency under the Sex Offender Registration and Community Notification Act. The registry is searchable by name, ZIP code, or address.

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