Missouri court records are filed with the Circuit Clerk. The Circuit Court handles trial-level cases. Missouri offers a statewide court search through Case.net, which covers most case types across all counties courts.
What this page covers: Missouri state court case records — criminal, civil, family, and probate filings. What it does not cover: Federal court cases (those are on PACER) or sealed/juvenile records.
Where to start: Use Case.net for online case search. If you need documents beyond docket information, contact the Circuit Clerk in the specific county where the case was filed.
Common mistake: Case.net covers state courts only. Federal cases filed in Missouri (bankruptcy, federal criminal, federal civil) require PACER — a separate federal system.
Missouri Court Records — Key Numbers (FY2025)
What Missouri court records actually cost
Case.net costs nothing to search, and most docket entries are readable free. Certified copies are billed by the circuit clerk per page, and Missouri expungement petitions carry a statutory surcharge on top of the civil filing fee — a known sticking point in Missouri clean-slate work.
Exact amounts are set by each court's current fee schedule — check the official source before you order.
What Changed in 2026 — Missouri Court Records
The 4-Step Missouri Court Records Pathway
Five Things People Get Wrong About Missouri Court Records
Primary Sources and Official Record Portals
- www.courts.mo.gov — Missouri Courts (Casenet) — Main judicial-branch portal for Missouri
- Missouri case access — Public case-search portal
- Missouri court statistics — Official caseload statistics
- Missouri annual report — Most recent annual report (PDF)
- uscourts.gov — PACER — Federal court records (separate system)
- uscourts.gov — Judicial Business 2025 — Federal caseload context
Related Court Records Resources
- Missouri Criminal Records →
- Missouri Property Records →
- Missouri Vital Records →
- Missouri Voter Records →
- Missouri Wants & Warrants →
- Missouri Licenses →
- Missouri Recorded Documents →
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Court Records Databases
8 official Missouri court records sources.
Court Records
Missouri Counties
All 114 Missouri counties. Click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.
Which Missouri counties publish court dockets online
14 of Missouri's 116 counties run their own online source for court dockets, based on what this directory indexes. Every other county is covered by the statewide systems listed above — click a county for its full records page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I search Missouri court cases online?▼
Missouri's trial courts publish case lookups through the Missouri Courts (Casenet). Start at www.courts.mo.gov — most case dockets, filings, and hearing calendars are searchable by name, case number, or filing date. County-level clerks publish additional searches; see the cards below for direct county court links.
Is there a free statewide court case search in Missouri?▼
The Missouri Courts (Casenet) operates Missouri's official statewide judicial portal at www.courts.mo.gov. Basic case lookups are typically free of charge; certified copies and bulk-data exports may incur a per-document or per-search fee. Federal cases for Missouri residents are searched separately through PACER.
What's the difference between trial and appellate courts in Missouri?▼
Trial courts in Missouri handle the original filing of civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic matters. Appellate courts review questions of law from trial-court decisions. The Missouri Courts (Casenet) publishes the full court structure, judge rosters, and jurisdiction maps at www.courts.mo.gov.
How far back do Missouri court records go online?▼
Online coverage varies by court and case type. Most Missouri county courts have digitized records from approximately the late 1990s or early 2000s forward; older case files may require an in-person clerk visit or a written record request. Check the Missouri Courts (Casenet) portal at www.courts.mo.gov for each court's coverage window.
Are sealed or expunged Missouri cases visible in the online search?▼
No. Missouri courts redact or remove sealed, expunged, juvenile, and certain confidential records from public-facing searches as required by state statute and court rule. If a record was previously visible and has since been sealed, it will no longer appear in the Missouri Courts (Casenet) portal. For verification you can contact the county clerk where the case was filed.