How to Search Missouri Court Records (Start Here)

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.

Trial court of general jurisdiction
Statewide civil case search
Statewide criminal docket search
Number of counties
115 counties
Population
6,263,220
Households
2,470,000
Median Income
$65,920
Median Home Value
$199,400
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by — Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: all Missouri court URLs verified against the official .gov / state-judiciary publisher on the review date. 6 primary .gov / .uscourts.gov sources cited below.

Missouri Court Records — Key Numbers (FY2025)

Missouri courts publish annual statistics via the Office of State Courts Administrator (OSCA).
Missouri Courts (Casenet
Court system
Statewide
FY2025
Latest fiscal year
Official .gov data
.gov
Primary source
Never data brokers
Free
Public access
Most case records
June 04, 2026
Last reviewed
By SearchSystems editorial
How to access court records — typical costs
Search online
$0
View docket entry
$0
Download document
$1
Certified copy
$5
Expungement filing
$50
Unit: USD typical fee. Fees and access policies vary by court; see Primary Sources below.

What Changed in 2026 — Missouri Court Records

2026
Missouri FY2025 caseload report active
The Missouri Courts (Casenet) publishes its current FY2025 case filings, dispositions, and trends on the official statistics portal.
2026
Missouri statewide case-access portal live
Missouri Courts (Casenet)'s public case-access portal continues to operate at www.courts.mo.gov with statewide coverage.
2026
Latest Missouri judiciary annual report
The most recent annual report from the Missouri Courts (Casenet) is publicly available with full statistical addenda.
2026
Missouri courts main directory
Missouri's primary judicial-branch directory at www.courts.mo.gov continues to be the canonical entry point for all state court matters.

The 4-Step Missouri Court Records Pathway

1
Step 1 — Identify the court level
In Missouri, civil and criminal trial cases sit in Missouri Courts (Casenet) trial courts. Appellate matters go to the state's appellate courts.
2
Step 2 — Use the state case-access portal
Start at https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/base/welcome.do — the official public case-access for Missouri.
3
Step 3 — Federal cases are separate
Federal cases involving Missouri parties live on PACER (pacer.uscourts.gov), not the state system.
4
Step 4 — Sealed / expunged records
Records sealed or expunged under Missouri law are NOT searchable on public portals. To verify, contact the originating court clerk directly.

Five Things People Get Wrong About Missouri Court Records

❌ Myth: "Missouri court records are on PACER."
✓ Truth: False. PACER only has federal cases. Missouri state court records live on www.courts.mo.gov.
❌ Myth: "All Missouri case files are free."
✓ Truth: Partly true. Searching and viewing dockets is usually free. Downloading full documents or certified copies often costs $1-$5 per item.
❌ Myth: "Sealed = deleted in Missouri."
✓ Truth: False. Sealed records still exist — they're just hidden from public search. The court clerk and law enforcement can still access them.
❌ Myth: "Third-party search sites are official."
✓ Truth: False. Only www.courts.mo.gov and the linked official portals are authoritative for Missouri.
❌ Myth: "Same-day filings show online immediately."
✓ Truth: False. Most Missouri courts have a 24-48 hour processing lag before new filings appear in public search.

Primary Sources (All .gov / Official)

Related Court Records Resources

Related Public Records
National view of this topic: All states: Court records
Sample Missouri counties: Adair · Andrew · Atchison · Audrain · Barry

Court Records Databases

8 official Missouri court records sources.

Court Records

2018 Dockets - Supreme Court of Missouri
Official Free
View cases scheduled before the Supreme Court of Missouri during 2018: January 2018 · Cases scheduled for January 10 · Cases scheduled for January 23 · February 2018 · Cases scheduled for February 6 · Cases scheduled for February 27 · March 2018 · Cases scheduled for March 14 ·
Missouri Judicial Records
Official Free
Frequently Asked Questions · Local Historical, Museum and Genealogical Agencies
CIRCUIT COURT OF JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI WEEKLY REPORT OF JURY TRIED CASES
Official Free
CIRCUIT COURT OF JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI · WEEKLY REPORT OF JURY TRIED CASES · WEEK BEGINNING MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2026 · KANSAS CITY · Division 3 · 2216-CV16348: KIANA LOVELACE V 3 BEARZZ INVESTMENTS · 4 Day Trial: Breach of Contract · Attorney for Plaintiff: Stephen Nichols · Attorney for Defendant: Michael Schilling · VERDICT: FOR PLAINTIFF ·
FAQ - 16th Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri
Official Free
The Probate Department verifies that the surety company has an active status with the Department of Insurance before approving the bond. Where can I find information regarding changes to guardianship and conservatorship statutes due to Senate Bill 806? Information regarding this bill can be found on the Missouri Senate's website.
Minnesota - VINELink
Official Free
Missouri VINE — free, secure custody status, criminal case info and victim notification (VINELink/vineapps.com).
Pay Online | CITY OF KANSAS CITY | OFFICIAL WEBSITE
Official Free
In addition, employers can upload Employer’s Quarterly Return of Earnings Withheld (Form RD-110) and W-2 information using the Quick Tax system. For answers to tax-related questions, go to Tax Hub or contact revenue@kcmo.org. Tax payments can also be mailed (check only) or paid in person at City Hall (414 E. 12th St.) using cash, check or credit card. Pay parking tickets issued on or after Nov.
Pay Your Ticket | Springfield, MO - Official Website
Official Free
Some tickets can be paid online prior to your court date. The Springfield Municipal Court utilizes the Missouri State Pay by Web system. To plead guilty and pay your fine and court costs for a statewide violation’s bureau eligible ticket prior to or on your court date, use the Plead and Pay.
Missouri Eastern District Court | PACER: Federal Court Records
Official Paid
PACER systems will undergo maintenance on Sunday, May 10, 2026, from 5:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. As a result, certain portions of this site may be temporarily degraded during the maintenance window. Log in to the federal Judiciary’s electronic public access services.

Missouri Counties

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

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.