Search Missouri Court Docket Records
Missouri court docket records are kept by Circuit Clerks in all 114 counties and the City of St. Louis. These records show case filings, hearing dates, motions, orders, and judgments for civil, criminal, family, and probate cases. You can search Missouri court docket entries free through Case.net, the state's online portal run by the Office of State Courts Administrator. The system holds more than 45 million case records going back to the mid-1990s. You can also visit any Circuit Clerk office in person to look up court docket information and get copies of case files.
Missouri Court Docket Quick Facts
Missouri Court Docket Search on Case.net
Case.net is the main tool for searching Missouri court docket records online. The Missouri Court Automation Program runs this system under the Office of State Courts Administrator (OSCA). It covers every Circuit Court in the state. You do not need to make an account to run a basic search. The portal is free and open to the public.
The system gives you four ways to find court docket entries. You can search by litigant name, case number, filing date, or scheduled hearings. A name search works best when you know the last name and first name of a party. A case number search pulls up the full docket right away. Each Missouri court docket case number follows a set format like 23AC-CR000123, where the first two letters stand for the county code, the next two digits mark the year, and the letters after that show the case type. You can visit courts.mo.gov/cnet to start your search. The site is open Monday through Friday from 6 AM to 1 AM Central time. Most courts add new docket entries at least once per day, and busy courts post updates several times daily.
The Missouri Judiciary official website at courts.mo.gov provides links to court forms, legal aid, and other tools for working with the court system.
Note: The OSCA Help Desk can help with Case.net questions at (888) 541-4894 on weekdays from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM Central time.
What Missouri Court Docket Records Show
A Missouri court docket is the log of everything that happens in a case. Each time a party files a motion, the court issues an order, or a hearing takes place, an entry goes on the docket. The docket gives you a full picture of how a case moved through the court system from start to finish.
When you pull up a court docket on Case.net, you can see the parties involved (plaintiffs, defendants, and their attorneys), a chronological list of all filings and motions, any judgments the court entered, and upcoming hearing dates with times and courtroom locations. Case types on the Missouri court docket include civil cases like contract disputes and property matters, criminal cases from felonies to misdemeanors, traffic citations, family law cases such as divorce and custody, probate matters, and small claims. Since July 1, 2023, Missouri allows you to view actual court documents filed on or after that date through remote public access on Case.net. Before that date, you could only see the docket entry text, not the full documents.
The "Track This Case" tool on Case.net lets you get alerts when new entries show up on a Missouri court docket. You give your email and, if you want, a phone number for text alerts. The system will notify you of new motions, orders, filings, or changes to trial and hearing dates. This feature needs a free account but the alerts are not official court notices.
Missouri Court Docket System Structure
Missouri has a unified court system. At the top sits the Supreme Court. Below that are three Courts of Appeals for the Eastern, Western, and Southern districts. The trial courts are 46 Circuit Courts spread across the state. Each circuit covers one or more counties. These are the courts that generate most of the court docket records people search for. Municipal courts handle city ordinance violations and traffic cases at the local level.
Under Chapter 476 RSMo, Circuit Clerks must keep records of all proceedings in their courts. This includes dockets, files, and judgments. Section 476.400 says all court files shall be public records open to inspection during business hours. Section 476.055 set up the Court Automation Program that runs Case.net and makes Missouri court docket records available online.
Electronic filing became part of the Missouri court docket system in 2011. Attorneys in most circuits must file cases and documents through the eFiling portal. This means new entries appear on the court docket faster than before. Self-represented individuals can still file paper documents at most courts, and those get added to the docket after the clerk processes them.
Public Access to Court Docket Records
Missouri court docket records are public. The Missouri Sunshine Law under Chapter 610 RSMo says government records are open to the public unless the law says otherwise. Section 610.011 states it is the policy of Missouri that records of public bodies be open. You do not need to be a party in the case. You do not need to give a reason for your request.
Court Operating Rule 2 sets out what is and is not public in court records. Most court docket entries are open. But some information gets redacted before public access. Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and the names of minor children in certain cases are removed. Juvenile cases, sealed records, domestic violence confidential information, and mental health records are not available through Case.net or at the clerk's office. If part of a record is closed, the clerk must still provide the rest. You can request a written explanation if access to any Missouri court docket record is denied.
If you believe a records request was wrongly denied, you can file a Sunshine Law complaint with the Missouri Attorney General's Office. The AG can investigate and issue a binding opinion. You may also file suit in circuit court to compel disclosure of Missouri court docket records.
Missouri Court Docket Judgments
Chapter 511 RSMo governs how judgments are entered on the Missouri court docket. Section 511.020 requires clerks to keep a judgment docket showing the parties, amount, date, and other key details for every judgment the court renders. Judgments become liens on real property in the county where they were entered and last for ten years under Section 511.210.
You can find judgment information on the Missouri court docket through Case.net. The judgment section of a case record shows the final ruling, the date, and any amounts awarded. For enforcement actions like writs of execution, Section 511.040 lays out the procedures. If a judgment is satisfied, Section 511.170 covers how satisfaction gets filed and recorded on the docket.
Get Copies of Missouri Court Docket Records
You can get copies of court docket records a few ways. Online, Case.net shows docket entries for free. For actual document copies, contact the Circuit Clerk in the county where the case was filed. Most clerks charge a per-page fee for standard copies. Certified copies cost more. Fees vary by county but typically run between $0.25 and $1.00 per page for standard copies.
To request copies in person, go to the courthouse and ask the Circuit Clerk staff to pull up the case. Bring the case number or the names of the parties. Some clerks accept mail requests too. Under the Sunshine Law, standard paper copies are limited to 10 cents per page, though courts may charge their own rates set by local court rules. Research time may be billed at the actual cost. If fees will be more than you expect, the clerk should tell you before doing the work.
The Missouri State Archives at sos.mo.gov/archives/resources/court keeps older court records. Supreme Court case files from 1821 to 1865 and 1876 to 1888 are there. Many historical county court records have been put on microfilm. The Missouri Digital Heritage website has some of these available online.
Note: Fees for court docket record copies change from time to time, so call the clerk first to check current rates.
Missouri Criminal Court Docket Records
Criminal cases make up a large share of the Missouri court docket. These range from felonies to misdemeanors to traffic offenses. You can search criminal court docket entries on Case.net just like any other case type. The docket will show arrest charges, arraignment dates, motions filed by both sides, plea entries, trial dates, and sentencing information.
For criminal history checks beyond what appears on the court docket, the Missouri Automated Criminal History Site (MACHS) at machs.mo.gov provides name-based searches for $14 per name. Fingerprint-based checks cost $20. MACHS is run by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and contains arrest, charge, and disposition data from across Missouri. Results stay in the system for 30 days before being archived.
Municipal courts also handle a significant volume of cases that show up in the Missouri court docket system. Traffic tickets, city ordinance violations, and housing code matters go through municipal court. Since January 1, 2021, many municipal court cases are on Case.net by order of the Missouri Supreme Court. Municipal courts cannot assess fines over $225 for minor traffic violations under current Missouri law.
Legal Help With Court Docket Cases
If you need help understanding what you find on a Missouri court docket, several organizations can assist. Legal Services of Missouri at lsmo.org provides free legal help to qualifying low-income residents. They handle family law, civil matters, and protective orders across the state.
The Missouri Bar at mobar.org runs a Lawyer Referral Service. You can search for attorneys by location and practice area. Missouri Legal Help at missourilegalhelp.org has free self-help guides and step-by-step instructions for people handling their own cases. The Missouri Courts website at courts.mo.gov has court-approved forms for common case types that you can download and fill out.
Self Represent Missouri at selfrepresent.mo.gov was created by the Supreme Court and the Missouri Bar to help people in family law cases who do not have an attorney. Court clerks can explain procedures and give you forms, but they cannot give legal advice or tell you what to do in your case.
Browse Missouri Court Docket by County
Each county in Missouri has its own Circuit Clerk who keeps court docket records. Pick a county below to find local court contact details and resources.
Court Docket Records in Major Missouri Cities
Residents of Missouri cities handle court cases through their county Circuit Court or local municipal court. Pick a city below to learn more about court docket records in that area.