Find St. Louis Court Docket Cases

St. Louis court docket records are managed by the 22nd Judicial Circuit, which covers St. Louis City as an independent jurisdiction separate from St. Louis County. The circuit court has 31 divisions hearing civil, criminal, family, juvenile, and probate cases. You can search St. Louis court docket entries for free on Missouri Case.net or visit the Circuit Clerk's office at the Civil Courts Building. The court conducts about 200 jury trials a year and processes thousands of filings across all case types.

St. Louis 22nd Circuit Court

St. Louis is an independent city in Missouri. It does not sit inside any county. The 22nd Judicial Circuit Court handles all court docket records for the city. The court operates out of two buildings. The Civil Courts Building is at 10 North Tucker Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63101. The Carnahan Courthouse handles criminal matters. Together, the court's 31 divisions cover every case type from small claims to murder trials.

The Circuit Clerk's office is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for in-person records requests. You can reach them by phone at (314) 613-7192 or email at michelle.easter-pippen@courts.mo.gov for case transcripts and court docket information. The clerk's staff can pull up any case by name or number and make copies while you wait.

The 22nd Circuit has a long history. St. Louis opened its first courthouse in 1828. The famous Dred Scott case started here in 1850 when a jury granted freedom to Dred and Harriet Scott. That ruling was later overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. Today the court staffs a juvenile facility, runs a drug treatment court for nonviolent offenders, and stays active in public education about the justice system.

All persons who want to serve process from the 22nd Circuit must take a training course through the Sheriff's office. The non-refundable fee for that course is $300.

Search St. Louis Court Docket Online

Missouri Case.net is the free online tool for searching St. Louis court docket records. Select the 22nd Judicial Circuit from the drop-down list and search by litigant name, case number, or filing date. The search results show all docket entries in the case, the parties, motions filed, and any judgments. You can also use the "Track This Case" feature to get email or text updates when something new hits the court docket.

Remote public access to documents filed on or after July 1, 2023 is available through Case.net. Before that date, you could see the docket entry text but not the actual documents. For older filings, you need to visit the clerk's office in person or call to request copies by mail.

Court Docket Copy Fees

Copies of St. Louis court docket records cost $0.30 per page for certified or authenticated copies. Certification adds $1.50 per document. Authentication runs $3.50 per document. When you make a request, provide the names of the parties, the case number, the type of copy you want, the title of the document, and the approximate filing or judgment date.

Court records in St. Louis are public under the Missouri Sunshine Law (Chapter 610 RSMo). Some items get redacted from public copies. Social Security numbers, financial account details, and certain info about minors are removed. Sealed and juvenile court docket records are not available to the public at all.

Note: Have the case number ready when you call or visit to speed up the search for your court docket records.

Legal Help in St. Louis

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri serves St. Louis City residents who need help with court cases but cannot pay for a lawyer. They assist with family law, housing, consumer, and public benefits cases. The Missouri Bar also runs a referral service to connect you with attorneys who handle St. Louis court docket matters.

The Missouri Courts website has self-help forms and guides for people representing themselves in St. Louis circuit court. Topics include divorce, child custody, small claims, and protective orders. The clerk's office can explain how to file papers and check your court docket status, but they cannot give legal advice about your case. For contested matters, hiring a lawyer or reaching out to legal aid is the best path forward.

St. Louis Court Docket Filing Steps

Filing a new case in St. Louis creates an entry on the court docket. The 22nd Circuit handles all filings at the Civil Courts Building. You need the right forms, the filing fee, and the names and addresses of all parties. The clerk stamps your documents and assigns a case number. That number is how you track your court docket from start to finish.

If you want copies of existing St. Louis court docket records, the clerk needs the case number, party names, and the title of the document you want. Copies cost $0.30 per page. Certification adds $1.50. Authentication runs $3.50. Have the approximate filing date ready. The clerk's office is at 10 North Tucker Boulevard. Call (314) 613-7192 or email michelle.easter-pippen@courts.mo.gov if you want to make a request before you go in person. Court records are public under Chapter 610 RSMo, so most filings on the St. Louis court docket are open to anyone who asks.

Process servers in the 22nd Circuit must take a training course run by the Sheriff. The fee is $300 and is non-refundable. This rule is specific to St. Louis and does not apply to every circuit in Missouri. If you need to serve papers in a St. Louis court docket case, make sure your process server has passed this course first.

Nearby Cities

These cities are near St. Louis. Each one has its own municipal court, and circuit-level court docket records go through the county where the city is located.