Search Buchanan County Court Docket

Buchanan County court docket records are kept by the Circuit Clerk of the 5th Judicial Circuit in St. Joseph. This circuit also serves Andrew County. You can look up Buchanan County court docket entries for free through Missouri Case.net or visit the courthouse at 411 Jules Street. The clerk's office files civil, criminal, family, probate, and small claims cases. St. Joseph also runs its own municipal court for local ordinance and traffic violations. Whether you need to check a case status or get copies of court docket filings, there are several ways to access records in Buchanan County.

Buchanan County Circuit Clerk Office

The Buchanan County Circuit Clerk handles all court docket records for the 5th Judicial Circuit. The courthouse sits at 411 Jules Street in downtown St. Joseph. The Circuit Clerk's office is in Room 331. Ashley Thrasher serves as Clerk of the Circuit Court, a role she took on in January 2019. Staff can help you find case files, pull up court docket entries, and make copies of court documents.

You can reach the clerk's office by phone at (816) 271-1462 or by fax at (816) 271-1538. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The 5th Judicial Circuit website at 5thcircuit.net has forms, fee schedules, and court docket information for both Buchanan and Andrew counties. Judge Kate Schaefer serves as the Presiding Judge of the 5th Circuit. Email the office at info@5thcircuit.net for general questions about your court docket records.

The St. Joseph Municipal Court at stjosephmo.gov handles city ordinance cases and traffic violations filed within St. Joseph city limits. This court is separate from the circuit court. Court support staff collect fines, prepare warrants, schedule bond forfeiture hearings, and send monthly reports to the city clerk and state agencies. Municipal court docket records filed after January 2021 also appear on Case.net.

Search Buchanan County Court Docket Online

Missouri Case.net is the best way to search Buchanan County court docket records from home. Go to courts.mo.gov/cnet and pick the 5th Judicial Circuit from the list. You can search by name, case number, or date. No account is needed for basic lookups. The system shows real-time data for the 5th Circuit.

Each court docket entry on Case.net lists the parties in the case, all motions and filings in order, any judgments the court has entered, and the dates for future hearings. Since July 1, 2023, you can also view the actual documents filed in Buchanan County cases right from your device. Before that date, only the docket text showed up online. You can use the Track This Case feature to get email or text alerts when new entries appear on a Buchanan County court docket. This is a free service that Case.net offers for any active case in the state.

The 5th Circuit also posts cost deposit information at 5thcircuit.net/cost-deposits. This page shows what you may need to pay up front when filing certain types of cases. Fees for copies of court docket records are $0.30 per page for standard copies. Certified copies cost $4.00 per document. If you need a copy of a court docket that is not in the electronic system, visit the courthouse in person. Staff will look up the case and pull the file for you.

Note: The Missouri Courts Pay By Web system lets you pay fines and fees for Buchanan County cases online at courts.mo.gov/pbw.

Court Docket Case Types in Buchanan County

The 5th Judicial Circuit handles many types of cases that create court docket entries in Buchanan County. Civil cases include contract disputes, property claims, personal injury lawsuits, and small claims. Criminal cases range from felonies and misdemeanors to traffic violations and probation matters. Family court docket entries come from divorce filings, custody disputes, child support orders, paternity cases, and protective order petitions.

Probate matters also go through the 5th Circuit. These include estate administration, guardianship, and conservatorship cases. Each case type gets its own set of docket entries that track every filing from start to finish. The court docket shows each step in the case, from the first filing through any final judgment or dismissal. Landlord-tenant disputes are another common case type in Buchanan County courts.

Note: Municipal court docket entries for St. Joseph ordinance violations are handled separately from circuit court cases.

Buchanan County Court Docket Public Access

Court docket records in Buchanan County are public. Missouri's Sunshine Law under Chapter 610 RSMo gives anyone the right to view them. You do not need to be a party in the case. You do not need a reason to ask.

Some details get removed from public court docket copies. Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and certain information about children are redacted from what you see. Juvenile court docket records are closed to the public. Sealed cases and mental health proceedings are also restricted. If the clerk turns down your request for a court docket record, they have to tell you why in writing. You can then appeal to the Missouri Attorney General or file a case in circuit court to get access.

Legal Help in Buchanan County

Legal Aid of Western Missouri offers free legal help to Buchanan County residents who qualify based on income. They handle family law, housing, and consumer cases. The Missouri Bar's Lawyer Referral Service at mobar.org can connect you with local attorneys who practice in the 5th Circuit.

The Missouri Courts website has self-help forms you can use if you are going to represent yourself in a Buchanan County court case. Self Represent Missouri at selfrepresent.mo.gov has step-by-step guides for family law matters. Court clerks will help you file papers and check your court docket, but they cannot give legal advice about what actions to take in your case. They can explain the process and point you to the right forms.

Cities in Buchanan County

Buchanan County includes St. Joseph, the largest city in the county and one of the biggest in northwest Missouri. All circuit court docket records for the county go through the 5th Judicial Circuit in St. Joseph.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Buchanan County. Make sure you know which county has jurisdiction before searching for court docket records.