Missouri Court Locations and Records
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Family cases in Missouri are heard in the Circuit Court, usually in the Family Court Division. The Circuit Court hears divorce and custody; larger circuits have a Family Court division. Missouri's 114 counties (plus St. Louis City) are grouped into 46 judicial circuits.
The clerk's office is a different thing from the court itself. The clerk accepts filings, keeps the record, and collects fees, while judges and hearings belong to the court. For a filing question, the clerk is the right first call. The official Missouri directory and case record search are below.
Official Missouri court locators
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Find a Court directory (by county) (Missouri judicial branch): Find the courthouse or clerk that serves your area, with locations and contact details. https://www.courts.mo.gov/mcw/findacourt/getCountyCourtData.htm
Missouri Case.net (Missouri courts): Look up existing case records. Access is listed as free and the system is organized statewide. https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/welcome.do
Missouri state courts website (Missouri judicial branch): The official home of the Missouri court system, with statewide rules, news, and links to every court. https://www.courts.mo.gov
Missouri eFiling System (Missouri Courts): Missouri's eFiling System is only open to licensed attorneys. If you do not have a lawyer you file family court papers on paper with your circuit clerk, though a few circuits let you submit documents by email, so ask your local clerk. https://www.courts.mo.gov/ecf/logon.do
Missouri court self-help resources (Missouri courts self-help): Official self-help information for people handling their own Missouri family case, including instructions and plain-language guides. https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=704
Missouri Case.net: No account needed. Document images are generally only for cases filed on/after July 1, 2023; older documents are at courthouse terminals. Confidential family/juvenile records are restricted. https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/welcome.do
Open Case.net
Search by litigant name, case number, or filing date
Optional: free "Track This Case" for email/text alerts
Official link data for Missouri was last verified June 2026. Report anything outdated through our contact page and we will re-check the official source.
Frequently asked questions
Which court hears family cases in Missouri?
Family cases in Missouri are heard in the Circuit Court, usually in the Family Court Division. The Circuit Court hears divorce and custody; larger circuits have a Family Court division. Missouri's 114 counties (plus St. Louis City) are grouped into 46 judicial circuits.
Can I look up an existing Missouri case online?
Missouri Case.net is the official search. No account needed. Document images are generally only for cases filed on/after July 1, 2023; older documents are at courthouse terminals. Confidential family/juvenile records are restricted.
Is the clerk the same as the court?
No. The clerk of court accepts filings, keeps records, and collects fees. Judges and hearings belong to the court itself. For filing questions, start with the clerk's office.