Missouri Public Records Search
Missouri public records are open to all residents and non-residents under the state Sunshine Law. You can search court cases, land deeds, vital records, and criminal history files from state and county offices across all 114 counties. Most records are free to look up through online portals like CaseNet. Some need a trip to the courthouse or a mail request. This guide walks you through the main ways to find and get copies of Missouri public records, the fees you might pay, and which offices hold the files you need. Start with the search tool below or pick a county or city from the lists on this page.
Missouri Public Records Quick Facts
Missouri Public Records and the Sunshine Law
The Missouri Sunshine Law is the backbone of public records access in this state. Codified in Chapter 610 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri, the law says that records, meetings, votes, and actions of public bodies must be open to the public unless another law says otherwise. The statute has been in place since 1973, and courts have ruled that it should be read broadly in favor of openness. That means most government files in Missouri are fair game for anyone who asks.
Each public office must have a custodian of records. That person handles requests. They have three business days to respond. If they deny your request, they must give you a written reason and cite the specific law that allows the denial. You do not need to say why you want the records. You do not need to be from Missouri. The Missouri Attorney General's Office puts out a Sunshine Law handbook each year and takes complaints when agencies fail to comply. Civil penalties range from $1,000 for knowing violations up to $5,000 for purposeful ones.
Copy fees are capped at $0.10 per page under the statute. Some offices charge more for certified copies. Most county offices accept cash, check, or money order. A few now take credit cards with a small processing fee added on top.
How to Search Missouri Court Records
Missouri court records are the most commonly requested type of public record in the state. The Office of State Courts Administrator runs CaseNet, a free online portal with over 45 million case records from circuit and associate courts across all 114 counties. You can search by party name, case number, or filing date. CaseNet covers civil suits, criminal cases, traffic citations, family law cases, probate matters, and small claims. The system runs Monday through Friday from 6 AM to 1 AM and is available at courts.mo.gov/casenet.
CaseNet shows docket entries, hearing dates, judge names, and case outcomes. It does not show the full text of filed documents. For those, you need to contact the Circuit Clerk in the county where the case was filed. Each county has a Circuit Clerk who keeps the original case files. You can visit the courthouse to view them or request copies by mail. Fees vary by county but most charge the standard $0.10 per page rate set by the Sunshine Law.
Under Section 610.100 RSMo, arrest records and investigation reports become public once the case is closed. If someone is arrested but not charged within 30 days, those records close to the public. Records also close if charges are dismissed or the person is found not guilty. Juvenile cases, sealed records, and expunged files are not available on CaseNet or from the clerk.
The Missouri Courts also operate an electronic filing system for attorneys and self-represented parties. Filed documents go through this portal and become part of the court record.
Missouri Property and Land Records
Property records in Missouri are held by the Recorder of Deeds in each county. These offices store deeds, mortgages, deeds of trust, liens, plats, surveys, and other real estate documents. Some counties keep records going back to the early 1800s. The Missouri Recorder's Association lists all 114 county recorders with contact details and links to online search tools where available.
Several counties now offer online land record searches. Boone County uses the iCounty system at boonemo.icounty.com with free registration and 50 free downloads per month. Cass County has a similar setup at cassmo.icounty.com. Clay County provides records from 1967 forward through their online portal. Greene County offers searches through Tapestry and Laredo. Not every county has gone digital, though. In smaller counties you still need to visit the courthouse or call the Recorder's office to get what you need.
Recording fees across Missouri follow a standard rate. Most counties charge $24 for the first page and $3 for each page after that. Copies run $1 per page for standard and $2 for certified. Some counties charge extra for non-standard documents or oversized plats.
Criminal Records in Missouri
The Missouri State Highway Patrol operates the central criminal history repository through its Criminal Justice Information Services Division. Under Section 43.506 RSMo, all law enforcement agencies must report arrest data to this repository. You can run a name-based criminal background check through the Missouri Automated Criminal History Site for $14 plus a $1 processing fee. Fingerprint checks cost more and require scheduling through an approved vendor.
The Highway Patrol also runs the Missouri Sex Offender Registry. It is searchable by name, address, city, county, or zip code. You can sign up for alerts when a registered offender moves into your area.
The Missouri Department of Corrections Offender Search shows current inmates and people on probation or parole. You can search by name or DOC ID number. Results include photos, sentence details, and projected release dates.
Note: Criminal history checks through the Highway Patrol show only Missouri records and do not include federal cases or records from other states.
Missouri Vital Records Search
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Bureau of Vital Records is the state office for birth certificates, death certificates, marriage records, and divorce records. Birth and death records date from 1910. Marriage and divorce records start from July 1, 1948. The Bureau is located at 930 Wildwood Drive in Jefferson City. You can reach them at (573) 751-6387.
Certified copies cost $15 each. You can order by mail, in person, or through an authorized online vendor. For events before the Bureau's coverage dates, you go to the county level. Marriage records before July 1948 are at the county Recorder of Deeds. Divorce records before that date are at the Circuit Clerk's office.
You will need to provide the full name on the record, the date and place of the event, the purpose of the request, and your relationship to the person named. Photo ID is required for all requests.
Missouri State Archives Public Records
The Missouri State Archives, part of the Secretary of State's Office, holds over 336 million pages of historical documents. Their collection goes back to the territorial period in the early 1800s. You can find Supreme Court case files, county court records, naturalization records, military records, and land grants. The Archives building is at 600 West Main Street in Jefferson City.
The Missouri Digital Heritage program puts many of these records online for free. County records are organized by county, office, record type, and date. You can view and download PDF images of original documents at no charge. Historical birth and death records from the 1883 to 1893 period are available for most counties through this system.
Business and Other Public Records
The Missouri Secretary of State's Business Services Division maintains entity records for corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, and other businesses registered in the state. You can search by business name, charter number, or registered agent. The database includes active and inactive entities with some records going back over a century. UCC filings, federal tax liens, and other secured transaction documents are also searchable here.
The Missouri Department of Revenue handles motor vehicle records, driver licensing records, and vehicle title information. Driving records can be requested by the record holder with valid ID. Third-party requests need notarized consent. The Missouri Association of Counties provides a directory of all 114 county offices with contact info for elected officials in each county.
How to Request Missouri Public Records
Getting public records in Missouri is straightforward. You have several options depending on what you need and how fast you need it.
For court records, start with CaseNet online. It is free and covers all 114 counties. If you need copies of actual filed documents, call or visit the Circuit Clerk in the relevant county. For property records, check whether your county has an online search portal through the Recorder of Deeds. Many counties use systems like iCounty, iRecord, Tapestry, or Laredo for digital access.
For a formal Sunshine Law request, you can submit it in writing to the records custodian at the relevant office. Include as much detail as you can about what records you want. The custodian must respond within three business days. You do not need to use a specific form, but some offices provide one on their website. The Attorney General's website has sample request letters and explains the complaint process if an office does not comply.
Here are the main public records sources in Missouri:
- Court records: Circuit Clerk offices and CaseNet online portal
- Land and property records: County Recorder of Deeds offices
- Vital records: Bureau of Vital Records or county offices for older records
- Criminal history: Missouri State Highway Patrol CJIS Division
- Business records: Secretary of State Business Services Division
- Tax records: County Collector and Assessor offices
- Historical records: Missouri State Archives
Note: Processing times vary by office and request type, so call ahead if you need records quickly.
Browse Missouri Public Records by County
Each of Missouri's 114 counties has its own set of offices for public records. Pick a county to find local contact details, online search tools, and fee information.
Public Records in Major Missouri Cities
Major cities in Missouri provide their own public records offices in addition to county resources. Select a city below to find local records information.