| Circuit Clerk | St. Louis County Circuit Clerk |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | St. Louis County Courthouse, 105 South Central Avenue, Clayton, MO 63105 |
| Phone | (314) 615-8029 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Earliest records noted | Varies by court — older files may be on paper or microfilm |
| Plain copy fee | Set by local court rule in each circuit (COR 21.01(a)(22)); $1.00 per copied page in probate proceedings statewide. Circuits publish $0.25–$1.00 per page (e.g., St. Charles $0.25; Jasper $1.00; Boone $1.00 first page, $0.10 each additional) |
| Certified copy fee | $1.50 per seal on a certified or authenticated copy in probate proceedings statewide (COR 21.01(a)(18)); for other case types, set locally — commonly $1.00–$1.50 per certification on top of the copy fee |
St. Louis County is Missouri's most populous county and its own judicial circuit, the 21st Judicial Circuit. One office, the Circuit Clerk, keeps the record for every division of the circuit court: civil, criminal, family, juvenile, probate, and the county's municipal-related matters that reach circuit court. The circuit is headquartered at the St. Louis County Courthouse in Clayton.
St. Louis County is a separate government from the City of St. Louis, which has its own circuit (the 22nd) and its own circuit clerk. The two are easy to confuse by name alone, and searchers who mean the county are frequently redirected to the city's clerk, or the reverse, so confirm which one you need before searching or mailing a request.
Case information for St. Louis County circuit cases is on the statewide Case.net system; the county court's own website links to Case.net and to local forms, fee schedules, and filing procedures rather than running a separate case-search tool of its own.
Search St. Louis County court records online
Circuit Clerk
St. Louis County Circuit Clerk
- Cost
- Free case search on Case.net; fees apply for copies
- Coverage
- All circuit-court divisions for the 21st Judicial Circuit — civil, criminal, family, juvenile, and probate
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate
Case search is through the statewide Case.net system, not a separate county portal. This page has forms, filing guidelines, and fee schedules.
What is available online
St. Louis County circuit cases (civil, criminal, family, probate) are searchable statewide on Case.net, which shows docket entries and party information rather than scanned filings. The circuit clerk's own website is mainly for forms, local rules, and fee schedules rather than a separate case-search tool. Extended hours apply for certain divisions, including adult abuse and juvenile detention matters; check the circuit clerk's site for current schedules.
Which clerk has your record
In Missouri, the clerk who keeps a file depends on which court heard the case. Check the court name on the case notice, citation, or order, then use the office and coverage details above to identify the record holder. Court names and responsibilities differ by state; a county clerk may not keep court case files. For federal cases, see the PACER guide. The full court structure is on the Missouri page.
| Court | Typical cases | Records kept by |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit Courts (46 judicial circuits) | Felony and misdemeanor criminal cases; Divorce, custody, and other family cases; Civil suits of any amount | Circuit Clerk of the circuit (called the Circuit Clerk in every Missouri circuit) |
| Municipal Courts (Municipal Divisions) | City and county ordinance violations; Minor traffic tickets issued within city limits | Municipal court clerk for that city, or the circuit clerk where the municipal division is part of the circuit court |
Request records in person or by mail
St. Louis County clerk offices
St. Louis County Courthouse, 105 South Central Avenue, Clayton, MO 63105
Phone: (314) 615-8029
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Case search. Use Case.net (the statewide system) to search St. Louis County circuit cases by name or case number. The county's own site does not run a separate search.
Copies. Request plain or certified copies in person at the courthouse in Clayton, or by mail to the Circuit Clerk's office at the courthouse address; include the case number, the documents needed, whether they must be certified, and payment or a request for a fee quote. Call ahead to confirm the current fee.
Sealed or juvenile files. These require proof of identity and status as a party or someone entitled to access, presented to the clerk in person.
Fees
| Item | Typical cost in Missouri |
|---|---|
| Plain copy | Set by local court rule in each circuit (COR 21.01(a)(22)); $1.00 per copied page in probate proceedings statewide. Circuits publish $0.25–$1.00 per page (e.g., St. Charles $0.25; Jasper $1.00; Boone $1.00 first page, $0.10 each additional) |
| Certified copy | $1.50 per seal on a certified or authenticated copy in probate proceedings statewide (COR 21.01(a)(18)); for other case types, set locally — commonly $1.00–$1.50 per certification on top of the copy fee |
Missouri court costs are set by the Supreme Court of Missouri under RSMo 488.012 through Court Operating Rule 21.01. That rule fixes copy fees only for probate proceedings ($1 per copied page and $1.50 per seal for a certified or authenticated copy) and otherwise leaves "reasonable fees for postage and per copied page as provided by local court rule," so plain and certified copy fees for civil, criminal, and family cases differ by circuit. Published examples: St. Charles County $0.25 per page plus $1.50 per certification; Jasper County $1.00 per page plus $1.50 for certification and seal; Boone County $1.00 for the first page and $0.10 each additional page plus $1.00 for a certified copy. Confirm the current fee with the circuit clerk before sending payment.
Need a copy an agency will accept? See how to get certified copies of court records.
Sealed and restricted records
Missouri court records are presumed open, but several categories are closed to the public by statute or court rule:
The Missouri guide lists every category of sealed and restricted record, and our guide to expunging or sealing a criminal record explains how to remove one from public view.
Frequently asked questions
Are St. Louis County court records online?
Case docket information is on the statewide Case.net system. The St. Louis County Circuit Clerk's own website provides forms and fee information rather than a separate search tool.
Is St. Louis County the same as the City of St. Louis for court records?
No. St. Louis County (21st Judicial Circuit, courthouse in Clayton) and the City of St. Louis (22nd Judicial Circuit, its own courthouse downtown) are separate governments with separate circuit clerks.
Which office keeps probate and family cases in St. Louis County?
The same office — the St. Louis County Circuit Clerk keeps records for all divisions of the 21st Judicial Circuit, including probate, family, civil, and criminal.
How do I get a certified copy of a St. Louis County court record?
Request it from the Circuit Clerk's office at the Clayton courthouse, in person or by mail, with the case number and the documents you need. Call first to confirm the current copy and certification fee.
Sources
- St. Louis County Circuit Clerk — https://stlcountycourts.com/services/circuit-clerk/
- St. Louis County Courts (21st Judicial Circuit) — home — https://stlcountycourts.com/
- Missouri Courts — Case.net — https://www.courts.mo.gov/cnet/welcome.do
- Missouri Courts — Circuit Court overview — https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=321
- Missouri Courts — Appellate Court Opinions/Decisions — https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=1944
- MACHS Name Search Portal (Missouri State Highway Patrol) — https://www.machs.mo.gov/MocchWebInterface/
- RSMo 488.012 — Court costs; fee schedule authority — https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=488.012
- Missouri Court Operating Rule 21 — Court Costs, Fees, Miscellaneous Charges, and Surcharges — https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=200636&up=1040
- RSMo 610.140 — Expungement of criminal records — https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=610.140
- RSMo 610.105 — Closing of arrest records when charges not filed or dismissed — https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=610.105
- RSMo 211.321 — Juvenile court records, confidentiality — https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=211.321
- United States District Court, Eastern District of Missouri — https://www.moed.uscourts.gov/
- United States District Court, Western District of Missouri — https://www.mow.uscourts.gov/
See also: all Missouri counties.