Court records in St. Louis, Missouri, are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk's Office and are accessible through online tools, official court portals, and directly at the clerk's office. StLouisCourt.us will help you find publicly available information about court records. Additionally, you can use the Missouri Courts CaseNet system, contact the Circuit Court Clerk's Office, or submit a request through Missouri's state resources.
St. Louis Court System Overview
The City of St. Louis in Missouri has a unique status — it is an independent city that is not part of any county. The court system here operates through the 22nd Judicial Circuit, which serves exclusively the City of St. Louis. The Circuit Court of this circuit handles a full range of cases: criminal, civil, family, probate, and juvenile. The city's Municipal Court separately handles violations of city ordinances. At the federal level, the city falls under the jurisdiction of the Eastern District of Missouri.
The Carnahan Courthouse, where the criminal division is located, is at 1114 Market Street, St. Louis, MO 63101.
Courts Serving St. Louis
Residents of St. Louis have access to several courts with different levels of jurisdiction:
St. Louis City Circuit Court (22nd Judicial Circuit)
St. Louis City Circuit Court — Criminal Division
St. Louis City Municipal Court
Municipal court cases can now be searched through CaseNet.
U.S. District Court — Eastern District of Missouri
Information about federal cases can be found on the Eastern District of Missouri's website.
What Types of Cases St. Louis Courts Hear
The courts serving St. Louis handle a wide range of cases. The 22nd Judicial Circuit Court covers virtually everything — from serious crimes to adoptions. Here are the main categories:
- Criminal cases: felonies, misdemeanors, infractions
- Civil lawsuits, including small claims
- Family law: divorce, custody, child support, paternity
- Probate cases: inheritance, guardianship, conservatorship
- Juvenile cases and child protection
- Adoptions
- Traffic violations and DUI
The Municipal Court separately handles violations of city ordinances and minor offenses.
District Court Cases in St. Louis
Missouri does not have a separate "district court" at the state level — the main court of general jurisdiction is the Circuit Court. In the 22nd Judicial Circuit, the Circuit Court hears all felonies after charges are filed, civil cases without monetary limits, appeals from the Associate Circuit Division, and post-conviction proceedings. Cases are distributed among Circuit Division judges according to the court's internal rules. Criminal felonies initially undergo preliminary hearings in the Associate Division, after which they are transferred to the Circuit Division for full trial. Civil claims over $25,000 also go directly to the Circuit Division.
Magistrate Court Cases in St. Louis
The role that magistrate courts play in other states is fulfilled by the Associate Circuit Division in Missouri. In St. Louis, this division handles:
- Misdemeanors and infractions
- Preliminary hearings in felony cases
- Civil claims up to $25,000
- Small claims — up to $5,000
- Traffic violations and DUI cases
Associate Circuit Judges also handle family and probate cases depending on workload distribution. Due to the high volume of cases in St. Louis, individual judges often specialize in specific categories — for example, exclusively traffic cases or domestic violence cases.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in St. Louis
Family Law. Divorce, custody determinations, child support, protective orders, paternity establishment, and termination of parental rights are all handled by the Family Court Division within the 22nd Judicial Circuit. Copies of divorce records can be obtained through the Recorder of Deeds or an uncertified copy can be ordered through the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records.
Probate Matters. The Probate Division handles cases of inheritance, guardianship, conservatorship, and trusts. This division operates within the same Circuit Court but has a separate hearing schedule and separate judges.
Juvenile Matters. The Juvenile Division handles cases involving minors — from offenses to child protective cases. Juvenile court records are confidential under Missouri law and are not available to the general public.
How Cases Move Through the St. Louis Court System
The progression of a case depends on its type, but the general process is as follows:
- Initiating a Case. A criminal case begins with the filing of a complaint or indictment. A civil case starts with a petition. Family or probate cases begin with the appropriate motion.
- Assignment of a Judge. The court clerk's office assigns the case to a specific judge based on category and the circuit's internal rules.
- Initial Hearings. In criminal cases — arraignment, where the defendant is read the charges and enters a plea. In civil cases — scheduling conference.
- Pre-Trial Phase. Motions, discovery, plea negotiations in criminal cases, or mediation.
- Trial or Resolution. The case concludes with a jury verdict, judge's decision, settlement, or plea agreement.
- Post-Judgment. Sentencing, filing an appeal, or enforcing the judgment.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in St. Louis
The 22nd Judicial Circuit is administered by the Presiding Judge with the support of the Court Administrator. Local court rules are published on the Missouri Courts portal.
According to Rule 2 of the Missouri Supreme Court, most court records are public. Exceptions include juvenile cases, sealed records, adoption records, and some family cases with restricted access. Requests for public records from county offices can be submitted through the Sunshine Requests portal.
Hearings in the Circuit Court are open to the public, except in cases where the judge has restricted access. Some hearings are conducted remotely — check the format with the court clerk's office at 314-622-4405.
Historical court records of Missouri are maintained by the Missouri State Archives, under the Secretary of State.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in St. Louis
Below are key resources for finding court records and related information:
- Case Search (CaseNet). The Missouri Courts CaseNet system allows searching for cases by party name, case number, or date. It is the primary online tool for accessing Circuit Court records.
- Municipal Cases. Violations of city ordinances are now available for search through CaseNet.
- Criminal History Check. The Missouri State Highway Patrol provides a criminal records check service. Fingerprint-based checks use the MACHS portal (cost — $43.50 as of 2025).
- Arrest Reports. The Highway Patrol's arrest reports database allows searching for recent arrests.
- Inmate Search (City). The Inmate Search tool of the St. Louis Division of Corrections.
- Offender Search (State). The MODOC Offender Search contains information about individuals under the supervision of the Missouri Department of Corrections.
- Sheriff's Office. The Sheriff's Office of the City of St. Louis is responsible for serving court documents and security in court buildings. Address: Carnahan Courts, 1114 Market Street, St. Louis, MO 63101.
- Vital Records. Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates can be ordered through the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records.
- Archival Records. The Records and Archives Division of the Secretary of State maintains historical documents, including old court cases.
For certified copies of court documents, contact the Circuit Court Clerk's Office directly or use the StLouisCourt.us resource to find current contact information.