Missouri Dissolution Of Marriage Records
Missouri dissolution of marriage records are kept by county Circuit Court Clerks and the state Department of Health and Senior Services. The state has 114 counties plus the City of St. Louis, and each circuit clerk holds the full case file for every dissolution filed in that court. The Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City has kept a central registry of Missouri dissolutions since July 1948. You can search these records through the Case.net portal, by mail, or in person at your local courthouse. This page covers the main ways to find and get copies of dissolution of marriage records in Missouri.
Missouri Dissolution Of Marriage Quick Facts
Where to Find Dissolution Of Marriage Records in Missouri
Missouri has two main places that hold dissolution of marriage records. Circuit Court Clerks in each county keep the full case files for every dissolution filed in their court. These files have the original petition, the response, any settlement terms, and the final judgment or decree signed by the judge. You can visit the courthouse to look at records or ask for copies. The clerk stores all of this at the local courthouse and can give you what you need for a fee.
The Missouri Bureau of Vital Records within the Department of Health and Senior Services keeps dissolution verification statements. These are not the same as the full court file. A verification statement has just the names of both spouses, the date of the dissolution, and the county where it was granted. The Bureau has had these records since July 1, 1948. Under Missouri Revised Statute, Chapter 193, Section 205, every court clerk must send a report of each dissolution to the department by the fifteenth of the next month. You can order a verification statement by mail or through the Bureau's online ordering page. The fee is $15 per search.
The DHSS Dissolutions page shows how the state has tracked dissolution of marriage data since 1949. Reports filed with the department cover the number of prior marriages each party had, how many minor children were affected, education levels, type of decree, and length of the marriage.
Note: Dissolution verification statements from the Bureau contain less detail than the complete case records held by the Circuit Clerk.
How to Search Missouri Dissolution Of Marriage Cases
Missouri Case.net is the statewide online court records system. It is run by the Office of State Courts Administrator and covers all circuit courts in the state. You can search by party name, case number, or filing date to find dissolution of marriage cases. Basic searches are free. The system shows docket entries, filing dates, party names, attorneys, and case outcomes. Visit courts.mo.gov/casenet to start a search.
The Missouri Courts main page also has links to court directories, self-help forms, and family court resources. Case.net has records going back to the mid-1990s when courts began using the electronic case management system. Older dissolution records may only be on file at the local circuit clerk office.
To search for a dissolution of marriage on Case.net, you will need:
- Full name of at least one party
- The approximate year of the filing
- The county or circuit where the case was filed
You can also go to any Circuit Clerk office in Missouri and ask to see records in person. Court staff can help you find the case and make copies. Most clerks charge a per-page fee for plain copies. Certified copies cost more. For dissolution verification statements only, you can order from the Bureau of Vital Records by mail at 930 Wildwood Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65109, or by phone through VitalChek at 1-877-817-7363.
Types of Dissolution Of Marriage Records
The judgment of dissolution is the final court order that ends a marriage in Missouri. A judge signs this after the case wraps up. It states that the marriage is dissolved and spells out custody, support, and how property gets split. This is the most complete dissolution of marriage record you can get, and it comes from the circuit clerk in the county that heard the case.
The dissolution verification statement is shorter. The Missouri Bureau of Vital Records keeps these. A verification statement just confirms that a dissolution took place. It does not have settlement terms or property details. People use these for things like updating IDs, remarrying, or showing proof to other agencies. Under state law, only people with a direct and tangible interest can get a certified copy of a vital record. Immediate family members and authorized representatives qualify.
Dissolution of marriage case files can also hold motions, temporary orders, parenting plans, and other filings made during the case. The court file is the complete record. You can get copies of any document in it from the circuit clerk.
Missouri Dissolution Of Marriage Laws
Missouri statutes set out the rules for getting a dissolution of marriage. RSMo 452.305 says at least one spouse must have lived in Missouri for 90 days before filing. You file in the circuit court of the county where you or your spouse lives. The petition must say you meet the residency rule.
Missouri is a no-fault state. Under RSMo 452.320, the main ground for dissolution is that the marriage is "irretrievably broken" with no real chance of being saved. The same section creates a 30-day waiting period after the petition is filed before the court can enter a judgment. During that time, the court may issue temporary orders for custody, support, or use of the home.
Under RSMo 452.310, the petition for dissolution must include the residence of each party, the date and place of the marriage, the date the couple separated, names and ages of each child, whether the wife is pregnant, the last four digits of each person's Social Security number, and any agreements on custody and support. Section 452.312 requires each party to file their full Social Security number and job information in a separate confidential filing that is not open to the public.
RSMo 452.330 covers the division of marital property. Missouri uses equitable distribution, meaning the court splits assets in a way it considers fair. The judge looks at each spouse's financial situation, what each one put into the marriage, and the value of property each brought in separately. Section 452.340 covers child support and requires the court to use the Form 14 guidelines. Section 452.375 governs custody, requiring the court to decide based on the best interests of the child.
Note: Missouri Supreme Court Rule 88.09 requires self-represented parties in dissolution cases to complete a litigant awareness program at selfrepresent.mo.gov before the court date.
Dissolution Of Marriage Fees in Missouri
Fees vary across Missouri. The Bureau of Vital Records charges $15 per search for a dissolution verification statement. A five-year search is included with that fee. If you want to look at more years, each extra five-year block costs another $15. Ordering through VitalChek by phone or online adds a service charge on top of the state fee.
Circuit courts set their own fees for filing a dissolution of marriage. Most counties charge between $100 and $225 to file the petition. Cases with minor children may have higher fees because of guardian ad litem costs and parent education program requirements. Getting copies of existing court records is cheaper. Clerks charge a per-page rate for standard copies. Certified copies run more at any Missouri court.
If you can't afford the fees, you can ask the court for a fee waiver. File a Motion to Proceed In Forma Pauperis with proof of your finances. The judge will review it and decide.
Getting Copies of Missouri Dissolution Records
For a dissolution verification statement from the Bureau of Vital Records, you can mail your request to 930 Wildwood Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65109. Include the names of both parties, the date of the dissolution, the county, and a check or money order for $15 payable to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. You can also call VitalChek at 1-877-817-7363 to order by phone with a credit card. Mail requests take about four to six weeks.
For the full dissolution judgment and case file, contact the Circuit Clerk in the county where the case was filed. You can go in person or call ahead. Give them the names of the parties or the case number and they will pull the file. Some clerks take mail requests too.
If you need a dissolution document for use in another country, you can get an apostille from the Missouri Secretary of State. When ordering through VitalChek, select "Apostille/Authentication" as the reason. The certificate gets sent to the Secretary of State for processing and then mailed to you.
Historical Dissolution Of Marriage Records
The Missouri State Archives holds historical court records from counties across the state. This includes early dissolution of marriage files from before the central registry started in 1948. The Archives has circuit court case files from many counties going back to the 1800s. These records include docket books, judgment records, and individual case files.
Many historical records have been put on microfilm. You can view them at the Archives in Jefferson City. The reference room is open Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. Some records are also on the Missouri Digital Heritage website. The Archives has research guides that help you find court records, read old handwriting, and understand historical legal terms.
Legal Help for Dissolution Of Marriage
Legal Services of Missouri gives free legal help to low-income residents. They handle family law cases including dissolution of marriage, custody, and protective orders. Call their intake line to see if you qualify.
The Missouri Bar runs a Lawyer Referral Service. You can search for family law attorneys by location and area of practice. Missouri Legal Help has free self-help guides for people who want to file their own dissolution. The Missouri Courts website has standardized court forms you can download, including the petition for dissolution, answer, and parenting plan.
Are Dissolution Of Marriage Records Public
Yes. Court records in Missouri are generally public. The Missouri Sunshine Law, Chapter 610 RSMo, says that records of public governmental bodies must be open to the public unless the law says otherwise. You do not need to be a party to the case. You do not need to give a reason for your request.
Some things get blacked out from public copies. Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and sensitive details about children may be removed. A party to the case can ask the court to seal the file, but judges only grant that when there is a strong reason. Sealed dissolution cases are not common in Missouri. Dissolution verification statements from the Bureau of Vital Records have more restrictions. State law limits who can get a certified copy to people with a direct and tangible interest in the record.
Browse Missouri Dissolution Of Marriage by County
Each county in Missouri has its own Circuit Clerk who keeps dissolution of marriage records. Pick a county below to find local contact details and resources.
Dissolution Of Marriage in Major Missouri Cities
Residents of larger cities file for dissolution of marriage at their county circuit court. Pick a city to learn about local resources.