Cooper County Dissolution Of Marriage
Cooper County dissolution of marriage records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk at the Cooper County Courthouse in Boonville. The 18th Judicial Circuit handles all family law cases for Cooper and Howard counties. You can search dissolution of marriage cases online through Case.net, visit the clerk in person, or request records by mail. The county seat is Boonville, and the courthouse is at 200 Main St. This page covers how to find, search, and get copies of Cooper County dissolution of marriage records.
Cooper County Quick Facts
Cooper County Dissolution Of Marriage Court
The Cooper County Circuit Clerk is the official keeper of all court records in Cooper County, including dissolution of marriage case files. The office is at the Cooper County Courthouse, 200 Main St, Boonville, MO 65233. You can call them at (660) 882-2114. The 18th Judicial Circuit covers Cooper and Howard counties.
The clerk keeps the full file for each dissolution of marriage case. This includes the petition, the response, temporary orders, settlement agreements, parenting plans, and the final judgment signed by the judge. You can ask for copies of any document in a case file. Standard copies have a per-page fee. Certified copies cost more.
Cooper County was organized in 1818. It is one of the oldest counties in Missouri. No court records have been lost, so the clerk has dissolution records going back many years.
The Missouri Courts website has forms, filing rules, and court schedules for the 18th Circuit. The Family Court division handles all domestic relations matters including dissolution, separation, custody, and support.
Search Dissolution Of Marriage in Cooper County
You can search Cooper County dissolution of marriage records online through Missouri Case.net. This free system lets you look up cases by party name, case number, or filing date. Case.net shows docket entries, parties, attorneys, and case outcomes for dissolution cases in the 18th Circuit. Records go back to the mid-1990s. Older records are at the clerk office only.
To search in person, go to the Cooper County Courthouse at 200 Main St in Boonville during business hours. Bring the names of the parties or the case number. Court staff can help you find a case. You can look at the file and request copies while there.
Case.net shows case information but does not let you view or download the actual documents. Contact the clerk for full copies of dissolution paperwork.
Filing for Dissolution Of Marriage in Cooper County
To file for dissolution of marriage in Cooper County, at least one spouse must have lived in Missouri for 90 days before filing. Under RSMo 452.305, you file in the circuit court of the county where you or your spouse lives. If both of you live in Cooper County, you file at the courthouse in Boonville.
The petition must include information required by RSMo 452.310. This includes where each party lives, the date and place of the marriage, when you separated, the names and ages of children, whether the wife is pregnant, and the last four digits of Social Security numbers. Missouri is a no-fault state. You file on the ground that the marriage is irretrievably broken.
After filing, there is a 30-day waiting period before the court can enter a judgment. Under RSMo 452.320, the court must find the marriage is irretrievably broken. Parents with minor children must complete a parent education program. Filing fees are set by the 18th Circuit.
Copies of Cooper County Dissolution Records
For copies of the full dissolution judgment from Cooper County, contact the Circuit Clerk at (660) 882-2114. Visit in person at 200 Main St in Boonville. Give the clerk the party names or case number. They will pull the file and make copies for a fee.
For a dissolution verification statement, order from the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records. Mail your request to 930 Wildwood Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65109 with $15. You can also call VitalChek at 1-877-817-7363. The Bureau has records from July 1948 forward.
Historical records may be at the Missouri State Archives in Jefferson City. Cooper County was created from Howard County in 1818, so very old records may be filed under Howard County.
Cooper County Dissolution Legal Resources
Legal Services of Missouri provides free legal help to qualifying low-income Cooper County residents. The Missouri Bar runs a lawyer referral service for the area.
Missouri Legal Help has free self-help guides for people filing their own dissolution. The Missouri Courts website has downloadable forms. Under RSMo 452.330, the court divides marital property as it sees fit, so legal advice is worth getting.
Dissolution records at the circuit court are generally open to the public under the Missouri Sunshine Law, Chapter 610 RSMo. You do not need to be a party to the case. Some personal details may be redacted.
When a dissolution of marriage involves children, the court uses Section 452.340 and the Form 14 worksheet to set child support. Both parents must fill out a Form 14 showing their income. The judge uses the result to set the support amount. Custody is decided based on the best interests of the child under Section 452.375. The court looks at things like each parent's wishes, the child's needs, and the relationship with each parent. If the parties cannot agree on custody or property, the court may order mediation under Section 452.403. Mediation gives both sides a chance to work out terms with a neutral third party before going to trial.