Jackson County Dissolution Of Marriage
Jackson County dissolution of marriage records are held by the Circuit Clerk at the Jackson County Courthouse in Kansas City. The 16th Judicial Circuit handles all family law cases for Jackson County, one of the busiest courts in Missouri. You can search dissolution of marriage cases through Case.net, visit the clerk in person at the courthouse, or request records by mail. The county seat is Independence, though the main courthouse for dissolution filings is at 415 E. 12th Street in Kansas City. This page covers how to find, search, and get copies of Jackson County dissolution of marriage records.
Jackson County Quick Facts
Jackson County Dissolution Of Marriage Court
The Jackson County Circuit Clerk is the official keeper of all court records in Jackson County, including dissolution of marriage case files. The office is at the Jackson County Courthouse, 415 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, MO 64106. You can call them at (816) 881-3934. The 16th Judicial Circuit is one of the biggest in Missouri and handles only Jackson County. That means a large volume of dissolution cases pass through this court each year.
The clerk keeps the full file for each dissolution of marriage case. This includes the petition, the response, temporary orders, any 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 cost a per-page fee. Certified copies cost more.
The 16th Circuit Court website has information about court services, forms, and filing procedures for Jackson County. You can find schedules, judge assignments, and contact information for different divisions of the court there.
The Family Court division of the 16th Circuit handles all domestic relations matters. This includes dissolution of marriage, legal separation, child custody, child support, and paternity cases. Family Court commissioners may handle some preliminary matters and make recommendations for the judge.
Search Dissolution Of Marriage in Jackson County
You can search Jackson 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 filed in the 16th Circuit. It has records from the mid-1990s forward. Older dissolution records are on file at the clerk office only.
To search in person, go to the Jackson County Courthouse at 415 E. 12th Street in Kansas City during business hours. The court staff can help you locate a specific case. Bring the names of the parties or the case number if you have it. You can look at the file and request copies while there.
Note: Case.net shows case information but does not let you view or download the actual documents in a dissolution file.
Filing for Dissolution Of Marriage in Jackson County
To file for dissolution of marriage in Jackson 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 Jackson County, you file at the 16th Circuit courthouse.
The petition must include certain information required by RSMo 452.310. This includes the residence of each party, the date and place of the marriage, the date 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, so you can 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 of dissolution. Jackson County requires parents with minor children to complete a parent education program. Missouri Supreme Court Rule 88.09 also requires self-represented parties to complete a litigant awareness program. Filing fees in Jackson County are set by the circuit and vary depending on whether children are involved.
Copies of Jackson County Dissolution Records
For copies of the full dissolution judgment and case file from Jackson County, contact the Circuit Clerk at (816) 881-3934. You can go in person to the courthouse at 415 E. 12th Street in Kansas City. 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 only (which has just the names, date, and county), you can order from the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records. Mail your request to 930 Wildwood Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65109 with $15 payable to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. You can also order by phone through VitalChek at 1-877-817-7363. The Bureau has records of Jackson County dissolutions from July 1948 forward.
Historical dissolution records from Jackson County may be at the Missouri State Archives in Jefferson City. The Archives holds circuit court case files from many counties going back to the 1800s.
Jackson County Dissolution Legal Resources
Legal Services of Missouri provides free legal help to qualifying low-income Jackson County residents. They handle family law matters including dissolution of marriage cases. The Missouri Bar runs a lawyer referral service that can connect you with family law attorneys in the Jackson County area.
Missouri Legal Help has free self-help guides for people who want to file their own dissolution. The Missouri Courts website has standardized forms you can download. The 16th Circuit also has self-help resources at the courthouse for people who cannot afford an attorney.
Under the Missouri Sunshine Law, Chapter 610 RSMo, dissolution of marriage records at the circuit court are generally open to the public. You do not need to be a party to the case to ask for access. Some details like Social Security numbers and financial account numbers may be blacked out from public copies.
Cities in Jackson County
Jackson County includes several major cities. Residents of these cities file for dissolution of marriage at the 16th Circuit Court in Kansas City.