Montgomery County Dissolution Of Marriage
Montgomery County dissolution of marriage records are managed by the Circuit Clerk at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Montgomery City. The 12th Judicial Circuit serves Montgomery County along with Audrain and Warren counties in east-central Missouri. Montgomery City is the county seat where all dissolution petitions are filed and processed. You can search for cases online through Missouri Case.net, visit the clerk in person, or make a request by mail. This page explains the process for finding, filing, and obtaining copies of dissolution of marriage records in Montgomery County.
Montgomery County Quick Facts
Montgomery County Dissolution Of Marriage Court
The Circuit Clerk at the Montgomery County Courthouse keeps all court records in the county. Dissolution of marriage case files are among them. The courthouse is at 211 E 3rd St, Montgomery City, MO 63361. You can call (573) 564-3357. The 12th Circuit judges serve three counties and rotate between courthouses.
A dissolution case file includes the petition, response, temporary orders, settlement agreements, parenting plans for cases with children, and the final judgment. The clerk can provide copies. Standard copies are per-page. Certified copies cost more and carry the court seal.
Montgomery County was created from St. Charles County in 1818 and is one of the oldest in the state. No court records have been reported lost. The county sits between the St. Louis metro area and central Missouri.
The Missouri Courts website has information about the 12th Judicial Circuit and court services available statewide.
The 12th Circuit judges serve Montgomery, Audrain, and Warren counties. They rotate among the three courthouses. If you have a hearing set, verify with the clerk that the judge will be in Montgomery City on your court date. Uncontested cases where both parties agree can sometimes be done within weeks after the 30-day wait. Contested cases with custody or property issues take longer.
The clerk office can answer basic questions about what forms to file and what the fees are. They cannot give legal advice. Montgomery City is a small town, but its location between St. Louis and Columbia means there are attorneys in the broader region who handle cases in this circuit.
Self-represented parties can use the standard dissolution forms from the Missouri Courts website. The forms are the same for all Missouri circuits. Complete every section before filing. The clerk will review your paperwork for completeness when you submit it.
Search Dissolution Records in Montgomery County
Use Missouri Case.net to search Montgomery County dissolution of marriage records online for free. You can search by party name, case number, or filing date. Case.net shows docket entries, parties, attorneys, and outcomes. Records from the mid-1990s forward are available.
For an in-person search, visit 211 E 3rd St in Montgomery City. Bring the names of the parties or a case number. The clerk staff can help you find the right case file. You can review it and request copies on the spot.
Case.net provides case status and basic information but does not show the actual documents. Contact the clerk for copies of the petition, decree, or settlement agreement.
Filing for Dissolution Of Marriage
One spouse must have lived in Missouri for at least 90 days. RSMo 452.305 requires filing in the county where you or your spouse resides. Montgomery County residents file at the courthouse in Montgomery City.
Your petition must include what RSMo 452.310 requires: each party's residence, the marriage date and place, when you separated, names and ages of children, pregnancy status, and partial Social Security numbers. Missouri is no-fault. The ground is that the marriage is irretrievably broken.
There is a 30-day waiting period after filing. Parents with minor children must complete a parent education class. Call (573) 564-3357 for current filing fees.
Copies of Montgomery County Records
Call (573) 564-3357 or visit 211 E 3rd St in Montgomery City. Give the clerk the party names or case number. Copies are available for a per-page fee.
For a dissolution verification, contact the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records. Mail $15 to 930 Wildwood Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65109. Records go back to July 1948. Phone orders through VitalChek at 1-877-817-7363.
Older records may be at the Missouri State Archives in Jefferson City. Montgomery County records go back to 1818, making it one of the oldest counties in Missouri. Early dissolution records could be in the Archives collection.
If you need a certified copy for use in another court or government agency, tell the clerk when you place your request. Certified copies carry the court seal and have legal standing that standard copies do not. The certification fee is a few dollars more per document.
Montgomery County Legal Resources
Legal Services of Missouri offers free legal help to qualifying residents. The Missouri Bar has a referral service for family law attorneys.
Missouri Legal Help has self-help guides for people going through a dissolution on their own. The Missouri Courts website has downloadable forms that are accepted in every circuit court.
Dissolution records are public under Chapter 610 RSMo, the Sunshine Law. Anyone can request access to a dissolution file. Sensitive information like Social Security numbers and financial accounts is redacted from public copies. You do not need to be a party to the case.
The Recorder of Deeds in Montgomery County handles marriage records and property records. This is a separate office from the circuit clerk. If you need a marriage license rather than a dissolution record, contact the Recorder. Dissolution records are only at the circuit clerk office.
In Montgomery County dissolution of marriage cases, property is divided under RSMo 452.330. The court uses equitable distribution, which means a fair split based on each spouse's situation. Child support follows the Form 14 worksheet under Section 452.340. If you cannot pay the filing fee, you can ask the court to waive it through an In Forma Pauperis motion.