Ste. Genevieve County Dissolution Cases
Ste. Genevieve County dissolution of marriage records are kept by the Circuit Clerk at the Ste. Genevieve County Courthouse. The 24th Judicial Circuit covers Ste. Genevieve, St. Francois, and Madison Counties, handling all family law cases in this part of southeast Missouri. If you need to search for a dissolution case, file a new petition, or get copies of a decree, the clerk's office in the town of Ste. Genevieve is where you go. Case.net also lets you search many court records online. This page covers the main ways to access Ste. Genevieve County dissolution records.
Ste. Genevieve County Quick Facts
Ste. Genevieve County Circuit Clerk
The Ste. Genevieve County Circuit Clerk handles all court records for the county, including dissolution of marriage case files. The office is at 55 S 3rd St, Ste. Genevieve, MO 63670. You can call (573) 883-5589 for questions. The clerk keeps the full file for each case, from the petition through the final decree and any post-judgment filings.
Ste. Genevieve County is part of the 24th Judicial Circuit with St. Francois and Madison Counties. Each county has its own clerk office and courthouse. Ste. Genevieve County cases are filed and stored locally. The judges rotate between the three courthouses, but your case file stays where it was filed.
Standard copies and certified copies are available at different fee levels. Certified copies are what you typically need for legal transactions. Let the clerk know what you plan to use the copies for, and they can help you get the right type.
Search Dissolution Of Marriage Records
Search Ste. Genevieve County dissolution of marriage records for free through Missouri Case.net. Look up cases by party name, case number, or filing date. The system displays docket entries, parties, attorneys, and outcomes. Electronic records go back to the mid-1990s. Older cases are available only at the clerk's office.
For in-person searches, visit the courthouse at 55 S 3rd St in Ste. Genevieve during business hours. Bring the names of the parties or a case number if you have one. Staff will help you find the case and order copies. You can also call ahead to ask about a specific filing.
Case.net shows case information but not the full documents. You can see docket entries and outcomes but not the actual text of petitions or decrees. For document copies, contact the clerk directly.
Filing for Dissolution in Ste. Genevieve County
At least one spouse must have lived in Missouri for 90 days to file for dissolution. Under RSMo 452.305, you file in the circuit court of the county where either spouse lives. Ste. Genevieve County residents file at the courthouse in Ste. Genevieve.
The petition must include what RSMo 452.310 requires: each party's residence, marriage date and place, separation date, children's names and ages, pregnancy status, and last four digits of Social Security numbers. Missouri is no-fault. The ground for dissolution is that the marriage is irretrievably broken.
A 30-day waiting period follows filing. Parents with minor children need to complete a parent education program. Self-represented parties must finish the litigant awareness program under Missouri Supreme Court Rule 88.09. The clerk can point you to these programs.
Copies of Dissolution Records
Contact the Circuit Clerk at (573) 883-5589 or visit the courthouse at 55 S 3rd St in Ste. Genevieve for copies. Provide the names or case number so the clerk can pull the file. Standard and certified copies are both available.
For a verification statement (names, date, and county), send $15 to the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records, 930 Wildwood Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65109, payable to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Phone orders go through VitalChek at 1-877-817-7363. Records are available from July 1948 on.
Very old records from Ste. Genevieve County might be at the Missouri State Archives in Jefferson City. As one of Missouri's oldest counties, Ste. Genevieve has court records that go back to the French colonial period.
Legal Resources
Legal Services of Missouri provides free legal help to qualifying Ste. Genevieve County residents for dissolution and other family law matters. The Missouri Bar referral service can connect you with family law attorneys in the area.
Missouri Legal Help has free guides for filing dissolution on your own. The Missouri Courts website has approved forms you can download and complete.
Dissolution records are generally public under Missouri's Sunshine Law, Chapter 610 RSMo. Anyone can request access. Sensitive personal information may be redacted from public copies. Self-represented parties must complete a litigant awareness program under Rule 88.09 before the court will finalize the dissolution of marriage case. VitalChek orders cost $15 plus a service fee, and mail requests take four to six weeks to process. Fee waivers are available for those who cannot pay. File a Motion to Proceed In Forma Pauperis with proof of your income. The clerk can give you the form you need for that request.
Property division in Ste. Genevieve County dissolution cases follows RSMo 452.330. The court divides marital property equitably based on each spouse's financial circumstances and contributions. Non-marital property, such as things owned before the marriage, stays with the owner. Child support uses Form 14 under Section 452.340, and custody follows the best interests standard in Section 452.375. The court can order mediation under Section 452.403 if custody is disputed. If you cannot afford the filing fee, ask about an In Forma Pauperis motion for a fee waiver.