Search Warren County Dissolution Records
Dissolution of marriage records in Warren County are maintained by the Circuit Clerk at the Warren County Courthouse in Warrenton. The 12th Judicial Circuit handles all family law cases here, also serving Audrain and Montgomery counties. You can search dissolution of marriage cases through Missouri Case.net, visit the clerk in person at the courthouse, or send a written request by mail. Warren County was created from Montgomery County and organized in 1833. This page covers how to look up, search, and get copies of Warren County dissolution of marriage records.
Warren County Quick Facts
Warren County Dissolution Of Marriage Court
The Warren County Circuit Clerk is the official keeper of all court records in the county, including dissolution of marriage case files. The office is at the Warren County Courthouse, 104 W Main St, Warrenton, MO 63383. You can call them at (636) 456-3363. The 12th Judicial Circuit covers Warren County, Audrain County, and Montgomery County.
The clerk holds the full file for each dissolution case. This includes the petition, the response filed by the other spouse, temporary orders, settlement agreements, parenting plans if children are part of the case, and the final judgment of dissolution. You can get copies of any document in the file. Standard copies cost a per-page fee. Certified copies cost more and are sometimes needed for banks, schools, or other official purposes.
Warren County sits west of St. Charles County along the Missouri River corridor. The county has seen steady growth in recent years, which means the court handles an increasing number of family law cases. Because the 12th Circuit serves three counties, judges rotate between courthouses. Call the clerk to confirm the court schedule before planning a trip to the courthouse.
The Family Court division handles domestic relations matters like dissolution of marriage, legal separation, child custody, child support, and paternity cases. Commissioners may handle some preliminary matters and make findings for the judge.
Search Dissolution Of Marriage in Warren County
You can search Warren 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 results for dissolution cases filed in the 12th 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 Warren County Courthouse at 104 W Main St in Warrenton during business hours. Court staff can help you find a specific case. Bring the names of the parties or the case number if you have it. You can review the file and request copies while there.
Case.net shows case information but does not allow you to view or download the actual documents in a dissolution file. For full copies of petitions, decrees, or other filings, contact the clerk directly or visit in person.
Filing for Dissolution Of Marriage in Warren County
To file for dissolution of marriage in Warren 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 Warren County, you file at the courthouse in Warrenton.
Your petition must include details required by RSMo 452.310. You need to state where each party lives, when and where the marriage took place, the date of separation, names and ages of any children, whether the wife is pregnant, and the last four digits of Social Security numbers. Missouri is a no-fault state, so the only ground for dissolution is that the marriage is irretrievably broken.
There is a 30-day waiting period after filing before the court can enter a judgment. Parents with minor children must complete a parent education program. Self-represented parties must complete a litigant awareness program per Missouri Supreme Court Rule 88.09. Filing fees are set by the 12th Circuit and may vary depending on whether the case involves children.
Warren County is close to the St. Louis metro area, so residents sometimes have questions about which county to file in. You file in the county where you or your spouse actually lives, not where you work. If you have recently moved to Warren County, make sure you meet the residency requirement before filing.
Copies of Warren County Dissolution Records
For copies of the full dissolution judgment and case file from Warren County, contact the Circuit Clerk at (636) 456-3363. You can visit the courthouse at 104 W Main St in Warrenton. Give the clerk the party names or case number, and they will pull the file and make copies for a fee.
For a dissolution verification statement (which shows 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 Warren County dissolutions from July 1948 forward.
Historical dissolution records from Warren County may also be at the Missouri State Archives in Jefferson City. The Archives holds circuit court case files from many counties going back to the early 1800s. No records have been lost in Warren County.
Warren County Dissolution Legal Resources
Legal Services of Missouri provides free legal help to qualifying low-income Warren County residents. They handle family law matters including dissolution cases. The Missouri Bar runs a lawyer referral service to help you find family law attorneys in the area.
Missouri Legal Help has free self-help guides for those filing a dissolution without a lawyer. The Missouri Courts website provides standardized forms you can download. The courthouse in Warrenton may also have printed self-help information 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 request copies. Some sensitive information like Social Security numbers and bank account numbers may be blacked out from public copies.