About Missouri Public Records

About Missouri public records

State of Missouri public records online with access to government agencies and request statewide criminal history reports. Search the state's courts for county divorces and lawsuits. Look up property information, people, addresses and deeds. Fictitious business names filings and corporation search by name registered agent or charter number. Verify information and order certified documents. Access the state's department official database and web offender searches. Check where you live for sex offenders, most wanted and fugitives.

State background and court information

Missouri became a state in 1821 after the US purchased the land from France in 1809. The state's major industries are agriculture, food, manufacturing, aerospace and transportation. Missouri ranks 19th in size with 69,697 miles of territory and a population of almost 6 million people. It's centralized location and proximity to the Mississippi river played a big role in the Missouri's early economic growth. The state is the eight ranked in the U.S. for non-fuel mineral production.

Missouri has of 3 branches of government. The executive branch is comprised of elected officials such as the governor, attorney general, secretary of state, state auditor, treasurer, lieutenant governor and the state's individual departments. The legislative branch consists of the state's senate and its house of representatives. The judicial branch is the state's courts system.

There are 114 counties, one independent city (St Louis) and 946 municipalities. County governments have elected officials such as the sheriff, commissioners, administrator, prosecutor, assessor, treasurer, revenue collector and coroner. Missouri was the first state to grant cities home rule in the U.S., where they can hold local elections for their mayor and council.

Missouri statutes adopted privacy laws in 1973. The state's Sunshine Law is similar to the Federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) passed in 1966. Missourians are assured transparency and access to public records, operations, budgeting, elections and any other information that is in the custody of the state, county or local governments. This law also provides for government meetings to be open to the public. Open governments allows the residents of Missouri to obtain records for any purpose and does not bar anyone or entity with the exception of few restrictions. Guidelines vary from agency to agency, however, departments generally have the burden of showing why a certain record is not available to the public. These claims are challenged by reporters, private entities and in some cases individuals looking to uncover information held by agencies.

Missourians request records for reasons other than government scrutiny. As state and local governments are the custodian of records held in many of its agencies, their information is available for residents to request, view and copy. Documents such as birth, death, marriage and divorce information can be ordered from the Missouri department of health and human services. Anyone can conduct a background check by requesting a report from the state highway patrol's criminal justice information services division. Cases and court proceedings, including criminal filings, lawsuits, judgments and liens can be obtained from the Missouri courts. State issued licenses to professionals such as medical personnel, accountants and contractors are searched by residents regularly to verify validity and status of good standing. Access to county records are also essential to residents such as assessors offices records. Property addresses, valuations, ownerships as well as other details are available to the general public from county to county. Locals can see government employee salaries such as city manager's and council members' pay.

Criminal records can be obtained by the general public from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division. Obtain records of convictions, information of arrests within 30 days, charges filed by prosecutor pending final disposition from the courts and suspended imposition of sentence during probation. Criminal past of an individual is vital to pre employment screening or anyone looking to conduct background checks. Employers may require a history search as a condition to employment of new incoming personnel. Individuals also order background checks of themselves to see the information that can be found by others prior to applying for employment.

Public record requests by individuals in Missouri looking to uncover background information often begin with a people finder address query. Addresses, names and aliases are essential in finding out where to locate information under a person's different names or businesses. List of residences located outside Missouri can point your investigation to look for records in other states necessary for a more complete background history report.

The Missouri municipal court has jurisdiction over municipal traffic and ordinance violations. The Missouri circuit court has exclusive civil jurisdiction (including civil appeals) ($0/no maximum; associate division $0/$25,000). The circuit court also hears small claims matters of up to $3,000. The Missouri circuit court has exclusive domestic relations jurisdiction, exclusive criminal jurisdiction, and exclusive juvenile jurisdiction. The circuit court also hears traffic/other violation. The circuit court handles preliminary hearings. The Missouri court of appeals has mandatory jurisdiction in civil, noncapital criminal, capital criminal, administrative agency, juvenile, original proceeding, and interlocutory decision cases. The court of appeals has no discretionary jurisdiction. The Missouri supreme court has mandatory jurisdiction in civil, capital criminal, criminal, and original proceeding cases. The Missouri supreme court has discretionary jurisdiction in civil, noncapital criminal, administrative agency, juvenile, and original proceeding cases.

Court records and filings

Missouri court records are maintained by the Missouri Courts system. Circuit Courts are the trial courts of general jurisdiction. The Court of Appeals reviews circuit court decisions in five districts.

Case records can be searched online through Case.net, Missouri online case management system at www.courts.mo.gov/casenet.

Criminal records and background checks

Missouri criminal records are maintained by the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP), Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) division. Background checks are available in two forms: name-based searches and fingerprint-based searches through the Missouri Automated Criminal History Site (MACHS). Any person may request a criminal background check on any individual for a fee. Court records are accessible through Case.net, the Missouri Courts online case information system. MSHP also operates the Missouri Sex Offender Registry with searchable offender data by name, date of birth, or address. The Missouri Department of Corrections provides an automated offender search tool.

Vital records

Statewide Missouri vital records. Search births, marriage records and death certificates. Divorces filed with courts. State vital records offices. Link to the agencies in Missouri and order vital records. Many records are public information available to the public from private and government entities. You can use information to verify your records. Look up vital statistics and free vital searches in Missouri to conduct research online. Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Correcting or changing vital records. Missouri electronic vital records. Find records in the Missouri State Archives. See the Missouri putative father registry. Review the vital statistics laws of Missouri.

Property and asset records

Search for assets in Missouri and obtain records of property, business ownership, professional license verification and other personal or corporate assets. Find bankruptcies, liens, UCC judgment filings and find out about information that can effect a person's or company's asset. See the status of a business and verify ownership, DBA, status, activity and whether the corporation or business filed in Missouri owns property, vehicles, real estate and more. Unclaimed property and asset search from official government databases open to the public.

Government records and agencies

Access Missouri government agencies and obtain information on executive branches, legislative branches and jucidial branches within state jurisdiction. Link below to the state government agencies as well as state government information and services. Other state government resources such as codified state law, voters registration and other state government departments

Driving and vehicle records

Direct Missouri official government links to driver license and registration resources. Vehicle registration, tags, driving history, online forms, office locations, and hours.

Expungements and record clearing

Expunge your criminal past of felonies, misdemeanors, D.U.I convictions and more in the state of Missouri. Get information regarding expungements and begin to erase your previous Missouri criminal records statewide as well as nationwide. Some records can contain inaccurate or erroneous information that can be amended. Both juvenile and adult cases that can be corrected and begin your search for employment without a tainted past showing.

Genealogy and historical research

Missouri genealogy related links and topics. Individual state search of your ancestors, start a family tree, browse census records and more online.

Missing children resources

Missouri's Amber Alert Plan is one of several tools available in the search for missing children and represents coordinated efforts of law enforcement, the media, and transportation in order to increase public participation in safely recovering abducted children. The Missouri State Highway Patrol Missing Person Unit is the clearinghouse for the State of Missouri, and is an investigative unit within the patrol's Division of Drug and Crime Control. The Missouri Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force is funded by the United States Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and serves criminal justice agencies and citizens of Missouri by offering investigative, forensic and prevention training and resources in an effort to fight online child exploitation. The internet does serve an important need as it provides search databases, websites where individuals may view posters and details of children reported missing in Missouri, as well as safety tips for parents and children to help prevent abduction.