Start with Case.net at courts.mo.gov for statewide court searches — Missouri has a solid centralized court search covering all 115 counties plus the City of St. Louis. For criminal background checks, use the Missouri State Highway Patrol criminal record check ($13 fee). For property, start with the County Assessor, then the County Recorder of Deeds.
Sources verified by SearchSystems.net, the first public-records directory since 1997.
Missouri Counties — Most Searched
Statewide Databases
Browse the databases below. Each links directly to an official government portal.
Criminal & Court Records
Vital Records
Business, Voter & Other
How to Search Missouri Criminal Records
Case.net at courts.mo.gov does what most state court systems can't — it actually works well. Free, statewide, covering all 115 counties plus the City of St. Louis for criminal, civil, and traffic cases. Search by name and get results with charges, dispositions, and case details. The Missouri State Highway Patrol sells name-based criminal checks for $13 at mshp.dps.missouri.gov. The DOC offender search covers state inmates. The sex offender registry is maintained by the Highway Patrol. One trap: St. Louis City and St. Louis County are completely separate jurisdictions. If your search returns nothing, make sure you didn't search the wrong one.
How to Search Missouri Court Records
Case.net at courts.mo.gov is Missouri's statewide court search — criminal, civil, family, probate, traffic, municipal — all 115 counties plus the City of St. Louis, all in one search. It's free and it's solid. The trap is jurisdictional: St. Louis City is an independent city completely separate from St. Louis County. They share a name but nothing else — different courts, different clerks, different records. Jackson County (Kansas City) is another heavy-volume jurisdiction. Always triple-check which jurisdiction you're searching. Beyond that, Missouri's Circuit Courts handle all case types at the county level, making Case.net a genuine one-stop search.
How to Search Missouri Property Records
The County Assessor handles property valuations. The Recorder of Deeds files the documents — deeds, mortgages, liens, plats. The County Collector sends tax bills and takes payments. Three offices, three functions. In St. Louis City (the independent city), a separate City Assessor and City Recorder of Deeds handle property — do NOT contact St. Louis County offices for city property. In Kansas City, property crosses four counties (Jackson, Clay, Platte, Cass), so you need to know which county a specific address falls in. Most urban and suburban counties have online property search tools.
How to Get Missouri Vital Records
The DHSS Bureau of Vital Records at health.mo.gov handles statewide birth and death certificates — $15 per copy. Records before 1910 are spotty at the state level and may require the local registrar or county Recorder of Deeds. Marriage licenses are filed with the Recorder of Deeds in the county where the ceremony took place. Divorce records sit with the Circuit Clerk. One quirk: in St. Louis City, marriage and property records go through the city Recorder — not the county. Missouri is another state where the city/county split creates confusion if you don't know which jurisdiction to contact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I search for Missouri public records? ▼
Public records in Missouri are not in one place. Court records, property records, and vital records are handled by different offices. Use The Clerk of Court for cases, The County Assessor for ownership and valuations, and The County Clerk for birth, death, or marriage records.
Why does my Missouri search return no results? ▼
The most common reason is searching the wrong system. Many records are split between state and county offices. Try switching to the correct office for your record type — court records are not stored with property or vital records.
Is there a single database for all Missouri records? ▼
No. Missouri records are maintained by separate offices with separate systems. There is no unified search that covers everything in one place.
Are St. Louis City and St. Louis County the same? ▼
No. They are completely separate jurisdictions with separate courts, police, property records, and government. St. Louis City is an independent city that left St. Louis County in 1876. Searching the wrong one will return no results.
What is Case.net? ▼
Case.net at courts.mo.gov is Missouri's free statewide court case search covering criminal, civil, family, probate, and traffic cases across all 115 counties plus the City of St. Louis.
BBB A+ Rated