Missouri Public Records: A Complete Research Guide

Last Updated on March 21, 2026 by Editorial Staff

Missouri public records are government-created documents, data, and communications maintained by public governmental bodies that are accessible to any person under the Missouri Sunshine Law, codified at Chapter 610 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri (RSMo). The law declares it the public policy of the state that “meetings, records, votes, actions, and deliberations of public governmental bodies be open to the public unless otherwise provided by law,” and it expressly requires the Sunshine Law to be liberally construed and its exceptions strictly construed in favor of openness.

Residents frequently perform a Missouri public records search — sometimes called a Missouri Sunshine Law request, Missouri open records request, or Missouri government records search — to locate court filings, property ownership data, criminal history, business registrations, vital records, inmate information, and other government documents. Missouri also has a separate and older Missouri Public Records Law (Chapter 109, RSMo), which predates the Sunshine Law and restricts some access to Missouri citizens — but for most practical purposes, the broader Sunshine Law governs public records access across the state’s 114 counties and independent city of St. Louis.

Public records in Missouri are distributed across state agencies and 114 county governments plus the City of St. Louis (which functions as an independent city-county). The Missouri Courts’ Case.net system provides free statewide court case access, and the Missouri Highway Patrol maintains criminal justice information through the state repository. Understanding which agency maintains each record type is the key to researching public records effectively in Missouri.

Quick Answer: Where to Search Missouri Public Records

The most important free and low-cost government databases for researching Missouri public records include:

• Missouri Courts Case.net (courts.mo.gov/casenet) — free statewide circuit court case search; dockets, charges, and dispositions for all 114 counties and St. Louis
• Missouri State Highway Patrol Criminal Justice Information Services (mshp.dps.mo.gov) — Missouri criminal history records through the state repository; fee-based
• Missouri Sex Offender Registry (mshp.dps.mo.gov/CJ38/sor) — free statewide sex offender registry maintained by the Highway Patrol
• Missouri DOC Offender Search (doc.mo.gov) — Missouri Department of Corrections inmate and offender search; free
• Missouri Secretary of State Business Search (sos.mo.gov/business) — corporations, LLCs, and business registrations; free
• County Recorder of Deeds portals — deeds, mortgages, and recorded property instruments; many offer free online searching
• County Assessor portals — property ownership, assessed value, and tax records by county
• Missouri DHSS Vital Records (health.mo.gov/data/vitalrecords) — birth and death certificates ($15/copy); marriage statements from DHSS; marriage certificates and divorce records from county offices
• Missouri AG Sunshine Law resources (ago.mo.gov) — Sunshine Law guidance, FAQs, AG opinions on records disputes

These systems provide access to the majority of publicly searchable government records in Missouri.

⚠️ Legal Notice

Missouri public records law is governed primarily by the Missouri Sunshine Law (Chapter 610, RSMo), enacted in 1973. The Sunshine Law presumes all government records are open unless a specific exception applies. Common closed-record categories include law enforcement investigative records in active investigations, attorney-client privileged materials, certain personnel records, student records, individually identifiable health information, real estate appraisal records during negotiations, and certain security information. Exceptions are to be strictly construed in favor of openness. Missouri also has a separate Missouri Public Records Law (Chapter 109, RSMo) that restricts some access to Missouri citizens only — this older statute is narrower in scope and generally superseded by the Sunshine Law for most requests.

This guide explains lawful public records research methods and does not constitute legal advice.

Why This Guide Is Reliable

This guide is written by the research team at inet-investigation.com and based directly on the text of Chapter 610, RSMo, the Missouri Attorney General’s Sunshine Law publications and FAQ, official agency websites including the Missouri Courts, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, and the Missouri Secretary of State. We cite specific statutory provisions so readers can verify our statements independently. We update our guides when laws or agency procedures change. We do not accept payment from agencies, databases, or third-party vendors to shape our content.

Why Missouri Public Records Law Is Distinctive

Missouri’s Sunshine Law has a precise 3-business-day response window — and a mandatory detailed explanation if that deadline is missed. Under § 610.023.3, RSMo, agencies must respond to records requests “as soon as possible, but no later than the end of the third business day” following receipt. If the agency cannot provide immediate access or respond within three days, it must give the requester a detailed written explanation of the reason for the delay and provide the earliest date and time the records will be available. This combination of a short hard deadline plus a mandatory detailed explanation for any delay is stronger than many states (including Wisconsin, which has no fixed deadline, and Arizona, which uses “promptly”).

Missouri imposes tiered financial penalties for Sunshine Law violations — up to $1,000 for inadvertent violations, up to $5,000 for purposeful ones. Unlike many states where enforcement is limited to attorney’s fees and injunctive relief, Missouri’s Sunshine Law provides for direct monetary penalties payable to the state treasury: up to $1,000 for violations the court finds were knowing but not purposeful; up to $5,000 for violations the court finds were purposeful. Courts consider the offender’s history, the size of the jurisdiction, and the gravity of the offense when setting the amount. The Missouri Attorney General — not just individual requesters — has authority to enforce the Sunshine Law, adding an institutional enforcement mechanism absent in many states.

Missouri’s Case.net court records system is free, statewide, and covers all 114 counties plus the City of St. Louis — one of the most comprehensive free court systems in the country. Missouri’s Case.net at courts.mo.gov/casenet provides free public access to circuit court dockets covering all Missouri counties and St. Louis City. With over 45 million case records dating back to the 1980s (availability varies by county), the system covers civil, criminal, family, probate, traffic, and municipal cases. Unlike Wisconsin (which misses Milwaukee) or Minnesota (which requires knowing which court to search), Missouri’s Case.net is a true statewide search.

Missouri has a dual public records law structure — the Sunshine Law and the older Public Records Law — with different access rules. The Missouri Public Records Law (Chapter 109, RSMo, enacted 1961) applies only to records “kept due to statute or ordinance” and restricts access to Missouri citizens. The Missouri Sunshine Law (Chapter 610, RSMo, enacted 1973) is broader, applies to any person regardless of residency, and covers all records of public governmental bodies. For most practical purposes, Sunshine Law requests are the appropriate vehicle — but researchers should be aware that the Public Records Law exists as a parallel pathway and applies differently.

Missouri fees are capped at actual cost, and agencies must use the lowest-salaried employees capable of fulfilling the request. Under § 610.026, RSMo, fees for public records may not exceed the actual cost of document search and duplication, and agencies must use “the lowest-salaried employees” capable of searching, researching, and copying the records. Copying fees are up to $0.10 per page for paper copies. The requirement to use lowest-salaried employees — not attorneys or high-salaried staff — to process routine requests is a meaningful cost control found in few other state laws.

Missouri vital records have a distinctive split between state-level and county-level access for different record types. Missouri’s DHSS Bureau of Vital Records holds statewide birth and death records. But marriage certificates are only available at the county Recorder of Deeds — the state DHSS holds only marriage statements (simplified verifications), not the full certificate. Divorce records are only at the county circuit court clerk. This split structure — birth/death at state or county health departments, marriages at the county Recorder of Deeds, divorces at the circuit court — requires researchers to understand where each record type lives before requesting.

The Legal Framework

Missouri Court Records

Missouri’s court system has four levels: the Missouri Supreme Court (highest appellate), the Missouri Court of Appeals (intermediate appellate, three districts — Eastern, Western, Southern), Circuit Courts (trial courts of general jurisdiction, 45 circuits covering 114 counties and St. Louis City), and Municipal Courts (limited jurisdiction for municipal ordinances and traffic matters). Missouri has 114 counties plus the City of St. Louis, which functions as an independent jurisdiction not part of any county.

Missouri Courts Case.net (courts.mo.gov/casenet) — Free Statewide Search

Missouri’s Case.net system at courts.mo.gov/casenet is one of the most comprehensive free public court access systems in the country. Case.net provides free public access to circuit court case dockets from all Missouri counties and St. Louis City, covering civil, criminal, traffic, family law, small claims, probate, and municipal cases. The system contains over 45 million records, with docket availability from the 1980s onward (actual cutoff varies by county, with most counties available from the mid-1990s). Cases are searchable by litigant name, case number, citation number, or filing date. No login or registration is required.

Case.net shows docket entries, party information, charges, dispositions, hearing dates, and judgment information. It is an index system — it shows that documents were filed, but actual filed documents are not viewable through Case.net for most cases filed before July 1, 2023. For documents filed after that date, expanded remote access was implemented. For pre-2023 documents, researchers must visit courthouse public access terminals or contact the circuit clerk directly.

St. Louis City Circuit Court

St. Louis City is an independent jurisdiction separate from St. Louis County. The City of St. Louis maintains its own circuit court (22nd Judicial Circuit), and records for St. Louis City cases are accessible through Case.net. Researchers should be careful to distinguish between St. Louis City (independent city) and St. Louis County (separate county with its own circuit courts) — a common source of confusion.

Federal Court Records

Missouri has two federal judicial districts. The Eastern District of Missouri (St. Louis) and the Western District of Missouri (Kansas City). Federal case records are available through PACER (pacer.gov) at $0.10 per page after a $30 quarterly free threshold.

Sealed and Expunged Records

Juvenile records in Missouri are confidential and not accessible through public court systems. Adult criminal records may be expunged by court order for qualifying offenses under RSMo § 610.140. Expungement removes the record from public access in both Case.net and law enforcement records systems. Missouri has begun implementing automatic expungement for qualifying minor offenses under “Clean Slate” legislation, focusing on non-violent crimes where the required waiting period has elapsed without re-offending.

Missouri Criminal Records

Missouri State Highway Patrol — Criminal Justice Information Services

The Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) Criminal Justice Information Services Division maintains the state’s criminal history repository. Criminal history record information is accessible through the MSHP for authorized purposes, with public access available through fee-based requests. The MSHP maintains fingerprint-based records submitted by law enforcement agencies statewide. Contact the MSHP CJIS Division for background check services — fees and access procedures are detailed at mshp.dps.mo.gov.

For case-level criminal court information, Missouri’s free Case.net system is the most accessible public tool — it shows criminal charges, dispositions, and sentencing information for circuit court cases statewide.

Missouri Sex Offender Registry

The Missouri State Highway Patrol maintains the Missouri Sex Offender Registry at mshp.dps.mo.gov/CJ38/sor. The registry is free and searchable by name, address, county, or zip code. Missouri requires sex offenders to register with local law enforcement. The public registry includes photographs, addresses, offense information, and tier level.

Missouri Property Records

Missouri property records are maintained at the county level across three offices: the County Recorder of Deeds (recorded instruments — deeds, mortgages, liens), the County Assessor (property ownership, assessed value), and the County Collector/Treasurer (property tax records). Missouri has 114 counties plus the City of St. Louis. There is no statewide consolidated property records database, though many counties and the City of St. Louis provide free online access.

County Recorder of Deeds — Recorded Instruments

The County Recorder of Deeds (called the Recorder of Deeds in St. Louis City) is the official recorder of real property instruments. Deeds, deeds of trust (mortgages), liens, releases, and plats are recorded here when property is transferred or encumbered. When property is sold in Missouri, the deed is recorded with the County Recorder of Deeds in the county where the property is located. Missouri imposes a Real Estate Transfer Tax that is disclosed on the deed, making sale prices generally determinable from recorded instruments. Most county recorders of deeds provide free or low-cost online searching of recorded documents; many provide free document images.

In Missouri, the Recorder of Deeds also serves as the local issuing authority for marriage certificates — the full marriage certificate (as opposed to the simplified marriage statement available from DHSS) is only obtainable from the county Recorder of Deeds where the license was obtained.

County Assessor — Ownership and Valuation

The County Assessor maintains current property ownership, assessed values, and property classification records. Missouri conducts reassessment every two years on odd-numbered years. Most county assessor websites provide free online searching by owner name, address, or parcel number. Jackson County (Kansas City), St. Louis County, St. Louis City, Greene County (Springfield), and other major counties all provide robust online assessor search tools.

Missouri Business Records

The Missouri Secretary of State’s Business Services Division maintains business entity records at sos.mo.gov/business. The free online search covers corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships, limited liability partnerships, and other registered entities. Entity status, registered agent, principal address, and filing history are publicly accessible. The Secretary of State also maintains UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) financing statement filings, which are publicly searchable.

Missouri requires most business entities to file annual or biennial reports. Entities that fail to file may be administratively dissolved, with that status visible in the public search. The Secretary of State’s office also maintains records of professional charitable registrations, foreign entity registrations, and notary commissions.

Missouri Vital Records

Missouri has a split vital records system. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City maintains the statewide registry of births (from January 1, 1910) and deaths (from January 1, 1910), along with a central registry of marriages and divorces (from July 1, 1948). However, certified marriage certificates and divorce decrees are held at the county level — not by DHSS.

Fees and Ordering — DHSS and Local Health Departments

Missouri vital records are not open to the general public — access is restricted to persons with a “direct and tangible interest” in the record. Eligible requesters include the person named on the record, immediate family members (parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts/uncles, children), and those who can show just cause.

The DHSS fee schedule (effective May 2024):

• Birth certificates: $15 per copy (non-refundable search fee)
• Death certificates: $14 for the first copy, $11 for each additional copy ordered at the same time

Records may be ordered online through DHSS’s authorized vendor, by mail (must be notarized), by phone, or in person at any of Missouri’s approximately 115 local public health agency (LPHA) vital records offices statewide. For faster service, DHSS recommends using a local health department — any Missouri health department can issue records for events occurring anywhere in the state for certain date ranges. Walk-in service is available at local health departments; the DHSS state office in Jefferson City also accepts walk-in appointments.

Marriage Records — Two Different Documents, Two Different Offices

Missouri maintains two different marriage-related documents through two different offices:

• Certified Statement Relating to Marriage (marriage statement): Available only from DHSS in Jefferson City. Contains names of both spouses, date of marriage, and county of recording. Useful when you don’t know the county. Covers marriages from July 1, 1948.
• Certified copy of the marriage certificate: Available only from the County Recorder of Deeds in the county where the license was obtained. Contains the full certificate information. Not available from DHSS.

Divorce Records

Divorce decrees in Missouri are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk in the county where the dissolution was filed. DHSS maintains a central registry of divorce records from July 1, 1948 but does not issue full divorce decrees — only a simplified divorce record statement. For certified copies of divorce decrees, contact the circuit court clerk in the relevant county.

Historical Records

Missouri vital records become public after specified periods. The Missouri Secretary of State’s Digital Heritage website provides free access to historical Missouri records including early vital records, pre-1910 birth and death records at the county level, and marriage records through December 31, 1969. The Missouri State Archives also holds historical court records, land records, and vital records predating statewide registration.

Missouri Inmate and Corrections Records

The Missouri Department of Corrections (DOC) maintains a free public Offender Search at doc.mo.gov. The search covers individuals currently incarcerated in Missouri state correctional facilities, individuals on supervised release or probation, and individuals who have been discharged. Results include offense information, sentence details, and current facility or supervision status.

County jail records are maintained by individual county sheriff’s offices. Most Missouri county sheriffs maintain online inmate rosters or jail lookups. Jackson County (Kansas City), St. Louis County, St. Louis City, and other populous counties provide online jail search tools through their sheriff’s office websites.

Professional License Records

The Missouri Division of Professional Registration under the Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance (pr.mo.gov) is the primary licensing authority for dozens of regulated professions in Missouri, including real estate agents, engineers, architects, contractors, nurses, physicians, pharmacists, and many others. The free online license lookup at pr.mo.gov is searchable by name, license number, or profession type and includes current license status and any public disciplinary actions.

The Missouri Supreme Court maintains the official attorney roster through The Missouri Bar (mobar.org). Attorney license status, bar number, and public disciplinary history are searchable through mobar.org and the Missouri Courts website.

Charity and Nonprofit Records

Charitable organizations soliciting contributions in Missouri are required to register with the Missouri Attorney General’s Office. The AG’s Charities Search database at ago.mo.gov provides registration status and annual reports for registered organizations. Missouri requires registration for most organizations raising funds from Missouri donors, with some exemptions.

For federal tax-exempt organizations (501(c)(3) and related entities), the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search (apps.irs.gov/app/eos) provides free access to Form 990 returns and exemption status. ProPublica’s Nonprofit Explorer (projects.propublica.org/nonprofits) also provides searchable Form 990 data for Missouri nonprofits.

How to Submit a Missouri Sunshine Law Request

Any person — regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose — may submit a Sunshine Law request to any Missouri public governmental body. Requests may be made orally or in writing. Written requests are recommended to create a documented paper trail and to trigger the agency’s written response obligations.

Step 1 — Identify the Agency and Its Custodian of Records

Determine which specific public governmental body maintains the records you need. Every public governmental body in Missouri is required to appoint a custodian of records who is responsible for responding to public records requests, and the identity and location of the custodian must be made available upon request (§ 610.023.1, RSMo). For state agencies, check the agency’s website; for local governments, check the county or city website. Submit your request directly to the records custodian.

Step 2 — Submit Your Request

Describe the records you want with reasonable specificity. You do not need to explain why you want the records, cite the Sunshine Law by name, or use any particular form. However, some agencies may have forms or online portals for submitting requests. Submit your request in writing — by email, mail, or in person — to the custodian. Note the date of submission.

Step 3 — Track the Three-Business-Day Window

The agency must respond within three business days of receipt. The response may be immediate access to records, a partial production, or an explanation with the earliest date records will be available. If the agency does not provide records or a detailed explanation by the end of the third business day, it is in violation of the Sunshine Law. Document the date the agency received your request and follow up in writing if the three-day window passes without a substantive response.

Step 4 — Request Itemized Fee Estimates and Review

If the agency indicates fees will apply, request a written itemization of the estimated costs before production begins. Agencies may charge for actual staff time (using the lowest-salaried capable employees), copying costs (up to $0.10/page for paper), and programming/equipment costs for electronic records. Agencies may request upfront payment for copying fees. They may not charge for the time spent reading and reviewing records to determine what to release.

Step 5 — Appeal Through the AG or Circuit Court

If your request is denied, the agency must provide a written statement of the reason for denial with its statutory basis. A public governmental body may seek an opinion from the Missouri Attorney General regarding whether a specific record is open or closed — and if the body seeks an AG opinion, it buys itself time without being found in purposeful violation while the opinion is pending. As a requester, you may also contact the Missouri AG’s Sunshine Law unit at ago.mo.gov for guidance. For binding enforcement, file a civil action in the circuit court in the county where the governmental body is located. The statute of limitations is one year from the denial. The governmental body bears the burden of demonstrating compliance with the Sunshine Law. If the court finds a knowing or purposeful violation, it may assess penalties up to $1,000 (knowing) or $5,000 (purposeful) and award attorney’s fees.

Free Government Databases for Missouri Public Records

Common Mistakes When Researching Missouri Public Records

Confusing St. Louis City with St. Louis County. Missouri’s City of St. Louis is an independent city-county, legally separate from St. Louis County. They have different government offices, different recorders of deeds, different circuit courts, different assessors, and different health departments. A property in Clayton is in St. Louis County (21st Judicial Circuit); a property in downtown St. Louis is in St. Louis City (22nd Judicial Circuit). Researchers who search the wrong jurisdiction will find no records. This is perhaps the most common geographic error in Missouri public records research.

Expecting the DHSS state office to issue marriage certificates. DHSS’s Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City issues a simplified marriage statement (confirming names, date, and county) — but not the full marriage certificate. The full marriage certificate is only available from the County Recorder of Deeds in the county where the marriage license was obtained. Researchers who contact DHSS looking for a marriage certificate will be redirected to the county Recorder of Deeds.

Assuming Case.net shows the full text of court documents. Case.net is an index and docket system — it shows that documents were filed, parties involved, charges, dispositions, and case events. It does not show the actual text of filed documents for most pre-July 2023 cases. To read actual court filings, orders, or judgments for older cases, researchers must visit courthouse public access terminals or contact the circuit clerk to request copies. For cases filed after July 2023, expanded remote document access is available.

Not knowing that Missouri agencies must use the lowest-salaried employees for request fulfillment. Missouri’s Sunshine Law requires agencies to use the lowest-salaried employees capable of searching, researching, and copying the records — they cannot bill for attorney review time on routine records requests. Researchers who receive a cost estimate that includes attorney hourly rates for locating standard administrative records should question whether attorney review was truly necessary for those specific records, as the statute prohibits charging for attorney time unless that expertise is genuinely required.

Waiting passively after 3 business days with no response. Missouri’s Sunshine Law is explicit: if an agency doesn’t respond by the end of the third business day, it must provide a detailed written explanation and an estimated completion date. Requesters who receive no response should follow up in writing immediately after the deadline passes, noting the date of the original request and that the response is overdue. This documented non-response strengthens any subsequent AG complaint or court action.

Not understanding the two-law structure when requesting specific types of records. Missouri’s older Public Records Law (Chapter 109) restricts access to Missouri citizens and applies to records “kept due to statute or ordinance.” For records not covered by the Sunshine Law (such as certain judicial administrative records), researchers may need to invoke the older Public Records Law — but only Missouri citizens are entitled to request under that law. Non-Missouri residents should rely exclusively on the Sunshine Law, which has no residency requirement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Missouri public records open to anyone?

Under the Missouri Sunshine Law (Chapter 610, RSMo), yes — any person may request public records regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Under the older Missouri Public Records Law (Chapter 109, RSMo), access is restricted to Missouri citizens. For the vast majority of public records requests, the Sunshine Law is the applicable and appropriate law, and no residency requirement applies.

Does Missouri have a FOIA law?

Missouri does not use the term “FOIA” — the federal Freedom of Information Act applies only to federal agencies. Missouri’s state law is the Missouri Sunshine Law (Chapter 610, RSMo), originally enacted in 1973. The law is broadly considered strong — it covers all public governmental bodies, imposes a tight 3-business-day response deadline, requires exceptions to be strictly construed, and provides for financial penalties for violations. The Missouri Attorney General is specifically empowered to enforce the Sunshine Law, adding an institutional enforcement mechanism.

Are Missouri criminal records public?

Criminal case information is publicly accessible through the free Case.net system (courts.mo.gov/casenet), which shows criminal charges, dispositions, and sentencing from circuit court dockets statewide. For a comprehensive criminal history report from the state repository (including arrest and fingerprint-linked records), contact the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Criminal Justice Information Services Division. Juvenile records are confidential. Expunged records are sealed from public access in both court records and law enforcement systems.

Where are Missouri property records searched?

Missouri property research requires two offices in the correct county (or St. Louis City). The County Recorder of Deeds maintains recorded instruments — deeds, mortgages, liens — for the county where the property is located. The County Assessor maintains ownership, assessed value, and property classification records. There are 114 counties plus the independent City of St. Louis, making it critical to identify the correct jurisdiction. The County Recorder of Deeds also maintains marriage certificates — a uniquely combined role in Missouri.

Are Missouri arrest records public?

Arrest records from criminal court proceedings are publicly accessible through Case.net. For broader arrest information held by law enforcement agencies, Sunshine Law requests to the relevant law enforcement agency apply — though active criminal investigation records may be withheld as closed records during an investigation. Expunged records are sealed. Juvenile arrest records are confidential.

Can a Missouri public agency charge fees for records?

Yes, but fees are strictly capped. Under § 610.026, RSMo, fees may not exceed the actual cost of document search and duplication, agencies must use the lowest-salaried employees capable of fulfilling the request, and paper copying is capped at $0.10 per page. Agencies may also charge for actual staff time (at the applicable hourly rate), equipment use, and programming costs for electronic records. Fees may be waived or reduced when release is in the public interest and likely to contribute significantly to public understanding. Agencies may request upfront payment before fulfilling copying requests.

Final Thoughts

Missouri’s Sunshine Law is one of the stronger open records frameworks in the country — its 3-business-day response deadline, mandatory detailed explanation for delays, tiered financial penalties, AG enforcement authority, and requirement to use lowest-salaried employees for request fulfillment all reflect a genuinely pro-disclosure system. The free Case.net court records system — covering all 114 counties and St. Louis City — is among the best state court access portals in the nation.

The main practical challenges are the geographic complexity created by Missouri’s 114 counties plus the City of St. Louis (with St. Louis City/County confusion being the most frequent research pitfall), the split vital records system requiring researchers to know which office holds which type of record, and the practical reality that some state agencies have documented long backlogs despite the 3-day statutory deadline. The dual-law structure (Sunshine Law and Public Records Law) adds a layer of complexity that most researchers can ignore by simply relying on the Sunshine Law for all requests.

For the most common research tasks: start court records at Case.net (free, statewide, covers all jurisdictions); for criminal case history, Case.net is the best free tool; for property records, identify the county and search both the Recorder of Deeds (instruments) and Assessor (ownership and valuation); for vital records, contact the local county health department for birth/death certificates ($15/$14 at most locations), the county Recorder of Deeds for marriage certificates, or the circuit court clerk for divorce records.

Related Guides

• Illinois Public Records: A Complete Research Guide
• Kansas Public Records: A Complete Research Guide
• Tennessee Public Records: A Complete Research Guide
• Indiana Public Records: A Complete Research Guide
• Ohio Public Records: A Complete Research Guide
• How to Search Property Records Step by Step
• How FOIA Requests Work
• Best Government Databases for Background Research

Disclaimer

This guide is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice. Public records laws and agency procedures change over time. Always verify current law and agency requirements directly with the relevant government office or a licensed Missouri attorney before relying on this information for legal or official purposes.