St. Charles County Court Records
St. Charles County court records are official documents or judicial archives containing all papers, forms, submissions, and actions filed concerning a court case. They typically include all allegations, suits, claims, pleadings, motions, exhibits, orders, witness testimony, affidavits, warrants, docket entries, transcripts, details on the party involved, attorney, court location, trial dates, case type, and all other non-confidential information.
These records are subject to the Missouri Sunshine Law and, as a result, are regarded as open records. Court records detail every event in hearings, thus ensuring that judges and other court staff follow due protocol and conduct impartial and fair trials. They are also an essential part of legal history and research.
Are Court Records Public in St. Charles County?
Yes. St. Charles County court records are publically available records. The Missouri Sunshine Law states that all records and activities of public governmental institutions in the execution of official duty are open to the public for inspection and copying. Residents of St. Charles County have the legal right to submit open record requests for court records without stating the purpose for the request, except it is exempt from public disclosure by federal or state law or judicial order.
Where to Conduct a St. Charles County Case Lookup
Researchers and other interested persons in St.Charles County can conduct a County Case lookup for information like court dockets, case history, parties, attorneys, transcripts, charges, pleadings, future court dates, and judgment using the following resources:
- The St. Charles County Courthouse
- Missouri Courts Case Management System
- St. Charles City Municipal Court Traffic/Criminal Case Search.
How to Conduct a St. Charles County Case Records Search
The guides below detail how to find case records in St.Charles County, Missouri.
- St. Charles County Courthouse
Residents of St. Charles County may visit the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office to look up judgment indexes and make copies of court documents. Interested persons may also submit an online record request form for copies of documents. Generally, requesting copies of a government record is subject to fees. However, if the requester can prove that they need it for reasons of public interest and not personal or financial, their request will be eligible for a waiver.
The St. Charles County Court Clerk charges $0.25 per page to make copies of court documents and $1.50 for certification. Individuals can make copies of multiple court documents except sealed records. Only parties with a legitimate interest in a case, like the parties to the case or an attorney, can retrieve copies of sealed documents. Even then, they must present a valid ID card.
- Missouri Courts Case Management System
The Missouri Courts Case Management System called Case.net provides case information online free of charge. Users can conduct a case record search from their homes with a smartphone or any electronic device with access to the internet. The site contains case information for all Missouri state courts, including the St. Charles County Circuit Court. Searchers can look up records by case name, filing date, or their case number. It also has an option to find scheduled trial times and dates.
- St. Charles City Municipal Court Traffic/Criminal Case Search
The City Municipal Court Traffic/Criminal Case Search website allows users to search case information and upcoming court dockets for cases under the jurisdiction of the municipality court. Court dockets contain the judge's name and the precise location in the courthouse where the trial will be held (courtroom number). To find traffic and criminal court case records, the searcher may need to provide the litigants' name, date of birth, and driver’s license number.
St. Charles County Civil Court Case Records
Civil court case records are official documents of legal proceedings in dispute between two or more private parties for legal remedies(damages) or enforcement of human rights or specific performance. Civil case records include all claims, appeals, judgments, and papers filed regarding civil matters. Individuals can retrieve copies of civil court case records from the St. Charles County Circuit Court and the Missouri Case.net System.
St. Charles County Criminal Court Case Records
Municipal Courts create criminal court case records in relation to legal proceedings in a criminal court or a trial of a criminal nature. Criminal cases involve a violation of state or federal criminal laws and constitute acts that put the society or individuals in danger or risk of danger(assault, kidnapping, larceny, murder, arson, driving under the influence). In criminal cases, the state or government official brings a case to court against the offender(defendant/accused), and the victim is a witness. This setup is different from a civil court case where the victim or person seeking damages(plaintiff) brings an action against the other party, the defendant.
In St. Charles County, criminal cases are tried in municipal courts. The Court Clerk of Municipal Courts file and maintain criminal court case records. Members of the public may contact the Municipal Court Clerk or use the Municipal Court Traffic/Criminal Case Search site referenced in earlier subheadings to retrieve criminal case records.
How to Get Court Records Online for Free
The State of Missouri’s online case management system, Case.net, is a publicly accessible website that provides free access to non-confidential court records. Information on Case.net is updated and uploaded by the respective court clerks and is available at all times. Researchers can search court records by name, filing date, and case number and search through an index of judgments, scheduled hearings, and trials.
An alternate means to get court records online for free may be third-party aggregate websites or private court record search applications. These services are often free or charge minimal fees for access to their data. The standard search criteria for such sites are case number, name, address, and court location.
Courts in St. Charles County
The St.Charles County court system comprises Circuit Courts, Municipal Courts, and a Juvenile Justice Center. Depending on their jurisdiction, these courts adjudicate criminal, civil, probate, traffic, juvenile, and domestic-related cases. Below are the addresses and contact information of courts within St. Charles County.
St. Charles County Circuit Court
300 North 2nd Street
St. Charles, MO 63301
Phone: (636) 949-3080
St Charles Municipal Court
1781 Zumbehl Road
St Charles, MO 63303
Phone: (636) 949-3378
St. Charles County Municipal Court
399 Turner Boulevard
St. Peters, MO 63376
Phone: (636) 949-1833
St. Charles County Juvenile Justice Center
1700 South River Road
St. Charles, MO 63303
Phone: (636) 949-3040
