Cole County
Created in 1820, Cole County is situated in Central Missouri. It is named after William Temple Cole, a pioneer and the builder of Cole's Fort in Boonville. At least 77,278 people reside in Cole County, which has Jefferson as both its county seat and largest city.
Cole County has a trial court system comprising a circuit court and municipal courts. The Cole County Circuit Court, which is the principal county trial court, has general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases. It comprises multiple divisions categorized according to case type, namely:
- Associate Circuit
- Family Court
- Juvenile Court
- Probate Court
- Small Claims Court
- Municipal Court and Traffic Court.
The Associate Circuit judge has limited civil and criminal jurisdiction and oversees criminal misdemeanors and infractions, while the Family Court division exclusively hears cases involving families and children. Typical Family Court cases include dissolution of marriage, annulment, child custody/support, name changes, and juvenile matters.
The Juvenile Court division handles cases associated with minors, including children allegedly in need of care and treatment or beyond the control of their parents, juvenile delinquency, truancy, adoption, and guardianships. Conversely, the Probate Court division exercises general equitable jurisdiction over all probate cases relating to wills, trusts, heirs determination, and most guardianships.
The Small Claims Court handles most general civil claims for less than $3,000 through a simplified procedure. However, in the event of a defendant's counterclaim exceeding $3,000, another court may exercise partial or complete jurisdiction upon its transfer.
The Circuit Court's Municipal Court divisions have limited jurisdiction over cases involving municipal ordinance violations, while the Traffic Courts handle parking violations and other traffic ordinance offenses within the municipality's limits.
Cole County court records refer to legal documents, files, and other forms of record about court proceedings. They are important records of the court's activities during trials and typically encompass various documents such as docket sheets, case transcripts, and charge sheets. Court records in Cole County include such common examples as:
- Civil records
- Criminal records
- Probate records
- Juvenile records
The Cole County Clerk of the Circuit Court is the official keeper of court records in the county. The Missouri Sunshine Law mandates public access to government records, including court records, except when barred by law. Record seekers can opt to access court records using the state's online search portal or by visiting the Circuit Clerk's Office for personal inspection and/or copy at:
301 E High Street
Jefferson City, MO 65101
Phone: (573) 634-9150
