Franklin County
Franklin County was formed in 1818 and named after Benjamin Franklin, a prominent Founding Father of the United States. The county is Missouri's fourth largest county by land, having approximately 923 square miles of land in its home state. There are over 104,000 persons residing in Franklin County as of 2022. Popular cities in the county include Washington and Union, which serves as its government seat.
Franklin County residents are served by the Circuit Court and Municipal Courts. The Circuit Court in the county presides over all criminal and civil cases. It comprises several subject-matter divisions, such as family, probate, and juvenile circuit courts. The Circuit Court also features an Associate Circuit division tasked with handling unlawful detainer cases and general civil lawsuits, which are $25,000 or less in controversy. Associate Circuit judges also hear and decide misdemeanors and other minor criminal proceedings. Franklin County has several municipal courts, also considered municipal divisions of the Circuit Court. These courts, located in Union, New Haven, and Sullivan, resolve city ordinance violations and traffic Infractions.
Franklin County public court records contain details of court trials, such as who is involved, what the case is about, and the judge's decisions. Members of the public often request court documents to learn more about legal cases, verify legal actions, or gather information for personal or journalistic purposes. The Circuit Clerk keeps and distributes public court records filed in Franklin County's Circuit Court. Examples of court records accessible to the public include:
- Criminal court records
- Traffic court records
- Probate court records
- Civil court records
- Family court records
Requesters can get public court documents by calling or visiting the Clerk's Office at:
Franklin County Circuit Clerk
401 East Main Street, Room 100A
Union, MO 63084
Phone (Criminal): (636) 583-7365
Phone (Civil): (636) 583-7366
Phone (Probate): (636) 583-6312
An alternative way to access court records is by searching Missouri Case.net. Users must provide names of involved parties, case numbers, or filing dates to access desired court records via the state's online platform. Viewing court records online or at the Clerk's Office is free of charge. However, paper copies typically cost $1 for the first page and $0.10 for additional pages.
