Lawrence County
Established in 1845, Lawrence County was named in honor of James Lawrence, a naval officer renowned for his notable quote during the War of 1812. It encompasses roughly 613 square miles, with Mount Vernon serving as its county seat. The U.S. Census Bureau puts Lawrence County's 2023 population estimate at 38,872.
Lawrence County is part of Missouri's 39th Judicial Circuit. This court consists of several divisions, each handling distinct subject matters. The Circuit Division has general jurisdiction over felony cases transferred from the Associate Division and all civil actions involving amounts exceeding $25,000. The Associate Division holds hearings on felonies, misdemeanors, small claims, domestic cases, probate, juvenile matters, and all civil lawsuits involving amounts under $25,000.
The Probate Division oversees the estates of deceased persons and the appointment of guardians or conservators for minors and disabled adults. It also handles cases related to wills and trusts, estates of persons who passed away without a will, and civil commitments to mental facilities for individuals with substance abuse problems.
Furthermore, the Juvenile Division is responsible for the protection, discipline, and care of children who enter the justice system. It addresses cases of child abuse and neglect, as well as violations of state law committed by individuals under the age of 18. The Lawrence Municipal Courts, as part of the Circuit Court, are authorized by the state constitution to resolve city ordinance violations, traffic infractions, and other minor offenses.
Unless deemed confidential by court rules or state law, Lawrence County court records are accessible to the public and maintained by the Circuit Clerk. Interested parties may visit the appropriate division within the Clerk's Office to request a review or obtain copies of court records in the following case categories:
- Criminal cases
- Municipal cases
- Traffic cases
- Civil cases
- Probate cases
- Domestic/family cases
Electronically stored court records maintained by the Lawrence Circuit Clerk are accessible to the public through Case.net. You can view case information and docket entries by searching using a name, case number, filing date, or scheduled hearing date. To request a copy of a publicly available case, send an email to lawrencecounty@courts.mo.gov.
