Phelps County
Phelps County was established in 1857 and named after John S. Phelps. The county is located in the central part of the state and covers about 671.8 total square miles, making it the 37th greatest county in Missouri according to landmass. According to data from the 2020 US Census, Phelps County holds a population of 44,638 people, and Rolla serves as the county seat. The Phelps County court system consists of a Circuit Court and five Municipal Courts.
The Phelps County Circuit Court has general jurisdiction over most civil and criminal cases. With specialized divisions, including civil, probate, criminal, and traffic division, it oversees a diverse caseload, such as guardianship, family law disputes, juvenile matters, small claims, and local ordinance violations. The Municipal Courts in Phelps County have limited jurisdiction to hear cases involving violations of municipal ordinances. These courts handle cases such as minor criminal matters, code enforcement issues, and other infractions within city limits. Municipal Courts do not deal with state law violations; instead, they deal with offenses involving parking violations, speed tickets, and noise complaints.
Court records in Phelps County are created during legal proceedings and document all activities and decisions made by the courts. These records include evidence, submissions, case filings, motions, judgments, and orders. Phelps County court records are maintained by the Phelps County Circuit Clerk's Office. Confidential records, such as juvenile cases or sealed records, are kept private and require court authorization for access. Publicly available Phelps County court records include:
- Family Records
- Criminal Records
- Civil Records
- Probate Records
- Traffic Records
In Phelps County, court records may be accessed online through the Circuit Clerk portal. Record seekers may also visit in person to request county court records at the Phelps County courthouse at:
Phelps County Courthouse
200 N Main Street
Rolla, MO 65401
Phone: (573) 458-6210
