St. Louis County
St. Louis County, which was created in 1764, lies in eastern Missouri. It is the state's most populous county and is home to over one million residents. Clayton serves as its county seat. St. Louis County is bordered by the City of St. Louis and the Mississippi River to the east, the Missouri River to the north, and the Meramec River makes up its southern border.
St. Louis County's trial court system encompasses a circuit court and several municipal courts. The St. Louis County Circuit Court, which has the broadest jurisdiction, hears all civil and criminal cases. It also comprises various divisions organized according to case type, including:
- Associate Circuit Division
- Family Court Division
- Probate Court Division
- Small Claims Court Division
- Municipal Court Division
- Traffic Court Division
The Associate Circuit judges hear misdemeanor criminal and infractions, while the Family Court Division exercises exclusive jurisdiction over divorce, alimony, legal separation, adoption, annulment, child support, child protection, adult abuse protection, name change petitions, and juvenile matters.
The Probate Court Division hears probate of will cases, trust administrations, and most guardianship suits. It also oversees proceedings for the determination of heirs. The Small Claims Court Division provides a simplified procedure for handling general civil claims below $3,000, exclusive of interest or costs. It may, however, transfer part or all of the case to another court division if the defendant files a counterclaim exceeding $3,000. The Municipal Court Division of the St. Louis County Circuit Court is a limited division court that presides over municipal ordinance violations
St. Louis County court records refer to any material on or by which legal information arising from court proceedings in the county trial courts is wholly or partially stored. This information, which could either be in paper or electronic form, excludes court or judicial administrative records. Typically, court records contain indexes, calendars, evidence, transcripts of case proceedings, motions, and decrees, among others. Several records comprise court records in St. Louis County, including:
- Family Law records
- Juvenile records
- Civil records
- Criminal records
The St. Louis County Clerk of the Circuit Court is the official record keeper of court records. Interested persons, per the State's Sunshine Act, have the legal right to access non-exempt court records, including St. Louis County court records. Requesters can request court records online, by mail, or in person at the Circuit Clerk's Office.
