Adair County Court Records

Adair County court records contain information such as complaints, motions, orders, judgments, transcripts, subpoenas, exhibits, and other materials related to legal cases adjudicated in the county. The court generates a record when a case is filed and continually updates it as the case progresses and new actions occur.

Adair County court records are vital to the judicial system, promoting transparency and accountability. They serve as a resource for case information and court actions, helping the public track case proceedings or outcomes and research legal precedents.

Are Court Records Public in Adair County?

Yes. Court records are public in Adair County under the Missouri Sunshine Law (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 610.010), which designates official records of government agencies, including courts, as public records. As such, Adair County court records are available for public inspection and copying.

However, the law allows certain records or their portions to be redacted, restricted, or exempt from public access for privacy, confidentiality, or legal reasons. Examples of such records include:

• Juvenile court records
• Adoption records
• Sealed court documents
• Confidential attorney-client communication
• Medical or health-related records of defendants or litigants
• Child custody records
• Victim identities in domestic violence or assault cases
• Trade secrets
• Sensitive information such as SSNs, bank details, etc.

Adair County Court Records Search

Individuals can search Adair County court records through the following methods:

• Online search via the state's official court records portal
• In-person visits to the Adair County Courthouse or the Circuit Court Clerk's office
• Mail or phone requests to the Adair County Circuit Court Clerk's office
• Searches on third-party aggregate websites.

Adair County Courts

The Adair County court system is part of the 2nd Judicial Circuit, consisting of a single Circuit Court with six divisions: the Circuit Division, the Juvenile Division, the Associate Division, the Probate Division, the Small Claims Division, and the Municipal Division.

Below are the addresses and contact information of Adair County courts:

Adair County Circuit Court
Adair County Courthouse
106 West Washington Street
Kirksville, MO 63501
Phone: (660) 665-2552
Fax: (660) 665-3420

Brashear Municipal Division
Adair County Courthouse
106 West Washington Street
Kirksville, MO 63501
Phone: (660) 665-2552
Fax: (660) 665-3420

Kirksville Municipal Court
201 South Franklin Street
Kirksville, MO 63501
Phone: (660) 627-1237
Fax: (660) 627-7941

Novinger Municipal Division
Adair County Courthouse
106 West Washington Street
Kirksville, MO 63501
Phone: (660) 665-2552
Fax: (660) 665-3420

Adair County Criminal and Civil Records

The Adair County Circuit Court handles criminal and civil legal cases in Adair County. While criminal court records are documents from felony and misdemeanor cases, civil court records are documents from civil disputes, such as contract and property disputes, personal injury claims, landlord-tenant disputes, and small claims.

The circuit court clerk is responsible for creating, preserving, and providing public access to court records of all matters handled in the circuit court.

Interested individuals can submit a search or copy request for Adair County criminal and civil court records to the circuit clerk's office. This can be done in person, by mail, by phone, or by email. Note that fees may apply:

Adair County Circuit Court Clerk
P.O. Box 690
106 West Washington
Kirksville, MO 63501
Phone: (660) 665-2552

Alternatively, individuals may utilize the "Missouri Case Net system" to search for court records of cases handled in any of the Adair County Circuit Court divisions.

Adair County Marriage Records

An Adair County marriage record is an official document that serves as proof of a legal union, containing the names of the spouses, the date and location of the marriage, the officiant, etc. The Adair County Recorder of Deeds is the official in charge of marriage records in the county. Interested persons can contact the recorder's office to request a marriage record.

Adair County Courthouse
106 West Washington
Kirksville, MO 63501
Phone: (660) 665-3890

Alternatively, requestors can obtain an Adair County marriage record from the Missouri DHSS Bureau of Vital Records for $15 per copy.

Adair County Divorce Records

The Adair County Circuit Clerk is the official custodian of divorce records. To obtain an Adair County divorce record, interested persons should contact the circuit court clerk's office in person, by mail, or by email:

Adair County Circuit Court Clerk
P.O. Box 690
106 West Washington
Kirksville, MO 63501
Phone: (660) 665-2552

Adair County Birth Records

The Missouri DHSS–Bureau of Vital Records maintains birth records for all counties in Missouri and handles requests for the same. As outlined in 19 CSR 10-10.090, birth records can only be requested by the person on the record, immediate family members (such as parents, siblings, children, grandparents, or grandchildren), and legal representatives.

People obtain and use birth certificates to establish identity and age for passport and driver's license applications, school enrollments, and other reasons, including inheritance and adoption.

To request an Adair County birth certificate, eligible individuals should submit a completed "Birth Record Application" form in person (call (573) 751-6387 to book an appointment before visiting) or by mail to:

Bureau of Vital Records
Jefferson City Vital Records Lobby
930 Wildwood Drive
Jefferson City, MO 65109
Phone: (573) 751-6387

Mailing address:
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
Bureau of Vital Records
930 Wildwood Drive
Jefferson City, MO 65109.

Alternatively, the completed application form may be taken to the Adair County Health Department. The cost of an Adair County birth certificate is $15 per copy. Mail requests must include a valid ID, the search fee (in check or money order), a notarization, and a self-addressed envelope.

Adair County Death Records

Adair County death records are not fully public, as access to death records under 50 years old is restricted under state law to immediate family members of the deceased (e.g., spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent) and those with a tangible interest (e.g., legal representatives, estate executors).

Death certificates are needed for multiple purposes, including settling estates, probating trusts, claiming life insurance or pension benefits, and genealogical research.

Eligible persons can request Adair County death certificates by submitting a completed "Death Record Application" form to the Missouri DHSS–Bureau of Vital Records in-person, by mail, or through the Adair county health department.

To submit an in-person request, call (573) 751-6387 to schedule an appointment beforehand, and then take the completed application form to:

Bureau of Vital Records
930 Wildwood Drive
Jefferson City, MO 65109
Phone: (573) 751-6387

To submit by mail, send the completed application along with a valid photo ID and the fee in check or a money order (each certified copy of a death certificate is $14 for the first copy and $11 for additional copies) to:

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
Bureau of Vital Records
930 Wildwood Drive
Jefferson City, MO 65109.

Adair County Probate Court Records

The Adair County circuit court clerk is the official custodian of probate court records. A probate court record includes information regarding probate matters such as wills, guardianships, and conservatorships.

Interested individuals can contact the circuit clerk's office to submit inspection or copy requests for Adair County probate court records.

Adair County Circuit Court Clerk
P.O. Box 690
106 West Washington
Kirksville, MO 63501
Phone: (660) 665-2552

Otherwise, individuals can search probate court records online (if available) via the Missouri Case Net System.

Adair County Property Records

Property records in Adair County document land ownership, transfers, and legal descriptions. They typically include deeds, mortgages, easements, affidavits, liens, plats, surveys, and tax history. The County Recorder of Deeds is the primary custodian of property records, with the County Assessor's Office also maintaining certain property-related records.

Individuals seeking a property record in Adair County should contact the Recorder of Deeds Office in person (Monday through Friday, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm), by mail, or by email. Note that record search and copy fees apply:

Recorder of Deeds
Adair County Courthouse
106 W. Washington
Kirksville, MO 63501
Phone: (660) 665-3890

Alternatively, they can contact the county assessor or use the "Personal Property Search" and "Real Estate Search" portals to search Adair County property records online.

Adair County Court Records Online

The public can use third-party aggregate sites like Missouricourtrecords.us to access Adair County court records online. These sites provide convenient, remote, time-saving access to public court records through their search databases. Search criteria are mostly case numbers, party names, or dates. However, these sites operate independently of any government and, as such, may contain outdated or incomplete information.