Howell County Court Records

Official documents and files generated by courts in Howell County while adjudicating civil and criminal actions/suits are referred to as "court records" or "court case records". These documents detail the events and outcomes of case proceedings held in the local courts and are valuable for following high-profile cases, determining a case's present status, studying legal precedents, and monitoring the judiciary's actions. Examples of Howell County court records include motions, judgments, orders, docket sheets, calendars, decrees, and complaints.

Are Court Records Public in Howell County?

Yes. Under Missouri Supreme Court Operating Rule 2 (COR 2), members of the public can view and copy Howell court records. This regulation grants extensive access to materials created and maintained by the judicial branch concerning a legal matter. However, records classified as confidential by law, court order, court rule, or privilege are inaccessible to the general public. These include:

• Juvenile court records
• Mental illness commitment records
• Sensitive personal data, such as social security numbers, financial account numbers, victim identifying information, and witness identifying data.
• Expunged records
• Confidential name change records

Howell County Court Records Search

To conduct a Howell County court records search, a person may act as follows:

• Visit or contact the court clerk's office.
• Access the Missouri Case.net portal.
• Utilize a public records aggregator website.

Howell County Courts

The Howell County judicial system is part of Missouri's 37th Judicial Circuit and features the following courts:

Circuit Court in Howell County

Howell County Circuit Court
106 Courthouse
West Plains, MO 65775
Phone: (417) 256-3741

Municipal Court Divisions in Howell County

Mountain View Municipal Division

125 East 1st Street
Mountain View, MO 65548
Phone: (417) 934-2601

Note: The Municipal Court Clerk's Address is at 126 North Oak Street, Mountain View, MO 65548

West Plains Municipal Division

1910 Holiday Lane
West Plains, MO 65775
Phone: (417) 256-6154

Willow Springs Municipal Division

900 West Main Street
Willow Springs, MO 65793
Phone: (417) 469-3292
Fax: (417) 469-4789

Howell County Criminal and Civil Records

One method for finding criminal and civil records in Howell County is to approach the Howell County Circuit Court Clerk's Office. The Clerk's Office is the official custodian of records from the county's Circuit Court, which holds original jurisdiction over civil (noncriminal) and criminal (felony/misdemeanor) actions and is where cases begin. A litigant's name or case number will be required for a records search, and inquirers will need to pay any fees associated with their requests. The Clerk's Office can be reached at (417) 256-3741 for document inquiries.

Members of the public can also contact or visit the clerk's office of a municipal division (a branch of the Circuit Court) for records of cases filed in that division.

Another way to access Howell County criminal and civil records is to search the Missouri Case.net portal, which is available to anyone with an internet connection and browser.

Note: The Howell County criminal records referred to in this section are the criminal case records within the local judicial system. These differ from the criminal history records preserved by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Nonetheless, judgments and sentences from local criminal court cases often form part of the statewide criminal history records, along with the Howell County arrest records, inmate data, and other information preserved by criminal justice agencies about a person's criminal past.

Howell County Marriage Records

To obtain Howell County marriage records, an individual can contact or visit the Howell County Recorder of Deeds office. This office issues marriage licenses and can provide copies of marriage certificates to a requester. Below is the Recorder's contact information:

107 Courthouse
West Plains MO 65775
Phone: (417) 256-3750
Email: countyrecorder@yahoo.com

Only the Howell County Recorder of Deeds can issue a Howell County marriage certificate. However, those who do not know a marriage license's issuing county—necessary for ordering the certificate—can request a Certified Statement Relating to Marriage from the Missouri State Department of Health & Senior Services for $15. This statement lists the names of both spouses, the marriage date, and the county that recorded the marriage.

Howell County Divorce Records

In Howell County, Missouri, divorce (dissolution of marriage) cases are adjudicated in the Circuit Court. The Circuit Court Clerk maintains all records of these cases and can be contacted in person, via telephone, or by other acceptable means for research and copy inquiries, including obtaining a certified copy of a divorce decree.

It is also possible to access the Missouri Case.net portal to look up divorce cases, including case hearings, parties & attorneys, and docket entries. Users should ensure they specify "Family/Domestic" in the search query and the specific county (i.e., Howell) to which the results should be constrained.

Howell County Birth Records

Birth records are primary identification documents useful for government applications, school enrollments, health insurance applications, and more. The Howell County Health Department disseminates these records only to persons with a "direct and tangible" interest, as stated in §193.255, RSMo, which includes:

• The registrant (18 years or older)
• Step-parents
• Relatives with a direct line of descent up to but not including cousins
• Legal guardians
• Persons legally authorized under the Missouri Department of Health's vital records rules (19 CSR 10-10)

Such persons can obtain a Howell County birth certificate as follows:

• In-Person: Fill out the Application for Certified Copy of Birth Certificate and submit it to the Howell County Vital Records Office at the following address:

Vital Records
180 Kentucky Street
West Plains, MO 65775

Visitors must bring a photo ID and a $15 fee payable by cash, check, debit card, or money order. Checks and money orders should be made payable to the Howell County Health Department. Those who opt for debit card payments are liable for a nominal processing fee.

• By Mail: Complete the relevant sections of the Mail-in Vital Records Application Form and notarize the application. Send the completed form to the following address:

Howell County Health Department
ATTN: Vital Records
180 Kentucky Street
West Plains, MO 65775

Note: Cash should not be used for mail-in requests. Also, the Howell County Health Department's Vital Records Office can only provide Howell County birth records from 1920 upwards. For earlier years, a Vital Records Application should be made to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services in Jefferson City.

Howell County Death Records

Death records in Howell County are used for various purposes, including determining mortality rates, settling decedent estates, and claiming life insurance benefits. The Howell County Vital Records Office disseminates these records to persons deemed to have a "direct and tangible" interest in them (§193.255, RSMo), such as immediate family members, funeral directors, authorized representatives, and third parties with a legitimate purpose.

Requesters of a Howell County death certificate can apply in person at the local health department with a filled-out Application for Certified Copy of Death Certificate and photo ID. An alternative is to complete and notarize the Mail-in Vital Records Application Form and then submit it to the health department. Each copy costs $15.

However, the Howell County Vital Records Office only has death certificates from 1980 upwards. Persons seeking records before 1980 can submit the Vital Records Application to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services in Jefferson City. The State Health Department charges $14 for the first certificate and $11 for each extra copy requested simultaneously.

Howell County Probate Court Records

The probate court in Howell County is a Circuit Court division that hears matters involving guardianships/conservatorships, wills and inheritances, mental health commitments, administration of estates, and sexually violent predator actions.

To obtain these Howell County court records, an individual can search the Missouri Case.net database with a probate case party's name or case number. Alternatively, they may query the Howell County Circuit Court Clerk's Office in person or at (417) 255-1422 (Probate Department). Per Missouri Supreme Court Operating Rule 2.11, reasonable fees are charged for each copy request to the Clerk's Office.

Howell County Property Records

Property records contain valuable data about real estate and its associated transactions. They can be important for determining real estate ownership and transfers, detecting encumbrances on property, and uncovering a property's tax obligations. Below are methods for finding property records in Howell County:

• Request property records maintained by the Howell County Recorder of Deeds Office, the county's official property records custodian. The Recorder can be reached at (417) 256-3750 for inquiries.
• Contact or visit the Howell County Assessor's Office, which is responsible for assessing all taxable properties within the jurisdiction.
• Access the Howell County Collector's online Real Estate Search tool using a tax ID, parcel number, or owner's name.

Howell County Court Records Online

Third-party websites like Missouricourtrecords.us streamline the process of acquiring Howell court records. These sites also feature other Howell County public records, like the Howell arrest records, property information, and criminal records, and are easily navigable with a person's first and last name. However, there are restrictions on confidential information (which generally cannot be obtained outside of official sources), and users may be charged for extensive access. Further, while third-party vendors regularly update their databases, a consumer still runs the risk of inaccurate or outdated information, as such sites are not affiliated with the government.