Newton County Court Records

Per Court Operating Rule (COR) 1, Newton County court records are data, documents, or information received and maintained by the Circuit Court. They contain civil and criminal information like party name, type, and address, case number and type, attorneys' names and addresses, file date, birth year, docket entries, and pending charges, as highlighted in Mo. Sup. Ct. Op. Rule 2.04. By allowing this information to be available to the public, the court ensures that legal proceedings are open to scrutiny and minimizes the risk of wrongful convictions.

Are Court Records Public in Newton County?

Yes. The Missouri Sunshine Law and Mo. Sup. Ct. Op. Rule 2.02 presumes all court records to be open to the public. This means records in the custody of New County Courts are available for public inspection and copying. These laws do not apply to records deemed confidential according to Missouri statutes, court rules, or orders. Below are some examples of confidential Newton County court records under the Missouri Court Operating (COR) Rule 4.24:

• Filing information sheets (COR 4.07)
• Mental health records (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 630.140)
• Drug court records (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 478.005)
• Adoption records under (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 453.120)
• Juror questionnaires (Supreme Court Rule 27.09)
• Most paternity case records (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 210.846)
• Criminal psychiatric evaluations (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 552.020.13)
• Sexually violent predator records (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 632.513)
• Records relating to grand jury proceedings (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 545.080)
• Records pertaining to victims of sexual offenses (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 595.226)
• Search warrant applications until the warrant is returned to the issuing court or expires
• Juvenile court records (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 211.321 and Supreme Court Rules 122.02 and 122.03)

Newton County Court Records Search

The most common ways to find court records in Newton County are online through the Case.net portal and in person at the Circuit Court. Online searches are quite limited, but they are free. Those who prefer to visit the courthouse to submit their requests should be willing to pay copy fees. Alternatively, they can order copies of Newton County court records from third-party websites for a small fee.

Newton County Courts

All courts in Newton County are trial courts, and they consist of a circuit court and several municipal courts. The addresses of these courts are below:

Newton County Judicial Center
40th Judicial Circuit
123 East Main St.
P.O. Box 170
Neosho, MO 64850
Phone: (417) 451-8210
Fax: (417) 451-8272

Diamond Municipal Division
301 E. Market
Diamond, MO 64840
Phone: (417) 325-4444

Granby Municipal Division
302 N. Main Street
Granby, MO 64844
Phone: (417) 472-6556

Neosho Municipal Division
203 East Main
Neosho, MO 64850
Phone: (417) 451-8007

Seneca Municipal Division
1303 Cherokee Street
Seneca, MO 65865
Phone: (417) 776-2723

Newton County Criminal Records

The Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) provides access to criminal records through its Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division. Individuals can conduct a search in two ways:

• Personal identifier or name-based search: This search requires a person's name, date of birth, and social security number. The request can be conducted online through the MACHS Name Search Portal. New users must create an account and log in with an email address and password. A name-based search requires a fee of $15 per request.
• Fingerprint search: Requesters will need a completed applicant fingerprint card (FD-258) to conduct this search. They can schedule a fingerprint appointment with an approved third-party vendor using the MACHS Fingerprint Search Portal. The vendor charges $11.50 per applicant, and a fingerprint-based search costs $20, payable by check or money order. The turnabout time is about seven to ten business days.

Interested persons can get Newton County arrest records by phone at (417) 451-8311 or in person at the Sheriff's Office. All in-person applications should be made from Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. at:

Newton County Sheriff's Office
208 W. Coler
Neosho, MO 64850

Get Newton County Civil Court Records

The Newton County Circuit Court has a Civil Department that handles all civil cases like small claims, adult abuse orders, garnishments, and domestic cases. Individuals can view or copy these cases online, by email at newtoncivil@courts.mo.gov, or in person at the courthouse. Online access to civil court information is possible through the Case.net portal. Users can search for records by litigant name, filing date, case number, scheduled hearing, or judgment.

Newton County Marriage Records

The Recorder of Deeds considers marriage certificates as part of Newton County public records. Therefore, it issues certified copies of such records to anyone upon request. Individuals can click on the Public Search menu at the top bar of the Recorder of Deeds website to request Newton County marriage records online. Scroll down the page and click the Select Options link beneath the Certified Marriage License area. Then, enter both the groom's and bride's names to make a purchase. Online orders cost $17, payable by credit card or PayPal. Record seekers searching for a cheaper option can visit the Recorder of Deeds office to obtain certified copies of marriage certificates for $9 per copy. In-person requests can be made from Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at:

Newton County Recorder of Deeds
Suite 209
101 S Wood St
Neosho, MO 64850
Phone: (417) 451-8224
Email: recorder@ncrecorder.org

Newton County Divorce Records

Record seekers can obtain copies of divorce records at the Newton County Circuit Court's Civil Department. They can visit the courthouse in person during business hours or send an email to newtoncivil@courts.mo.gov to request a record. All in-person requests should be made during business hours. Both in-person and email requesters must know some information about the divorce case to help locate the appropriate records. After locating the divorce record, the record staff will communicate the copy fees to the customer.

Interested persons can also use the Case.net portal to locate divorce records without charges. However, this portal does allow users to purchase certified copies of records. They provide information about the divorce online. A search can be conducted by name, filing date, case number, or judgment. Users should go to the "Required Information" area and choose "Newton County-40th Judicial Circuit" as the participating court. If it is a name-based search, go to the "Optional Information" area and select "Family/Domestic" from the "Case Type" dropdown.

Newton County Birth and Death Records

The Newton County Vital Records Department provides certified copies of birth and death certificates to members of the public. Individuals can find Newton County birth records from 1920 and death records from 1980 to the present at the Department. The Office does not accept online and phone orders, but such services are available through an approved third-party vendor for an additional cost. The standard fee for Newton County birth certificates is $15 each, and the first copy of a death certificate costs $14, while subsequent copies cost $11 each.

The Department accepts walk-in and mail requests for birth and death certificates. Mail applicants should submit a completed, notarized Application for Missouri Vital Record-Birth/Death Form and money order. Walk-in services are available Monday to Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Customers can pay for their requested certificates by cash, money orders, and credit cards and receive them while they wait. Below is the Department's physical and mailing address:

The Newton County Health Department
812 W Harmony St.
P.O. Box 447
Neosho, MO 64850
Phone: (417) 451-3743
Fax: (417) 451-1852

Newton County Probate Court Records

The Probate/Juvenile Department of the Circuit Court is the custodian of all probate records in Newton County. These records are available to members of the public in person during business hours. The record staff may give the requester a form to fill out or just ask them to provide a name or case number to initiate the search. When the record is located on the computer, it is printed out and released to the requester after the necessary copy fees have been paid.

Record seekers who cannot visit the courthouse can view probate court records via the Case.net portal for free. The search criteria are litigant name, filing date, case number, scheduled hearing, or judgment. Users can filter their searches by selecting the appropriate court and case type.

Newton County Property Records

The Newton County Register of Deeds is the official custodian of all property records such as deeds of trust, plats, powers of attorney, liens, warranty deeds, releases, and surveys. Copies of these records can be purchased online or in person at the Office during regular business hours. In-person copy fees cost $1 for the first page, $1 for each additional page, and $1 per document for each certified copy. Plats and surveys (18" x 24") cost $5. The online copy fee costs $3.50 for 1-30 pages, payable by credit card or PayPal. Online orders are returned by email within 24 hours during normal business hours.

Individuals can also use the GIS Map available on the Newton County Assessor's website to view property records without charges. They can conduct a parcel search by name or PID. Those who cannot locate a record using the map can visit the Office from Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., to obtain copies of property records. Contact the Office by phone at (417) 451-8228 or email at cheryle.perkins@newtoncountymo.gov to inquire about copy fees.

Newton County Court Records Online

Interested persons can also find Newton County court records online through third-party websites like missouricourtrecords.us. A name or case number will be required to locate records on such platforms. Some sites provide free access to basic case information, while others charge fees for comprehensive records. For accuracy, check the records obtained with official sources, such as the Newton County Circuit courthouse or the Case.net portal, as third-party sites might not always have the most current information.