Stoddard County Court Records

A Stoddard County court record is any document, information, or other item received, created, or maintained by a court in Stoddard County. Preserved by clerks of courts, these records are useful for filing appeals, generating legal precedents, and conducting background checks, among other purposes. Like other Missouri court records, Stoddard court records include orders, event dockets, calendars, transcripts, judgments, summonses, warrants, and interrogatories.

Are Court Records Public in Stoddard County?

Yes. Stoddard County court records are presumed open to the general public under the Missouri Supreme Court Operating Rule (COR) 2.0. However, certain documents/data are excluded from public access to prevent privacy breaches, ensure a fair trial process, secure government interests, and for other legitimate reasons under the law. Confidential court records include:

• Juvenile court records
• Trade secrets
• Medical records
• Sensitive or personal information, like social security numbers, protected witness information, names of minors
• Sealed or expunged records

Stoddard County Court Records Search

Stoddard County court records are accessible to members of the public through different entities in various ways. In-person, online, and mail-in applications are the popular methods for viewing or copying these records.

To find court records in person, individuals can visit the Stoddard County Justice Center (for circuit court cases) or the specific courthouse where a case was filed. Record copies may be requested for a fee at the court building, as determined by court staff.

For online searches (charged at no cost), one can visit the Missouri Case.net portal, the Missouri State Courts case management system. Users will need at least one of the following information to look up records:

• Litigant's name
• Filing date, or
• Case number

Court record searches can also be conducted via mail by preparing a request letter containing sufficient information about a case; attaching a self-addressed, stamped envelope; and forwarding all to the court clerk's mailing address. For example, those requesting circuit court records by mail can address letters to the Stoddard County Circuit Clerk’s office at:

Stoddard County Circuit Clerk
403 South Prairie Street
Bloomfield, MO 63825
Phone: (573) 568-3339

Stoddard County Courts

Stoddard County, Missouri, is served by a circuit court (Missouri's 35th Judicial Circuit) and five municipal courts. The court addresses and contact numbers are as follows:

Stoddard County Circuit Court
Stoddard County Justice Centre
35th Judicial Circuit
403 South Prairie Street
Bloomfield, MO 63825
Phone: (573) 568-4640
Fax: (573) 568-2271

Municipal Courts in Stoddard County

Advance Municipal Court
103 Oak Street
Advance, MO 63730
Phone: (573) 722-3156
Fax: (573) 722-6027

Bell City Municipal Division
Stoddard County Justice Center
403 South Prairie Street
Bloomfield, MO 63825
Phone: (573) 568-4640
Fax: (573) 568-2271

Bernie Municipal Division
206 West Crumb Street
Bernie, MO 63822
Phone: (573) 293-3251

Bloomfield Municipal Division
400 North Prairie Street
Bloomfield, MO 63835
Phone: (573) 568-3464 ext. 2
Fax: (573) 568-4960

Dexter Municipal Division
305 Cooper Street
Dexter, MO 63841
Phone: (573) 624-4174

Essex Municipal Division
Stoddard County Justice Center
403 South Prairie Street
Bloomfield, MO 63825
Phone: (573) 568-4640
Fax: (573) 568-2271

Puxico Municipal Division
Stoddard County Justice Center
403 South Prairie Street
Bloomfield, MO 63825
Phone: (573) 568-4640
Fax: (573) 568-2271

Stoddard County Criminal and Civil Records

Criminal records in Stoddard County are generated from arrests, charges, and convictions that occurred locally. These records include Stoddard arrest records maintained by law enforcement agencies, criminal case files maintained within the court system, and incarceration records maintained by correctional or detention facilities. In addition, the Missouri Highway Patrol maintains statewide criminal files that may contain Stoddard County arrest records and other criminal information reported to the agency. To find Stoddard criminal records, one should contact the specific agency that maintains the records.

On the other hand, Stoddard County civil records detail the proceedings of small claims, family law, personal injury, property, contract, landlord-tenant, probate, and other non-criminal cases adjudicated by the local courts. These records are primarily preserved by the Stoddard County Circuit Clerk's Office. As such, requests can be submitted to the Clerk in person at the local Justice Center or via a written request by mail. Individuals can also access Missouri Case.net to look up Stoddard civil cases for free.

Stoddard County Marriage Records

In Stoddard County, the Recorder of Deeds maintains marriage records and provides access to members of the public. However, copies of Stoddard County marriage records can only be obtained by the parties to the marriage.

Records are available in person at the Stoddard County Recorder of Deeds office:

401 South Prairie Street
P.O. Box 217
Bloomfield, MO 63825
Phone: (573) 568-3444
Fax: (573) 568-2545

Requesters are required to have a valid ID and pay the fees associated with obtaining a Stoddard County marriage certificate.

Marriage records can also be acquired from the Bureau of Vital Records at Missouri's Department of Health & Senior Services. However, the office only issues certified marriage statements for a fee, which are especially useful when one is unsure of the county of record. These statements can only be obtained by the spouses named on a marriage record.

Interested parties can complete the Missouri Vital Records Marriage/Divorce Application, prepare $15 and a valid ID, and submit all in person at the Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City. They can also mail a notarized application form with a self-addressed stamped return envelope and a check for $15. Individuals should note that shipping charges are separate from the application fee.

Stoddard County Divorce Records

Stoddard County divorce records can be obtained by any member of the public through the local Circuit Clerk’s office, whether in person or by mail. While these records are generally open to the public, the court can seal child custody information, financial evaluations, and other sensitive details. A valid ID may be needed to access a confidential record (if one is not a case party) or obtain a certified copy.

In addition, the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records issues certified statements of divorce to eligible applicants (parties to the divorce). The same procedure and application form used to order marriage statements from the Bureau (see previous section) can be used to obtain a divorce statement from the agency.

Stoddard County Birth Records

Stoddard County birth records evidence that a birth took place in Stoddard County, Missouri. These records are available at the Stoddard County Public Health's Vital Records department.

The agency issues a certified copy of a Stoddard County birth certificate for $15 to eligible parties who complete and submit the Birth Certificate Application form in person or via mail. Eligibility is determined by the applicant's relationship to the record owner, and mail applications must be notarized and include a stamped self-addressed envelope for record delivery.

Stoddard County Death Records

Stoddard County death records are disseminated by the Stoddard County Public Health's Vital Records department. Certified copies ordered through the department cost $14 for the first copy and $11 for each subsequent copy purchased at the same time.

The same application form used to submit a Stoddard County birth certificate request to the Vital Records department can also be used to submit a request for death records to the agency. However, only persons deemed eligible under RSMo §193.255—i.e., having a direct and tangible interest—can obtain certified copies.

Stoddard County Probate Court Records

The Stoddard County Circuit Clerk's Office collates and preserves probate records in Stoddard County. These records detail probate proceedings, including matters related to wills, estates, guardianships, and conservatorships, heard in Stoddard County.

Local probate records can be requested from the Stoddard County Circuit Clerk's Office at the Stoddard County Justice Center or accessed online through the Missouri Case.net portal.

Stoddard County Property Records

Stoddard County property records include deeds, mortgages, liens, and other documents connected with land or buildings situated in the county. These records are maintained by a few county offices, including the

• Recorder of Deeds: This office serves as the official county recorder and enters property information into Stoddard County public records. The Recorder can be reached at (573) 568-3444 or visited at 401 South Prairie Street, Bloomfield, Missouri, to view or copy property documents. Additionally, the office provides online access to property records via a web-based portal, but the portal requires a user account.
• Assessor: This agency values property for taxation and maintains the most comprehensive property information in the county. The Stoddard County Assessor's Real Estate Search database is available remotely to interested persons.
• Collector: This department collects all current and delinquent real estate and personal property taxes for Stoddard County and its various political subdivisions. The Collector's office maintains an online database for looking up property tax records.

Stoddard County Court Records Online

Stoddard court records are accessible online on Missouricourtrecords.us and other third-party aggregator sites. In contrast to the county's court record repositories, third-party sites often provide for searches beyond a specific jurisdiction, making them handy when conducting court case searches in more than one county or even nationwide. However, third-party information may not be complete or up to date, and the courts in Stoddard cannot be held liable for any losses incurred from using such websites. Generally, users are advised to check with the relevant county offices to ensure the information obtained is accurate.