Find Boone County Civil Court Records

Boone County civil court records are managed by the Circuit Clerk's office at the courthouse in Columbia. As one of Missouri's larger counties and home to the University of Missouri, Boone County handles a high volume of civil cases each year. You can search for civil court records through the state's free Case.net system or visit the clerk's office on East Walnut Street. This page covers how to find records, what fees to expect, and how the court system works in Boone County.

Boone County Circuit Clerk Office

Sharon Kay Biggerstaff serves as the Boone County Circuit Clerk. The main office is at the Boone County Courthouse, 705 E. Walnut, Columbia, MO 65201. The phone number is 573-886-4000 and the fax is 573-886-4044. The clerk's office handles all civil, criminal, and probate cases for the 13th Judicial Circuit. Staff can help you find a case, request copies, or file a new civil action.

Boone County is the sole county in the 13th Judicial Circuit. That means the circuit court here deals only with Boone County matters. This is different from many rural circuits that cover multiple counties. The higher case volume means the office has dedicated staff for different case types. For civil matters, ask for the civil division when you call or visit. The 13th Judicial Circuit website has additional details about court operations.

Columbia Municipal Court Division

Boone County also has a Columbia Municipal Division that operates as part of the circuit court. This division is at 600 E. Broadway, Suite 200, Columbia, MO 65201. The phone number is 573-874-7230. The municipal division handles cases that arise under city ordinances within Columbia's limits.

If your civil matter involves a city code violation in Columbia, it may go through the municipal division rather than the main circuit court. However, most civil disputes like contract claims, personal injury suits, and property cases go through the regular Boone County Circuit Court. Check Case.net to see which division has your case listed. The system covers both the circuit and municipal divisions.

Search Boone County Civil Records Online

Missouri Case.net is the fastest way to look up Boone County civil court records. The search is free. Enter the party's last name followed by first name, or use a case number. You can filter by county, case type, and status. Results display docket entries, party names, judgments, and upcoming court dates.

Case.net is run by the Office of State Courts Administrator (OSCA). It is available Monday through Friday from 6 AM to 1 AM. The system shows summaries and docket timelines but not the actual filed documents. If you need a copy of a specific filing from a Boone County civil case, contact the clerk's office. They charge $1.00 per page for regular copies, which is higher than the statewide standard of $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost $2.50 per page. Search time costs $0.20 per minute.

The Legal Services of Missouri guide explains how to navigate Case.net to find Boone County civil court records and other Missouri case information.

You can also use Track This Case on Case.net. It sends email alerts when new entries appear in a Boone County case. About 100,000 people in Missouri use this feature to keep tabs on active cases.

Boone County Civil Filing Fees

Filing fees for new civil cases in Boone County follow the Missouri state schedule. Circuit civil cases cost $93.50 to $105.50. Associate civil cases run $43.50 to $53.50. Small claims start at $30.50 to $35.50. Attorneys must file through the Missouri eFiling system and pay electronically. Self-represented parties can file at the clerk's window.

Copy and search fees in Boone County are a bit different from smaller counties. Regular copies cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies are $2.50 per page. Search time is $0.20 per minute for clerk staff. These fees are set locally but stay within the bounds of Missouri law. If you plan to order many pages, ask for a cost estimate before the clerk starts pulling documents.

Note: Boone County copy fees are higher than the state minimum, so budget accordingly when ordering records.

Public Access to Boone County Records

Boone County civil court records are public under Missouri law. The state constitution says courts must be open. The Sunshine Law requires responses to record requests within three business days. You can ask for records at the courthouse, by mail, or by email.

Not all records are public. Sealed cases and juvenile records stay closed. Expunged records are removed. Court Operating Rule 2 requires that personal data like Social Security numbers and financial account details be removed from public filings. For confidential matters, you will need a court order to gain access. The Missouri State Archives holds older Boone County records on microfilm. The Judicial Index Database can help you find historical case files from this part of central Missouri.

Legal Resources in Boone County

With Columbia being a college town and a mid-size city, Boone County has a good supply of lawyers who handle civil cases. The Missouri Bar attorney directory lets you search by practice area and location. Legal Services of Missouri serves low-income residents with free legal help on civil matters. They also offer guidance on how to navigate Case.net and track your own cases.

Court clerks in Boone County cannot give you legal advice, per Supreme Court Operating Rule 25. They can help with forms and fee information. Missouri provides fillable court forms online for self-represented parties who want to handle their own civil cases.

Nearby Counties and Cities

Boone County shares borders with several other Missouri counties. Nearby counties include Callaway County (part of the same 13th Judicial Circuit area), Howard County, Cooper County, Moniteau County, and Audrain County. The city of Columbia is the county seat and the largest city in Boone County. Columbia has its own municipal division for certain local cases but all circuit-level civil matters go through the Boone County Circuit Clerk.