Franklin County Civil Records Search

Franklin County civil court records are stored at the Circuit Clerk's office in Union. If you need to search for a civil case filed in Franklin County, you can start with the state's free online search tool or visit the courthouse on East Main Street. The clerk handles all civil filings, and the office has separate phone lines for criminal and civil matters. This guide walks you through how to find, request, and use civil court records from Franklin County, including copy fees, payment methods, and the process for serving civil papers.

Franklin County Circuit Clerk Office

The Franklin County Circuit Clerk is the main source for civil court records in this part of east-central Missouri. Connie Ward serves as the Circuit Clerk. Her office is at 401 East Main St., Room 100A, Union, MO 63084. For civil matters, call 636-583-7366. For criminal matters, call 636-583-7365. The general office number is 636-583-7391. The office is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The clerk's staff files, processes, and maintains all civil and criminal cases for the county. They also handle court docket work and collect court costs. Franklin County has a separate civil process division that handles service of civil papers. If you need someone served with court documents, the civil process team coordinates that work. Service through the sheriff requires a separate check made out to the sheriff's office. Under Missouri law, public court records must be made available for inspection upon request.

Search Franklin County Records Online

The fastest way to find Franklin County civil court records is through Case.net, Missouri's free online court records portal. Case.net is run by the Office of State Courts Administrator. It gives you free access to public circuit court records from all 114 Missouri counties. You can search by name, case number, filing date, or hearing date. Results will show you docket entries, party names, judgments, and scheduled court dates.

Case.net is free to use and runs Monday through Friday from 6 AM to 1 AM. The system shows case summaries and docket entries but not the actual filed documents. If you need a full copy of a petition, motion, or order from a Franklin County civil case, you will need to contact the Circuit Clerk's office directly or use the state's eFiling system if you are a registered user. The Track This Case feature on Case.net sends you email alerts when new entries show up in a case you are following.

Franklin County Civil Filing Fees

Filing fees for civil cases in Franklin County follow the statewide schedule set by Missouri courts. A new circuit civil case costs $93.50 to $105.50 to file. Associate circuit civil cases run $43.50 to $53.50. Small claims cases start at $30.50 to $35.50. These fees are paid at the time of filing.

Franklin County has specific copy fees. Photocopies cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost $1.00 per page plus a $1.50 certification fee. The office accepts cash, check, money order, and credit cards. Credit card payments come with a convenience fee added on top. If you need the sheriff to serve civil papers, that requires a separate check made payable to the Franklin County Sheriff.

Civil Cases in Franklin County Court

The Franklin County Circuit Court hears many types of civil cases. Most fall into one of these groups:

• Small claims cases for amounts under $5,000
• General civil suits such as contract disputes and personal injury claims
• Domestic relations cases including divorce and custody
• Probate matters and estate proceedings
• Orders of protection and child support enforcement

For small claims, you file your case on the right form at the clerk's office. Attorneys must file all other civil cases through Missouri's eFiling system. Self-represented parties can still file on paper at the clerk's window. Missouri courts provide forms for people who want to handle their own cases.

Public Access to Franklin County Records

Missouri law gives the public broad access to civil court records. Article 1, Section 14 of the Missouri Constitution says courts must be open to every person. The Sunshine Law (Chapter 610 RSMo) backs this up. A public records request must be acted on within three business days. If the records office needs more time, they have to explain why in writing.

Not all records are public. Sealed cases, juvenile records, and expunged files will not show up on Case.net or be available at the clerk's window. Confidential details like Social Security numbers and financial account numbers get redacted from public filings under Court Operating Rule 2. If you want access to a sealed record, you need a court order. The Missouri State Archives holds older Franklin County court records on microfilm.

The Missouri Case.net portal provides free access to Franklin County civil court records and case information from across the state.

Legal Help in Franklin County

If you need a lawyer for a civil case in Franklin County, the Missouri Bar has a directory of licensed attorneys. You can search by practice area and location to find someone near Union. For those who cannot afford a lawyer, Legal Services of Missouri provides free legal help to people who qualify based on income.

Court clerks in Franklin County cannot give legal advice. That is the rule under Supreme Court Operating Rule 25. But they can help you with basic tasks like finding the right form or telling you what the filing fee is for a particular type of case. The clerk's office has staff who handle the civil division specifically, so they are used to answering questions about civil filings and procedures.

Nearby Counties

Franklin County borders several other Missouri counties. If a civil case was filed in a neighboring jurisdiction, you may need to check those counties as well. Nearby counties include Gasconade County, Crawford County, Washington County, Jefferson County, and Warren County. Each county has its own Circuit Clerk and its own set of court records. Civil cases are filed in the county where the events took place or where the defendant lives.