Columbia Divorce Decree Lookup

Columbia divorce decree records are held at the Boone County Circuit Court. The 13th Judicial Circuit handles all dissolution of marriage cases for Columbia residents. The courthouse is at 705 East Walnut in Columbia. You can search for case information online, visit the clerk's office in person, or send a request by mail or fax. The Family Court Division handles divorce cases specifically. This page walks through the process of finding and requesting Columbia divorce decree records.

Columbia Divorce Decree at Boone County

Columbia is the county seat of Boone County, and the 13th Judicial Circuit Court serves as the court of record for all divorce cases in the area. The court is divided into several divisions, including civil, family, probate, criminal, juvenile, and municipal. Cases about family law matters fall under the Boone County Family Court Division. That includes dissolution of marriage, legal separations, paternity actions, motions to modify, order of protection cases, juvenile cases, child support, and name changes.

Boone County Family Court records are accessible by visiting the Family Court Division in person. You can search for and inspect records at the courthouse. The staff can help you locate a case if you have the names of the parties or a case number. Copies of family court records can be requested by completing a Family Court Copy Request form. You can submit the form in person, by mail, or by fax at (573) 886-4044.

Requesters may be charged 20 cents per minute for the clerical time spent conducting a search. Photocopies of court records cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies run $2.50 per page. These fees are specific to Boone County.

How to Get Columbia Divorce Decree Copies

To get a copy of a Columbia divorce decree, you start at the Boone County Circuit Court. You will need the names of both spouses and an approximate date of the divorce. If you have the case number, that speeds things up. Fill out the Family Court Copy Request form and submit it to the clerk. Payment is due when you pick up the copies or can be included with a mail request.

There is also an online option for basic case searches. Missouri Case.net lets you look up case information by name, case number, or filing date. It covers all Missouri circuit courts, including Boone County. You can see docket entries and hearing dates. The tool does not provide the full decree document, but it confirms whether a case exists and gives you the case number to use when requesting copies from the clerk.

Separate agencies handle marriage records and divorce records in Boone County. Marriage records go through the County Recorder of Deeds at 801 East Walnut, Room 132, Columbia, MO 65201. The Recorder can be reached at (573) 886-4345 or by email at recorder@boonecountymo.org. Divorce records stay with the Family Court Division. Do not confuse the two offices.

The screenshot below shows the Boone County court information page, where Columbia divorce decree records are managed.

This page provides details on how to access Boone County court records, including divorce decree filings for Columbia residents.

State Divorce Decree Statements

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services issues certified statements for divorces that took place from 1948 to the present. These statements are not the same as the full divorce decree. They only list the names of both spouses, the date of the divorce, and the county where it was recorded. Each copy costs $15.00. The Missouri state portal clarifies that divorce decrees can only be obtained from the Circuit Clerk in the county where the divorce was granted.

For Columbia divorces, that means Boone County holds the full record. The state has a summary only.

Columbia Divorce Filing Requirements

Filing for divorce in Columbia follows Missouri state law. Under RSMo 452.305, Missouri is a no-fault state. Either spouse can file by stating the marriage is irretrievably broken. One party must have been a Missouri resident for at least 90 days. The petition goes to the Boone County Circuit Court. After filing, RSMo 452.320 requires a 30-day waiting period before the court can issue the final decree.

The decree covers all terms of the dissolution. Property division follows RSMo 452.330. The court splits marital assets in a way it finds fair. Child custody is decided under RSMo 452.375, which considers many factors, including the child's relationship with each parent. Spousal maintenance, when awarded, is also part of the decree. Once the judge signs the final order, the clerk files it and it becomes a permanent record of the Boone County court system.

Note: Columbia divorce records are public, but financial affidavits and custody evaluations may be restricted from public view.

Columbia Divorce Decree Resources

The Missouri Association of Counties lists contact information for every circuit clerk in the state. If a divorce was filed in a county other than Boone, you can use this directory to find the right office. The state also maintains vital records through the Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City for anyone who just needs a basic certified statement rather than the full decree document.

For older Columbia divorce cases, records may be available through the Missouri State Archives. The archives hold historical court records from across the state, so cases from decades past may be there if they are no longer in the active court system. Columbia is a university town, and the population can shift over time, so some older cases may involve parties who no longer live in the area. The clerk's office can still pull those records as long as the case was filed in Boone County.