Divorce Decree in Maries County

Maries County divorce decree records are held by the Circuit Clerk at the courthouse in Vienna, Missouri. The county has kept court and divorce records since 1855, when it was created from parts of Osage and Phelps Counties. If you need a copy of a divorce decree from Maries County, the clerk's office in Vienna is the place to go. You can also check Missouri Case.net for free case data. This page covers how to find a Maries County divorce decree, what the process looks like, and which resources are available at the state and local level.

Maries County Divorce Decree Clerk

The Maries County Circuit Clerk is at PO Box 205, Vienna, MO 65582. The phone number is 573-422-3338. According to the Missouri Association of Counties, this office handles all court filings for the county. The Maries County Courthouse is in Vienna.

The Circuit Court Clerk and Probate Court Clerk has probate records from 1855 and court and divorce records from 1855. The Recorder of Deeds also maintains marriage and land records from the same year. If you need an older divorce decree from this county, the clerk's office likely has it.

Staff will help you find materials but do not do research for you. Bring a photo ID and as much detail as you can about the case. The clerk charges a fee for certified copies. Call ahead to ask about current rates.

The county directory page shown above has contact information for all Maries County offices.

Online Search for Maries County Divorce Cases

Missouri Case.net provides online access to Maries County court records. The search is free. You can look up cases by name, case number, filing date, or hearing date. Results show docket entries, case type, and status.

The system does not display the actual divorce decree. It gives case data only. Use the case number you find to contact the Maries County Circuit Clerk for the certified copy. Older cases may not be in the digital system.

The Missouri Courts website shown above is the gateway to Case.net and other court resources.

The Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness page for Maries County has additional details about what types of records the clerk maintains and the time periods they cover.

This genealogy resource provides background on Maries County court records and their availability.

Missouri Divorce Law for Maries County

Maries County divorces follow Chapter 452 of the Missouri Revised Statutes. RSMo 452.305 requires the court to find the marriage is irretrievably broken. The petitioner or respondent must have been a Missouri resident for 90 days before filing.

After the petition is filed in Vienna, there is a 30-day wait per RSMo 452.320. RSMo 452.330 covers property division. RSMo 452.340 covers child support. Both are addressed in the final divorce decree. Parties can settle on their own terms through a separation agreement under RSMo 452.325, which the court then approves.

The decree becomes final when the judge signs it and it is entered into the record per RSMo 452.360. Either party can appeal within the allowed time frame.

State Vital Records and Other Resources

The Missouri Bureau of Vital Records has certified divorce statements going back to July 1948. A statement costs $15. It only lists names, date, and county. It is not the full decree. Order by mail, in person, or through VitalChek. The ordering page walks you through the process.

The Missouri state portal has general guidance on divorce records. For historical research, the Missouri State Archives at (573) 751-3280 may have older Maries County files.

Note: Maries County is bordered by Osage, Gasconade, Phelps, Dent, Crawford, and Pulaski Counties, so check those if you are not sure where a case was filed.

Nearby Counties

If you need to check other courts in the area, here are the counties that border Maries County.