Search St. Francois County Divorce Decree
St. Francois County divorce decree records are filed with the Circuit Clerk at the courthouse in Farmington, Missouri. The clerk maintains records for all civil, criminal, and family court cases in this jurisdiction, including every divorce filing. You can look up records by visiting the office at 1 N. Washington Street, by mailing a written request, or by searching online through Missouri's Case.net system. This county serves the Farmington area and surrounding communities in southeast Missouri. This guide covers the steps for searching and obtaining St. Francois County divorce records.
Quick Facts
St. Francois County Divorce Decree Records
The St. Francois County Circuit Clerk's Office is at 1 N. Washington Street, Farmington, MO 63640. The phone number is (573) 756-4551. The clerk maintains records for all civil, criminal, and family court cases, which includes every divorce filed in the county. Each case file holds the petition for dissolution, any answers or motions, financial disclosures, the parenting plan if children are involved, and the final divorce decree.
Divorce decrees in St. Francois County are public records. Under Missouri's Sunshine Law, anyone can access basic case information. The decree itself names both spouses, states the case number, identifies the court, and gives the date the judge signed the final order. Missouri operates as a no-fault state under RSMo 452.305. Most petitions state that the marriage is irretrievably broken. The decree covers custody, child support, spousal maintenance, and how property and debts are divided.
To request a copy, give the clerk the names of both parties and a rough date for the divorce. You can visit in person, call, or send a mail request.
Online Search for St. Francois County Divorce Cases
Missouri provides free online access to court records through Case.net. This system covers St. Francois County and every other Missouri circuit. You search by name, case number, or date. Results show the parties, case type, hearing dates, and status. The full text of the decree is not available on Case.net. You get the case number from the search and use it to request the document from the circuit clerk in Farmington.
Case.net is a good way to start. It runs all day and does not cost anything. If the case is new enough to be in the electronic system, you can find it in minutes. Older paper records may not appear online. Call the clerk at (573) 756-4551 for older cases.
Note: Case.net is for informational purposes only and does not produce certified copies.
St. Francois County Divorce Filing Process
Filing for divorce in St. Francois County starts with a petition for dissolution of marriage submitted to the circuit court in Farmington. At least one spouse must have lived in Missouri for 90 days. The petition states the marriage is irretrievably broken. RSMo 452.320 requires a 30-day waiting period after filing before the court can act. The other spouse is served with the petition and has a set amount of time to respond.
If children are involved, RSMo 452.375 requires both parents to submit a parenting plan. This covers custody, visitation, and child support. Both parties also file financial statements. The judge reviews everything before making a ruling. In uncontested cases where both sides agree, the process moves faster. Contested cases can take months. Once the judge signs the decree, the clerk records it and the case is closed. The St. Francois County courthouse handles all modifications to custody or support as well.
Missouri State Divorce Records
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services keeps certified statements relating to divorce. A certified statement is a short document. It lists the names of both spouses, the date of the divorce, and the county where it was recorded. It does not include anything about custody, property, or support. Each copy costs $15.00.
The state has recorded divorces since July 1, 1948. For any St. Francois County divorce before that date, you must contact the circuit clerk. The Missouri state portal breaks down the difference between state-level certified statements and full decree copies from the county. If you need the full terms of the divorce, the St. Francois County Circuit Clerk is your source. If you just need proof that the divorce happened, the state statement works.
St. Francois County Divorce Decree Resources
The screenshot below shows the St. Francois County Circuit Clerk's official page with contact information and office details.
This page provides the clerk's address, phone number, and information about the types of cases handled. The office at 1 N. Washington Street in Farmington is where all divorce records are stored and where copies can be requested. The fax number for the courthouse is (573) 756-2265, which can also be used for record requests.
The Missouri Association of Counties directory is another useful tool for finding contact details for the St. Francois County clerk and other county offices across the state. It is updated regularly and includes phone numbers, mailing addresses, and links to county websites.
Nearby Counties
If you need divorce records from a county near St. Francois, these are the neighboring jurisdictions: