St. Louis County Divorce Decree Search
St. Louis County divorce decree records are managed through the 21st Judicial Circuit Court in Clayton, Missouri. As the most populous county in the state, St. Louis County handles a very high volume of divorce cases each year. The Circuit Clerk's Office maintains all dissolution filings and final decrees. If you need a copy of a divorce decree from St. Louis County, you can request it from the clerk at the courthouse in Clayton, search for case information online, or use state-level resources for basic divorce records. This page covers the full process.
St. Louis County Quick Facts
St. Louis County Circuit Clerk Divorce Records
The St. Louis County Circuit Court is at 105 South Central Avenue, Clayton, MO 63105. Call (314) 615-8029 for questions about divorce records. The court is part of the 21st Judicial Circuit and handles civil, criminal, family, and probate matters. The Circuit Clerk maintains all court records, including divorce decrees.
According to St. Louis County divorce records information, these are official legal documents that provide evidence of the dissolution of a marriage within the county. Records are maintained under Missouri Revised Statutes RSMo 452.310, which governs dissolution proceedings. The retention schedule follows Missouri Supreme Court Operating Rule 8 and state archival requirements.
St. Louis County keeps final judgments of dissolution permanently. Complete case files are held for at least 30 years. After 30 years, non-essential documents may be purged, but core records stay on file. Docket entries and indexes are kept permanently in electronic format. Paper dockets are maintained for at least 50 years. Searchable indexes are preserved indefinitely.
How to Get St. Louis County Divorce Decree Copies
The public can access basic case information including party names, case numbers, and filing dates. Court dockets showing scheduled hearings are also available, as are final judgments and decrees. According to St. Louis County marriage and divorce records page, divorce records can be obtained through the Circuit Clerk's Office. You can submit an open records request through the county website.
To request a copy, provide both spouse names, the case number if available, and the approximate date of the divorce. Certified copies carry the clerk's seal. You will need a certified copy for name changes, remarriage, or legal proceedings. The courthouse in Clayton is the main location for in-person requests.
Florissant is one of the major cities in St. Louis County. Residents of Florissant and other St. Louis County cities file divorce petitions through the 21st Judicial Circuit in Clayton.
Search St. Louis County Divorce Cases Online
Missouri Case.net lets you search court records from every Missouri circuit court for free. Search St. Louis County cases by name, case number, or filing date. Results show case type, parties, docket entries, and hearing schedules.
There is also a portal through the county website to search most records online. Case.net does not provide the actual decree document. It shows basic case info and gives you the case number to request the full file from the clerk. For a county with more than a million residents, the online search tools save a lot of time compared to visiting Clayton in person.
The Missouri Case.net system allows free online searches of St. Louis County divorce cases and other court records.
State Vital Records and St. Louis County Divorces
The Missouri Bureau of Vital Records can issue a certified statement for any divorce in Missouri since July 1948. This statement shows the names, date, and county. It does not include property terms or custody arrangements. The fee is $15.00 per copy.
Order from the Department of Health online or by mail. For a complete St. Louis County divorce decree, you must go through the Circuit Clerk in Clayton. Under RSMo Chapter 452, only the issuing court holds the full decree. The Missouri state portal explains the difference between a certified statement and a full decree.
Note: St. Louis County is separate from the City of St. Louis, which has its own independent court system through the 22nd Judicial Circuit.
St. Louis County Dissolution Filing Process
Missouri calls divorce "dissolution of marriage." RSMo 452.305 requires 90 days of state residency before filing. The petition is filed in the circuit court of the county where either spouse lives. RSMo 452.330 sets a 30-day waiting period after filing.
The judge reviews all terms before signing the final decree. Property division, support, and child custody under RSMo 452.375 are all part of the review. Once signed, the decree is filed with the St. Louis County Circuit Clerk. It becomes a public record. The Missouri Association of Counties has a directory of county officials across the state.
Nearby Counties
Check these neighboring counties if the divorce may have been filed in a different jurisdiction.