Franklin County Court Records
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Franklin County sits in east-central Missouri, with Union as its county seat. The county's judiciary falls within the 20th Judicial Circuit and centers on a single Circuit Court that handles criminal, civil, domestic relations, juvenile, and probate cases. Franklin County also has multiple municipal court divisions that process traffic infractions and local ordinance violations across its incorporated municipalities. The Circuit Clerk's office at the Franklin County Judicial Center maintains Circuit Court records, while individual municipal courts keep their own files for cases heard in their respective divisions.
Finding the right record starts with knowing which court handled the matter and who holds the files. Franklin County Circuit Court records can be accessed through the clerk's office in Union, at public-access terminals inside the courthouse, or online through the Missouri Judiciary's statewide case database. MissouriCourts.us can also help you locate publicly available case information and connect with county-level clerk offices. Whether you need a criminal case disposition, a divorce decree, or a probate filing, knowing where to look—and how to ask—will save you time.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Franklin County?
Franklin County court cases can be searched online, in person at the courthouse, or through written requests submitted by mail or email. The right approach depends on the type of record, which court handled the matter, and whether you need certified copies.
Online Case Search
Missouri Case.net is the free statewide electronic case database maintained by the Missouri Judiciary. It covers circuit courts across Missouri, including the Franklin County Circuit Court. You can search by litigant name, case number, or other criteria and see case type, filing date, charges or claims, party names, scheduled hearings, and dispositions. Case.net does not offer downloadable document copies, so if you need actual filed documents, you'll need to contact the clerk directly.
In-Person Requests
The Circuit Clerk's office is open during regular business hours and accepts walk-in requests. Staff can help you locate cases and pull documents for copying. Bring a government-issued photo ID, particularly if the case involves confidential records.
Franklin County Circuit Clerk's Office
Address: 401 East Main Street, Room 100A, Union, MO 63084
Phone: (Civil): (636) 583-7366
Phone: (Criminal): (636) 583-7365
Phone: (Probate): (636) 583-6312
Phone: (General): (636) 583-7391
Mail and Email Requests
Written requests may be mailed to the Circuit Clerk at the address above. When you write in, include:
- Your name, phone number, and full mailing address
- Case number (if known)
- Full party names
- Description of the specific documents needed
- Filing date or approximate date range
- Whether certified copies are needed
- Payment for applicable fees
Copy Fees
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Regular copy | $1.00 per page |
| Certified copy surcharge | Additional $1.50 per document |
Payment is accepted by cash, check, money order, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or American Express. A convenience fee applies to credit and debit card transactions. The clerk will notify you of the estimated total, and payment must be received before copies are produced.
Court Locations
In addition to the Circuit Court, Franklin County has several municipal court divisions. The principal courts are listed below:
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Franklin County Circuit Court | 401 E. Main St., Room 100A, Union, MO 63084 | (636) 583-7391 |
| Franklin County Municipal Court | 15 S. Church St., Room 306, Union, MO 63084 | (636) 584-6286 |
| Pacific Municipal Court | 300 Hoven Drive, Pacific, MO 63069 | (636) 257-4553 |
| Sullivan Municipal Court | 210 W. Washington St., Sullivan, MO 63080 | (573) 468-5627 |
| Union Municipal Court | 500 E. Locust St., Union, MO 63084 | (636) 583-8436 |
| New Haven Municipal Court | 101 Front St., New Haven, MO 63068 | (573) 237-2349 |
| St. Clair Municipal Division | 1 Paul Parks Drive, St. Clair, MO 63077 | (636) 629-5194 |
Several smaller municipal divisions—including Gerald, Washington, Village of Miramiguoa Park, and Berger—hold sessions at the Franklin County Judicial Center or the Gasconade County Courthouse. Contact the Circuit Clerk at (636) 583-7378 for those divisions.
Are Court Records Public in Franklin County?
Franklin County court records are presumptively open to the public under Missouri's Sunshine Law (Chapter 610, RSMo). The law gives every person the right to inspect and copy records held by public governmental bodies, including courts acting in an administrative capacity. You don't need to use a specific request format, and you're not required to explain why you want the records.
That said, Missouri law recognizes several categories of records that may be closed or restricted. The Circuit Clerk will withhold records—or portions of them—that fall under statutory exemptions or have been sealed by court order. You may need to show a photo ID before accessing confidential case files, and in some cases a judge must approve an inspection application before any documents can be handed over.
Records commonly restricted from public access include:
- Records sealed or expunged by court order
- Juvenile court proceedings and related files
- Adoption records
- Mental health and substance abuse treatment records
- Records containing personal identifying information (Social Security numbers, financial account numbers)
- Domestic violence victim information shielded by protective order
- Active law enforcement investigative reports
- Records protected by attorney-client privilege
- Tax return information
- Medical and psychological records filed with the court
When a record mixes public and confidential material, the clerk redacts the exempt portions and releases the rest. The Missouri Attorney General's Sunshine Law guidance offers additional detail on exemptions and the complaint process when a request is denied. The Franklin County Clerk's office is the point of contact for formal Sunshine Law requests directed to county departments.
Franklin County Criminal Court Records
The Franklin County Circuit Court has jurisdiction over all felony prosecutions and misdemeanor cases filed within the county. Municipal courts handle traffic infractions and city ordinance violations but do not adjudicate state criminal charges. The Criminal Department of the Circuit Clerk's office processes filings, maintains case records, collects fines and court costs, and issues copies of criminal case documents.
Searching Criminal Court Cases
Criminal case records from the Circuit Court are searchable through Case.net by selecting Franklin County Circuit Court from the drop-down menu and entering a litigant name or case number. Results include charge descriptions, court dates, plea entries, and sentencing information for cases in the system. For copies of specific filings—complaints, warrants, motions, judgments—contact the Criminal Department at (636) 583-7365 or submit a written request to the Circuit Clerk.
Arrest Records and Sheriff's Office
Arrest records, incident reports, and investigative reports are held by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, not the court system. The Sheriff accepts records requests by email, fax, phone, mail, or in person.
Franklin County Sheriff's Office
Address: #1 Bruns Drive, Union, MO 63084
Phone: (636) 583-2560
Fax: (636) 584-6877
Email: fcsorecords@franklinmo.gov
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (excluding holidays)
Sheriff's Office Records Fees
| Record Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Incident reports | $2.00 per page |
| Investigative reports | $5.00 each (first 50 pages) |
Statewide Criminal Background Checks
The Missouri State Highway Patrol processes criminal history inquiries through the Missouri Automated Criminal History Site (MACHS). A name-based search costs $15.00 and requires registration on the MACHS portal. Fingerprint-based background checks cost $44.00 total (state and FBI combined) and require an appointment at a partner agency location. You can schedule a fingerprint appointment online through the MACHS portal. The state-only fingerprint fee is $20.00 per request.
Franklin County Civil Court Records
Civil cases in Franklin County cover a wide range of disputes—breach of contract, personal injury, foreclosure, landlord-tenant conflicts, liens, property disputes, and complex commercial litigation. The Circuit Court handles civil matters of all dollar amounts, while municipal courts address ordinance violations that carry civil penalties.
Accessing Civil Court Records
Civil case information is searchable online through Case.net, and document copies are available from the Circuit Clerk's Civil Department at (636) 583-7366.
To request civil court documents by mail, follow these steps:
- Complete a record request form (available by contacting the clerk's office or through the Franklin County government website)
- Include the case number, party names, filing date, and a description of the documents needed
- Attach payment—$1.00 per page, plus $1.50 per document if certification is required
- Mail to: 20th Judicial Circuit Court, 401 East Main Street, Union, MO 63084
The clerk will notify you of the estimated total before processing, and full payment must be received before copies are released. Accepted payment methods include cash, check, money order, and major credit cards (a convenience fee applies to card payments).
E-Filing
The Franklin County Circuit Court is an e-filing court. Attorneys and parties may file civil pleadings electronically. Supreme Court-approved forms are available on the Missouri Courts website. Information about remote public access to court records is also available through the Missouri Courts remote access page.
Property Records
Real estate and personal property records are maintained by the Franklin County Assessor's Office, which offers separate online search tools for real estate and personal property. Deeds, mortgages, liens, and other recorded instruments are filed with the Recorder of Deeds at 400 East Locust, Room 102, Union, MO 63084, Phone: (636) 583-6367 The Recorder also offers an online document search portal for recorded instruments.
Franklin County Family Court Records
The Franklin County Circuit Court's Domestic Relations division handles family law cases including divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, child custody and visitation, child support, paternity, spousal maintenance, and orders of protection. The Circuit Clerk maintains family court records, which are accessible through the same request channels used for other Circuit Court records.
Requesting Family Court Documents
Contact the Circuit Clerk's office at (636) 583-7391, visit the Judicial Center at 401 East Main Street, Room 100A, Union, MO 63084, or submit a written request by mail. Include party names, case number, filing date, and a description of the documents you need. Regular copies cost $1.00 per page; certified copies carry an additional $1.50 surcharge. Divorce cases filed in the Circuit Court are also searchable through Case.net.
Confidentiality Note
Many family court records contain confidential information—financial disclosures, custody evaluations, guardian ad litem reports, and protective order details. The Circuit Clerk will release confidential records only to authorized parties, which typically means the named parties, their legal representatives, and anyone holding a court order that grants access. A photo ID is required, and a judge may need to approve an inspection application before confidential documents are released.
Marriage Licenses and Records
Marriage licenses in Franklin County are issued by the Recorder of Deeds. Both parties must appear together—with limited exceptions for military, incarcerated, or ADA-qualifying applicants—and provide government-issued photo ID and Social Security numbers. You can complete the application in advance at the Franklin County license portal.
Franklin County Recorder of Deeds
Address: 400 East Locust, Room 102, Union, MO 63084
Phone: (636) 583-6367
Fax: (636) 583-7330
Email: recorder@franklinmo.gov
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (for marriage license applications)
Marriage License Fee: $56.00 cash or $57.55 by credit card. The license is valid for 30 days from the date of issuance and may be used anywhere in Missouri.
Marriage Record Copies: Certified copies cost $9.00; uncertified copies cost $2.00. Copies can be ordered through the Recorder's online marriage license search by selecting the desired record and clicking "Request Certified Copy". Only the record subject, close family members, and legal guardians may obtain certified copies.
Birth and Death Certificates
Vital records are maintained by the Franklin County Health Department for events occurring in Missouri. Birth certificates are available for births since 1920; death certificates for deaths since 1980. Walk-in service is available Monday through Friday.
Franklin County Health Department Vital Records
Address: 414 East Main Street, Union, MO 63084
Phone: (636) 583-7300
| Record | Fee |
|---|---|
| Birth certificate | $15.00 per copy |
| Death certificate (first copy) | $14.00 |
| Death certificate (additional copies) | $11.00 each |
Walk-in requests are printed the same day. Mail requests must include a completed and notarized vital records form, a copy of a current photo ID, the appropriate fee, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Payment is accepted by cash, check, money order, or Visa/Mastercard/Discover in person (credit and debit cards accepted until 4:00 p.m.; cards are not accepted by mail).
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City also issues Missouri birth and death certificates. Mail requests can be sent to: Bureau of Vital Records, 930 Wildwood Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65109.
Franklin County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Franklin County are heard by the Circuit Court rather than a separate probate court. The Probate Division oversees administration of decedents' estates, validation of wills, appointment of personal representatives, distribution of assets, guardianships and conservatorships of incapacitated adults and minors, and trust-related disputes. The Probate Department of the Circuit Clerk's office maintains all associated filings.
Probate Department
Address: 401 East Main Street, Union, MO 63084
Phone: (636) 583-6312
Searching Probate Records
Probate case information is available through Case.net by selecting the Franklin County Circuit Court and entering the decedent's or ward's name or the case number. Results show case type, filing dates, and a summary of proceedings. For copies of specific probate documents—wills, inventories, accountings, letters testamentary, guardianship petitions, and closing orders—contact the Probate Department or submit a written request.
Requesting Probate Documents
To request probate court records by mail:
- Complete a record request form (available from the clerk's office or the Franklin County court website)
- Include the case number, decedent or ward name, filing date, and a description of the documents needed
- Attach payment—$1.00 per page for regular copies
- Mail to: 20th Judicial Circuit Court, 401 East Main Street, Union, MO 63084
Certified copies carry an additional $1.50 surcharge per document. The clerk will provide a fee estimate before processing, and full payment must be received before copies are released.
Types of Probate Records
Files maintained by the Probate Division typically include:
- Last wills and testaments
- Petitions for letters testamentary or letters of administration
- Estate inventories and appraisals
- Creditor claims and notices
- Accountings (annual and final)
- Distribution orders
- Guardianship and conservatorship petitions
- Guardian reports and accountings
- Trust instruments filed with the court
Probate records are generally public in Franklin County. However, guardianship files may contain medical evaluations or financial information that the court has sealed, and certain records involving minors may carry access restrictions. The clerk will let you know if any portion of a file requires court approval before it can be released.