Lafayette County Court Records Search

Lafayette County, Missouri is home to a court system rooted in the 15th Judicial Circuit, serving both Lafayette and Saline Counties. Courts in the county handle the full spectrum of legal matters — felony and misdemeanor criminal cases, civil disputes, family law proceedings, and probate administrations. All court records generated through these proceedings are maintained by the Circuit Clerk’s Office, which functions as the official records custodian and administrative backbone of the judicial system in Lexington.

Individuals searching for court case information in Missouri have several avenues available to them. Records can be accessed through the Circuit Clerk’s Office in person, by mail or email request, or through public access terminals at the courthouse. For online research, MissouriCourts.us provides a starting point for locating publicly available Missouri court case information statewide, including Lafayette County.

How to Look Up a Court Case in Lafayette County?

The Lafayette County Circuit Clerk’s Office is the central office for all court record requests. Led by Circuit Clerk Kim Mason, the office manages case processing, document preservation, courtroom coordination, jury management, and public record access. The office uses the Missouri Judicial Information System (JIS) for case management, and non-confidential records are transferred electronically into the statewide Case.net portal.

Lafayette County Circuit Clerk’s Office

Detail	Information
Address	Lafayette Hall, 116 S. 10th Street, P.O. Box 10, Lexington, MO 64067
Phone	(660) 259-6101
Fax	(660) 259-6148
Email	Lafayette.email@courts.mo.gov
Hours	Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Three ways to search Lafayette County court records:

Online via Case.net — The Missouri Courts Case.net portal allows anyone to search public case information by litigant name, case number, filing date, or judgment index. Most non-confidential records are available here at no charge.
In person — Visit the Circuit Clerk’s Office at Lafayette Hall during regular business hours. Providing a case number or full party names will help staff locate records quickly. Copy fees apply for printed documents.
By email or mail — All records requests and proposed orders should be directed to Lafayette.email@courts.mo.gov or mailed to the office address above. Note that documents sent as email attachments do not constitute a valid filing with the court — all formal filings must be submitted through proper channels per applicable court rules.

The 15th Judicial Circuit maintains three courtroom divisions in Lafayette County. Division One operates out of the Lafayette County Courthouse at 1001 Main Street, while Courtrooms A, B, and C for Divisions Two and Three are located at Lafayette Hall, 116 S. 10th Street.

Are Court Records Public in Lafayette County?

Court records in Lafayette County are presumptively open to the public under two overlapping legal frameworks. The Missouri Sunshine Law (RSMo Chapter 610) establishes general public access to government records, while Missouri Supreme Court Operating Rule 2 (COR 2) specifically governs when court records may be restricted or redacted. Under these rules, records of all courts are presumed open to any member of the public for inspection or copying during regular business hours.

Certain categories of records are restricted by statute or court order:

Juvenile records — proceedings involving minors are confidential under RSMo § 211.321 and are not available to the general public
Sealed and expunged records — records ordered sealed or expunged under RSMo §§ 610.105 and 610.140 are closed to public inspection
Sensitive personal identifiers — Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, and financial account numbers are redacted before records are publicly released
Domestic violence victim information — identifying information for victims in protection order cases is restricted
Confidential informant details — names and contact information of informants in criminal cases are withheld
Active investigation materials — under COR 2.04, a prosecutor or law enforcement official may request temporary redaction of criminal court records for up to five days when a warrant is pending and premature disclosure could jeopardize public safety or an investigation

Judges and the Circuit Clerk may apply elevated security classifications to specific case files under local court rules and applicable statutes when warranted by the circumstances of a case.

Lafayette County Criminal Court Records

Felony criminal cases in Lafayette County are heard in the Circuit Division of the 15th Judicial Circuit. Misdemeanor and minor criminal matters fall under Associate Circuit jurisdiction. Criminal court records maintained by the Circuit Clerk include charging documents, indictments, arraignment entries, bond records, pretrial motions, trial transcripts, verdicts, sentencing orders, and post-conviction filings.

Non-confidential criminal case records are searchable through Case.net. For records not indexed online, requests should be directed to the Circuit Clerk’s Office at Lafayette Hall.

For arrest records and incident reports, contact the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office:

Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office

Detail	Information
Address	107 S. 11th Street, Lexington, MO 64067
Phone	(660) 259-3622
Tips Hotline	(660) 259-6789

The Sheriff’s Office typically charges a nominal fee for copies of incident reports. Requests for records related to ongoing investigations may be withheld under RSMo Chapter 610 if disclosure would impede law enforcement activities.

For a statewide criminal history search, contact the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division or use the Missouri Automated Criminal History Site (MACHS):

Name-based search — Available through MACHS for $15. Returns open records including convictions, arrests less than 30 days old, pending charges, and Suspended Imposition of Sentence (SIS) cases during active probation
Fingerprint-based search — Available for $31.50 through MACHS. Provides a more comprehensive result, including closed records such as arrests after probation completion or expired SIS cases; additional fees apply for notarization

Mail-in fingerprint requests can be submitted to: Missouri State Highway Patrol, CJIS Division, P.O. Box 9500, Jefferson City, MO 65102-9500. Fingerprint-based results are generally returned by mail within 7 to 10 business days.

Lafayette County Civil Court Records

Civil matters filed in Lafayette County — including contract disputes, property claims, personal injury actions, debt collection, and small claims — are handled by both the Circuit Division (for larger and more complex matters) and the Associate Circuit Division (for smaller-value disputes and minor civil cases). All civil filings are maintained by the Circuit Clerk’s Office and most are accessible through Case.net.

To request civil records in person or by mail:

Visit the Circuit Clerk’s Office at Lafayette Hall, 116 S. 10th Street, Lexington, MO 64067, during business hours
Provide the full names of both parties and, if known, the case number and approximate filing year
Copy fees apply per RSMo § 610.026

The 15th Judicial Circuit local court rules (effective January 1, 2024) govern procedures for civil filings. All judgments, orders, writs, and documents presented for a judge’s signature must be delivered electronically to the Circuit Clerk in Lafayette County. All pleadings must be signed by at least one attorney of record or the self-represented party, with the signer’s name, Missouri bar number (if applicable), address, phone number, fax number, and email address printed below the signature.

Property records — including deeds, mortgages, subdivision plats, surveys, power of attorney documents, and tax liens — are maintained separately by the Lafayette County Recorder of Deeds at 1001 Main Street, Room 207, Lexington, MO 64067 (phone: (660) 259-6178). The Recorder’s office holds records dating back to 1821. Online access to Recorder documents is available through Tapestry by Fidlar Technologies on a monthly subscription basis, or on a pay-as-you-go basis at landrecords.net. Two public viewing stations are also available at the Recorder’s Office at no charge; copies cost $1.00 per page.

Lafayette County Family Court Records

Family law cases in Lafayette County are heard within the Circuit Court system and encompass a broad range of domestic and child-related proceedings. These cases are filed with the Circuit Clerk and most non-confidential matters are searchable through Case.net.

Case types handled in family court include:

Dissolution of marriage (divorce) and legal separation
Allocation of parenting time and child custody
Child support establishment and modification
Paternity actions
Domestic violence civil protection orders
Adoption proceedings
Guardianship and conservatorship of minors

Divorce Records — Certified copies of dissolution decrees are available from the Circuit Clerk’s Office at Lafayette Hall. Requesters should provide the full names of both parties and the approximate filing year. Non-confidential divorce case information is also viewable online through Case.net. The Lafayette County Circuit Clerk’s forms page provides access to domestic law forms, child support forms, family access forms, and child protection forms for self-represented litigants.

Marriage Records — Marriage licenses in Lafayette County are issued by the Lafayette County Recorder of Deeds at 1001 Main Street, Room 207, Lexington, MO 64067 (phone: (660) 259-6178). Key details for obtaining a marriage license include:

Fee: $51.00 — accepted by cash or credit/debit card
Hours for applications: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., by appointment only
Requirements: Both parties must be at least 18, appear together, and present a valid government-issued photo ID; Social Security numbers are required
Validity: The license is valid for 30 days from issuance under RSMo 451.040 and must be returned to the Recorder’s Office within 15 days after the ceremony (failure to return is a misdemeanor)
Online search: Names and dates of recorded marriages can be searched at the Lafayette County Recorder’s web portal; certified copies must be requested directly from the Recorder’s Office

Birth and Death Records — Vital records are not court records and are not held by the Circuit Clerk. Certified copies of birth and death certificates for events occurring in Lafayette County are available through the Lafayette County Health Department at 547 South Business 13 Highway, Lexington, MO 64067, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:45 p.m., Monday through Friday:

Birth certificates: $15 per copy
Death certificates: $14 for the first copy; $11 for each additional copy of the same certificate
Payment: Cash, debit, credit, or money order accepted; personal checks are not accepted
A downloadable application form is available for mail or in-person requests

For births prior to 1920 or deaths prior to 1980, contact the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Bureau of Vital Records at 930 Wildwood, P.O. Box 570, Jefferson City, MO 65102 (phone: (573) 751-6400).

Lafayette County Probate Court Records

Probate matters in Lafayette County are handled through the Probate Division of the 15th Judicial Circuit, operating out of Lafayette Hall at 116 S. 10th Street, Lexington, MO 64067. The Circuit Clerk’s Office maintains all probate case files, and non-confidential probate records can be searched through Case.net.

Types of probate proceedings administered by the court:

Decedent estate administration (with and without a will)
Small estates and abbreviated probate matters
Adult guardianship and conservatorship
Minor guardianship and conservatorship
Will contests and probate-related civil proceedings

Filing fees for probate matters are established by the court under the local court rules:

Case Type	Filing Fee
Small Estates / Refusal of Letters / Abbreviated Probate	$68.50
Small Estate with Will Admitted	$103.50
Decedent Estate (without will)	$148.50
Decedent Estate (with will admitted)	$183.50
Adult Guardianship and/or Conservatorship	$108.50 + $300.00 (per Local Court Rule 5.1)
Minor Guardianship and/or Conservatorship	$93.50 + $750.00 (per Local Court Rule 5.1)

Note: Decedent estates also carry an additional fee calculated based on the value of the final inventory. A Judicial Information Sheet is required with all new probate filings.

Important filing requirements under local court rules:

In all decedent’s estate cases, a certified copy of the death certificate must be filed with the initial application to open the estate
In all minor’s estate cases, a certified copy of the birth certificate must accompany the application
In all guardianship and conservatorship cases, a criminal record review, sexual offender registry check, credit history investigation, and any other reports required by RSMo § 475.050 must be filed with the petition as certified documents; if an agency does not provide certified copies, the report must be certified by affidavit
A Missouri HealthNet release is required with the initial filing in Small Estate cases

To request copies of probate case records, contact the Circuit Clerk’s Office at Lafayette Hall by phone at (660) 259-6101, by email at Lafayette.email@courts.mo.gov, or in person at 116 S. 10th Street, Lexington, MO 64067, during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.).