Lincoln County Court Records
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Lincoln County sits in east-central Missouri, with Troy as the county seat. The county falls within the 45th Judicial Circuit and is served by a single Circuit Court that runs multiple divisions — civil, criminal, family, probate, juvenile, and traffic — all housed at the Lincoln County Justice Center. Nine municipal court divisions handle local ordinance violations across the county. The Circuit Clerk's Office is the central keeper of all court filings, from the opening of a case through its final disposition.
Several resources are available for anyone researching Lincoln County court records. Clerk offices at the courthouse are open during business hours, and public terminals on-site let you run self-service searches. The state judiciary maintains Case.net, a free online tool that displays register-of-actions data for most case types across all Missouri circuits. MissouriCourts.us can also help you locate publicly available court case information at the state level.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Lincoln County?
The Lincoln County Circuit Clerk's Office is the right place to start for nearly every court record request in the county. The office keeps filings for all divisions of the Circuit Court, including civil, criminal, family, probate, and juvenile matters.
Lincoln County Circuit Clerk
Address: 45 Business Park Drive, Troy, MO 63379
Phone: (636) 528-0326
Fax: (636) 528-9168
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
The Circuit Clerk's website notes that entries of court activity are accessible on most cases through the state judiciary's online portal. The office is led by Circuit Clerk Kathy Krieg Hall.
Methods for searching Lincoln County court records:
- Case.net(online). Missouri's Case.net lets anyone run a free public search by party name, case number, filing date, or attorney. The database covers civil, criminal, domestic relations, probate, small claims, and traffic cases across the 45th Judicial Circuit.
- In person. Visit the Justice Center during business hours. Public computer terminals are available in the building for self-service record searches.
- By phone. Call the Circuit Clerk at (636) 528-0326 with the party name, case number, or other identifying details.
- By mail. Send a written request to the Circuit Clerk at 45 Business Park Drive, Troy, MO 63379. Include the full names of the parties, the case number (if known), the case type, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.
For municipal court cases, contact the individual court where the citation or charge was filed. Several municipal divisions share the Justice Center address and phone number, while others operate from separate locations:
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Troy Municipal Court | 800 Cap Au Gris, Troy, MO 63379 | (636) 528-6179 |
| Moscow Mills Municipal Court | 995 Main Street, Moscow Mills, MO 63362 | (636) 366-9969 |
| Elsberry Municipal Court | 201 Broadway, Elsberry, MO 63343 | (573) 898-5588 |
| Winfield Municipal Court | 51 Harry's Way, Winfield, MO 63389 | (636) 668-6031 |
| Foley, Fountain N' Lakes, Hawk Point, Old Monroe, Silex Municipal Divisions | 45 Business Park Drive, Troy, MO 63379 | (636) 528-6300 |
Are Court Records Public in Lincoln County?
Missouri's Sunshine Law (RSMo Chapter 610) establishes that records held by government bodies — including the courts — are open to public inspection and copying. Court-specific access is further shaped by Court Operating Rule 2 (COR 2), which presumes that all court records are open unless a law makes them confidential. COR 2 was last amended effective July 1, 2023, and it spells out which data elements are available to the public, how access can be denied, and what the clerk's responsibilities are as keeper of the records.
Under COR 2, you can view case indexes by case number, filing date, party name, calendar date, or judgment. Register-of-actions data — party names, attorney names, case types, filing dates, and dispositions — is remotely accessible through Case.net for most case types.
Records that are confidential or restricted include:
- Juvenile case records
- Adoption records
- Sealed and expunged records
- Medical and mental health records
- Personally identifiable information (Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, financial account numbers)
- Victim and witness identifying information in certain cases
- Domestic violence victim names in civil case docket entries
Redaction obligations. COR 2 requires filers — not the court — to redact personal identifiers before submitting documents. The clerk's office does not verify that redactions have been made, but may restrict access to a document if sensitive information is discovered after filing.
Each clerk's office designates a custodian of records who can approve or deny requests. Denials may be reviewed by the state judicial records committee. Reasonable fees may be charged for copies and research.
Lincoln County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Lincoln County move through the Circuit Court. Felonies carry a potential sentence of more than one year of imprisonment, while misdemeanors are punishable by up to one year in a county jail. Infractions — including many traffic violations — carry only monetary fines. The Criminal Division of the Circuit Clerk's office maintains all records once the state has filed charges.
Searching criminal court records.Case.net is the main free tool for looking up criminal filings, docket entries, charges, and dispositions in Lincoln County. You can also run in-person searches at the Justice Center using the public terminals, or ask the clerk's staff for assistance.
Arrest records and criminal background checks. The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office maintains local arrest reports and criminal incident documentation. The Records Division processes report requests and can be reached at:
Lincoln County Sheriff's Office
Address: 65 Business Park Drive, Troy, MO 63379
Non-Emergency Phone: (636) 528-6100
Administrative Phone: (636) 528-8546
For statewide criminal history searches, the Missouri State Highway Patrol's Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division offers two types of background checks:
- Name-based (personal identifier) search: $15 per request, available online through the MACHS Name Search Portal. Results are considered a possible match and include only open records — convictions, charges awaiting disposition, arrests less than 30 days old, and active SIS probation records.
- Fingerprint-based search: $20 for a state-only search (plus a $12 IDEMIA vendor fee, totaling $32). A combined state and FBI search costs $44. Fingerprint searches return a positive match result and include all criminal history data — including dismissed charges, sealed SIS records after probation, and expunged records pursuant to Chapter 610 RSMo.
Mail requests should include a check or money order payable to State of Missouri Criminal Record System Fund, sent to:
Missouri State Highway Patrol, CJIS Division
P.O. Box 9500
Jefferson City, MO 65102-9500
Lincoln County Civil Court Records
The Civil Division of the Circuit Clerk's Office keeps all civil case records in Lincoln County. The Circuit Court's divisions page notes that the Associate Civil division handles small claims (money owed up to $5,000), rent-and-possession cases, and civil actions involving amounts up to $25,000. The Circuit Division hears civil cases exceeding $25,000, along with appeals and more complex litigation.
Common civil case types include contract disputes, personal injury claims, property disputes, employment discrimination, consumer protection actions, professional malpractice, torts, and labor disputes.
Accessing civil records. The most efficient online option is Case.net, which shows register-of-actions data including parties, filings, and case outcomes. If you need copies of specific documents, submit a request to the Circuit Clerk in person, by phone at (636) 528-0326, or by mail to 45 Business Park Drive, Troy, MO 63379.
Property and recorded documents. Many civil matters involve recorded instruments such as deeds, liens, and mortgages. The Lincoln County Recorder of Deeds maintains these records and offers an online search platform through iRecord Search. You can reach the Recorder's Office at:
Lincoln County Recorder of Deeds
Address: 201 Main Street, Suite 203, Troy, MO 63379
Phone: (636) 528-0325
Email: recorder@lincolncomo.gov
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Recording fees per the county's fee schedule:
| Document Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Real estate document (first page) | $24.00 |
| Each additional page | $3.00 |
| Non-standard document (first page) | $49.00 |
| Additional releases/assignments referenced | $5.00 per document |
| Photocopies (up to 11x17) | $1.00 per page |
| Plat/survey copies | $5.00 per page |
| Emailed documents | $1.00/page + $2.00 email fee |
Lincoln County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Lincoln County — divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, adult abuse, and orders of protection — are heard by the Circuit Court's Family/Civil Division. The Juvenile Division separately handles cases involving abused or neglected children under age 18, juvenile delinquency for minors under age 17, and adoption proceedings.
Divorce records. Certified copies of divorce decrees are available from the Circuit Clerk's office, which maintains the original file. Divorce records are generally public unless sealed by court order. Alternatively, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services issues a Certified Statement Relating to Divorce that includes the names of both spouses, the date of divorce, and the county of record. You can request this statement using the Application for Vital Record Statement Relating to Marriage/Divorce/Single Status. The search fee is $15 per record.
Marriage records. Marriage licenses in Lincoln County are issued by the Circuit Clerk and recorded by the Recorder of Deeds. Certified copies of original marriage certificates are only available from the county Recorder. The Recorder's iRecord Search platform lets you search recorded marriage documents online. For a Certified Statement Relating to Marriage from the state (covering events from July 1, 1948 onward), submit a request to the Bureau of Vital Records at $15 per record.
Birth and death records. These are restricted records under 19 CSR 10-10 — only family members, legal representatives, and persons with a direct and tangible interest may obtain certified copies. The Lincoln County Health Department prints certificates on-site:
Lincoln County Health Department Vital Records
Address: 5 Health Department Drive, Troy, MO 63379
Phone: (636) 528-6117
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Fees at the local level:
- Birth certificate: $15.00 per certificate
- Death certificate: $14.00 for the first copy; $11.00 for each additional copy at the same visit
Applicants must present a photo ID (or two alternate forms of identification) and complete the Application for Missouri Vital Record Birth/Death. Requests can also be sent by mail to the Health Department (include a notarized application and check) or to the state Bureau of Vital Records at 930 Wildwood Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65109.
Adoption records. These are handled through the Juvenile Division and are confidential. Access to adoption records generally requires a court order.
Lincoln County Probate Court Records
The Probate Division of the Lincoln County Circuit Court handles estates of deceased persons, wills, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, and mental health commitments. As described on the Circuit Clerk's divisions page, probate matters also cover situations where minors receive funds or where individuals are unable to manage themselves or their property due to mental disability — including 96-hour mental health commitment proceedings.
Types of probate records available:
- Petitions for probate of a will
- Letters testamentary and letters of administration
- Estate inventories and accountings
- Guardianship and conservatorship filings
- Orders of distribution
- Mental health commitment records (access restricted)
Searching probate records.Case.net includes probate case data for Lincoln County, so you can search by decedent name, case number, or filing date. If you need copies of specific documents — a filed will, letters testamentary, or an estate inventory — contact the Probate Division of the Circuit Clerk at (636) 528-0326 or visit the Justice Center at 45 Business Park Drive, Troy.
Requesting probate records. Walk-in requests are processed during regular office hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.). Have the decedent's full legal name, approximate date of death, and case number ready if possible. Written requests can be mailed to the Circuit Clerk at the Justice Center address. The clerk may charge reasonable fees for copies and research as authorized under COR 2 and applicable statutes — contact the office directly for current per-page copy rates.
Older probate records transferred to the state archives may be accessible through the Missouri State Archives in Jefferson City. Property records connected to estate transfers — such as deeds from executors or personal representatives — are filed with the Lincoln County Recorder of Deeds and can be searched through the iRecord Search platform.