Scott County Court Records Search
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Scott County, Missouri, anchored by the county seat of Benton, operates a court system under the 33rd Judicial Circuit that handles the full range of criminal, civil, family, and probate proceedings. Court records produced by these proceedings — including docket entries, pleadings, judgments, motions, and sentencing orders — form the official documentary record of cases adjudicated in the county. Under Missouri law, most of these records are accessible to the public, though specific categories carry restrictions that govern who may view them and under what conditions.
For those researching Missouri court records, MissouriCourts.us is a useful starting point for understanding the state’s judicial structure and locating court case information. At the county level, records can be accessed through the Circuit Court Clerk’s office in Benton, searched online through the state’s public court portal, reviewed at in-person public terminals, or requested by mail. The sections that follow detail exactly where to look, what each office maintains, and what procedures and fees apply.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Scott County?
The Missouri Judiciary’s primary online tool for public case access is Missouri Case.net, a free statewide portal that allows anyone to search civil and criminal cases across all 45 Missouri circuits. For Scott County specifically, the 33rd Circuit provides real-time data — meaning entries appear on Case.net as soon as they are entered by the clerk’s office, rather than with a delay.
Searching cases on Missouri Case.net:
- Go to Missouri Case.net.
- Select “Search for Cases by Litigant Name” or “Search for Cases by Case Number”.
- For name searches, enter the last name and first name of a party.
- Filter by county (Scott) and case type if needed.
- Click on a case number to view docket entries, parties, hearing dates, and orders.
Case.net also offers a Track This Case feature that sends email or text notifications when activity occurs on a case. To sign up, locate the case on Case.net, click the case number, select “Track This Case”, and enter your email address and notification preferences.
Remote Public Access began July 1, 2023, allowing the public to view court documents filed on or after that date directly from personal devices through Case.net — not just case docket entries. Documents filed before that date may still require an in-person request. All filings with confidential information must be submitted to the court with redactions and an accompanying Redaction Certification form, in compliance with the 2023 rollout.
In-person record access is available at the Scott County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office:
Scott County Circuit Court Clerk — Stacey Naile
Address: 131 S. New Madrid Street, Benton, MO 63736
Phone: (573) 545-3596 | Fax: (573) 545-3597
Jury Information Line: (573) 545-3050
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Closed all state holidays
Requesters should bring case numbers when calling or visiting; clerk staff cannot provide legal advice and will not conduct case lookups without identifying information. A record request form is available on the Circuit Clerk’s website for formal document requests. A fee of $5.00 per request applies to document recording requests.
Are Court Records Public in Scott County?
Missouri’s public records framework is governed by the Missouri Sunshine Law, Chapter 610 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri. Under RSMo § 610.011, all records of public governmental bodies — including courts — are presumptively open to the public unless a specific exception applies. The underlying principle is government transparency.
Despite this presumption of openness, a number of record categories in Scott County courts are restricted or require special authorization to access:
- Sealed records — closed by direct court order and unavailable to the general public
- Juvenile records — access is limited to authorized parties such as parents, guardians, attorneys, and certain government agencies
- Adoption records — treated as confidential under Missouri adoption statutes
- Ongoing investigation records — may be withheld until an investigation is concluded
- Sensitive personal identifiers — social security numbers, financial account data, and similar information are redacted before public release
An Application to Inspect Confidential Court Records is available through the Circuit Clerk’s office for parties seeking access to otherwise restricted materials. Approval requires a showing of legal entitlement or a court order.
The 2023 Remote Public Access rules added a practical redaction requirement: all litigants must redact protected information from filings before submission to ensure documents made publicly available on Case.net do not inadvertently expose private data.
Scott County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Scott County are prosecuted in the Circuit Court (felonies and more serious matters) and the Associate Circuit Court (misdemeanors, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings). The Circuit Court Clerk’s office maintains criminal case records for both levels and serves as the gateway to all criminal dockets, sentencing orders, and related filings.
Criminal Division contact:
Phone: (573) 545-3576 | Fax: (573) 545-4231
Location: Judicial Building, behind the Courthouse, adjacent to the Sheriff’s Department, Benton, MO
Criminal case dockets are searchable through Missouri Case.net by party name or case number. The platform displays charge information, case status, hearing schedules, and judgment data for public criminal cases.
Statewide Criminal Background Checks
For comprehensive criminal history records, the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division maintains the state repository. Searches can be requested through the Missouri Automated Criminal History Site (MACHS).
| Search Type | Fee | Result Type |
|---|---|---|
| Name-Based (Personal Identifier) | $15.00 | Open records only (convictions, recent arrests, filed charges) |
| State Fingerprint-Based | $20.00 | Complete closed and open records |
| Notarized Response (add-on) | $5.00 | Added to either search type |
| IDEMIA fingerprinting service fee | $12.00 | In addition to state fee |
Name-based searches are available online through MACHS using a credit card. Mail-in requests go to:
Missouri State Highway Patrol, CJIS Division
Post Office Box 9500, Jefferson City, MO 65102-9500
Arrest records and jail information:
The Scott County Sheriff’s Office handles arrest records and jail information. Current inmates can be located using the Scott County Jail public tracker or through the Missouri Victim’s Automated Notification System (MOVANS), which also allows notification registration for when a specific inmate is released.
Scott County Sheriff — Derick Wheetley
Address: 131 S. New Madrid Street, Benton, MO 63736
Phone: (573) 545-3525 / (573) 471-3530
Fax: (Office): (573) 545-3527 | Fax: (Jail): (573) 545-4128
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Jail: Open 24 hours, 7 days a week
Incident reports may be requested at the Sheriff’s Office. Sexual offender registration also takes place at the Sheriff’s Office in Benton.
Scott County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in Scott County covers personal injury claims, contract disputes, landlord-tenant matters, property damage actions, and business litigation at the Circuit Court level, and lower-value civil claims at the Associate Circuit Court level. Both sets of records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk.
The Civil & Administrative Unit is located on the 2nd floor of the Scott County Courthouse, Room 208, Benton.
Phone: (573) 545-3596 | Fax: (573) 545-3597
Scott County Circuit Court Filing Fees (effective 12/31/25):
| Case Type | Filing Fee |
|---|---|
| Circuit Level Civil (personal injury, damages, etc.) | $100.00 |
| Associate Level Civil | $48.50 |
| Small Claims (max 12 filings/year) | $35.50 |
| Small Claims — additional certified mail service | $5.60 per defendant |
| Garnishment (wages or bank account) | $10.00 |
| Appeal | $70.00 |
| Trial De Novo | $45.00 |
| Sheriff service fee (first defendant, pro se) | $50.00 |
| Sheriff service fee (each additional at same address) | $35.00 |
The complete fee schedule is available as a downloadable PDF from the Circuit Clerk’s website. Small claims filings use the Small Claims Petition form available on the clerk’s site.
Court costs payment options:
- In person: Cash, money orders, or cashier’s checks (case number required)
- Online:courtmoney.com — Form ID 1095 (debit/credit cards accepted)
- Mail: Money orders or cashier’s checks only; no personal checks; payable to Scott County Circuit Court; allow 5–7 business days
- Drop box: South end of the courthouse, addressed to the Circuit Clerk’s Office
Civil case searches are available on Missouri Case.net. Court-approved self-help forms are available through the Missouri Courts website for self-represented litigants.
Property and land records are held separately by the Recorder of Deeds. Online access to deed records from 1999 to present is available through Scott County’s iRecord portal for a monthly registration fee. Copies of recorded documents cost $1.00 per page for in-person requests. Recording fees are $24.00 for the first page and $3.00 for each additional page.
Recorder of Deeds — Tara Mason
Address: P.O. Box 78, 131 S. Winchester, Room 134, Benton, MO 63736
Phone: (573) 545-3551 | Fax: (573) 545-4482
Email: tmason@scottcomo.com
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (open during lunch)
Scott County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Scott County — including dissolution of marriage (divorce), legal separation, child custody, paternity, child support, parenting plans, adult abuse orders of protection, and adoption proceedings — are filed in the Circuit Court under the domestic relations docket. The Circuit Court Clerk processes and stores all filings in these proceedings.
Dissolution and domestic relations filing fee: $132.50
Change of Name filing fee: $130.50
Adoption filing fee: $180.50
Adult Abuse and Child Abuse filing fee: $48.50
All domestic cases in Scott County are now handled as an e-filing court. The clerk no longer accepts checks for service of process fees — payment must be made directly to the serving entity.
Divorce records are generally public in Scott County unless sealed by court order. Common redactions applied before public release include information about minor children, Social Security numbers, and financial account numbers. Certified copies of dissolution decrees are available from the Circuit Court Clerk’s office at 131 S. New Madrid Street. Divorce statements for situations where the county of record is uncertain can be obtained from the Missouri Department of Health’s Vital Statistics Office.
Marriage licenses are issued by the Recorder of Deeds, not the Circuit Court. As of May 1, 2026, marriage license applications require an appointment. Both parties must appear in person, and under Missouri Revised Statutes § 451.090 (as amended by HB 737 effective August 28, 2025), no license may be issued to anyone under 18. The marriage license fee is $51.00 (cash, debit, or credit; a $2.05 card convenience fee applies; no checks). Licenses are valid for 30 days from issuance and can be used in any Missouri county.
Birth and death certificates are managed at both the county and state level. The Scott County Health Department issues birth certificates for events from 1920 forward ($15.00 per copy) and death certificates from 1980 forward ($14.00 per copy) using the request form on its website. The Missouri Bureau of Vital Records holds records from 1910 for births and deaths ($15.00 per copy). Under Missouri law, birth and death records are not publicly available; access is limited to the individual named, their parents, legal guardians, and authorized representatives.
Scott County Probate Court Records
Probate jurisdiction in Scott County belongs to the Associate Circuit Court, Division 4 — Probate, presided over by Judge Blake Pearson. This division handles all matters involving decedents’ estates, wills, intestate succession, guardianships for minors and incapacitated adults, conservatorships, and trust administration.
Associate Circuit Court — Division 4 (Probate)
Address: P.O. Box 587, 131 S. Winchester Street, Benton, MO 63736
Phone: (573) 545-3511 | Fax: (573) 545-3685
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Probate records can be searched online through Missouri Case.net or by visiting the Associate Circuit Clerk’s office in person. Requesters should provide the decedent’s name and approximate year of death, or a case number if available.
Scott County Probate Filing Fees:
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Admit Will to Probate | $68.50 |
| Application for Letters of Administration | $148.50 |
| Application for Letters Testamentary with App to Admit Will | $183.50 |
| Determination of Heirship | $68.50 |
| Small Estate without App to Admit Will | $68.50 |
| Small Estate with App to Admit Will | $103.50 |
| Filing of Will Only | $6.50 |
| Annual fee for deceased estates | $30.00 |
| Guardianship/Conservatorship of Minor (Application) | $93.50 |
| Guardianship/Conservatorship of Adult (Application) | $108.50 |
| Annual fee for Conservatorship (Minor) | $25.00 |
| Annual fee for Conservatorship (Adult) | $30.00 |
Guardianship and conservatorship petitions require an attorney — the Circuit Clerk’s office does not provide forms or paperwork for these proceedings. Referrals to licensed attorneys are available through the Missouri Bar Lawyer Referral Service at (573) 636-3635, or through Missouri Legal Aid Services. SEMO Legal Aid can be reached at (573) 683-3783 for those who qualify for free civil legal assistance.
Historical probate and judicial records that predate electronic storage may be held by the Missouri State Archives, which provides a searchable database of older judicial records organized by name and year.