Missouri People Search
Missouri people search records cover a wide range of public documents held by state and county agencies across all 115 jurisdictions. You can look up court case files, vital records, criminal histories, and property filings using free and low-cost tools that the state provides. Case.net is the statewide portal for Circuit Court records. It lets you search by name at no cost. The Bureau of Vital Records keeps birth and death certificates going back to 1910. County offices like the Circuit Clerk, Recorder of Deeds, and Sheriff each hold their own records that are open to the public. This guide walks through the main databases and resources for a Missouri people search.
Missouri People Search Quick Facts
Missouri People Search Through CaseNet
Missouri Case.net is the state's official court records database. The Missouri Judicial Branch runs this portal and it covers all 115 Circuit Courts. Basic searches are free. You can look up civil cases, criminal cases, traffic violations, and family court matters. Search by a person's name in last-first format. You can also search by case number or filing date. The system shows docket entries, scheduled hearings, and case status for each result. No account is needed for basic lookups. Creating an account lets you track cases and get email or text alerts when something changes in a case. Case.net is available most days from 6 AM to 1 AM Central Time.
You can run a people search on Case.net for records from any Missouri county. The portal lets you filter by judicial circuit or court type to narrow down your results. It shows party names, case types, filing dates, and dispositions. Public court documents filed on or after July 1, 2023 can be viewed and printed right from the site. Older documents may need an in-person request at the local Circuit Clerk's office. Certified copies have fees that vary by county, but basic case information is always free to search.
Case.net people search features include:
- Name search in last, first format
- Case number lookup for direct access
- Filing date range search
- Scheduled hearings search by date
- Track This Case with email or text alerts
Note: Some records on Case.net may not show up if they are sealed, expunged, or have restricted access under Missouri law.
Vital Records for Missouri People Search
The Missouri Bureau of Vital Records is the central source for birth and death certificates. This office is part of the Department of Health and Senior Services. It holds birth records from January 1910 to the present and death records for the same time span. These records can help with a people search when you need to confirm a date of birth, verify a death, or trace family connections. Under RSMo 193.245, death certificates more than 50 years old are transferred to the Missouri State Archives and can be viewed by the public. More recent vital records are restricted to those with a direct and tangible interest in the record, which includes family members and legal representatives.
The Bureau of Vital Records home page at health.mo.gov/data/vitalrecords explains the full request process.
Birth certificates cost $15 each. Death certificates cost $14 for the first copy and $11 for each additional copy of the same record.
You can order vital records by mail, online through an authorized vendor, or in person at a local health department. Mail requests go to the Bureau of Vital Records at 930 Wildwood Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65109. Include the full name on the record, date of birth or death, and your payment. A search fee covers a five year period. If the record falls outside that range, you pay for extra searches. Many county health departments in Missouri also issue birth and death certificates and can often print them while you wait, which makes the process faster if you live far from Jefferson City.
The online request page at health.mo.gov/data/vitalrecords/obtain-vital-record.php walks through each ordering step.
Valid photo ID and proof of your relationship to the person on the record are needed for all vital record requests in Missouri.
Missouri Criminal History Search
The Missouri State Highway Patrol handles criminal record checks through the Missouri Automated Criminal History Site, known as MACHS. A name-based search costs $14 and can be done online. This type of check shows open criminal records, conviction records, charges still waiting for a court decision, and arrest information from the past 30 days. It also shows records with a suspended imposition of sentence during the probation period. A name search is a useful part of a Missouri people search when you want to check if someone has a criminal history in the state. The Criminal Justice Information Services Division of the Highway Patrol compiles and maintains these records under RSMo 43.500.
The MACHS portal at machs.mo.gov handles all online criminal history searches in Missouri.
Results for name-based searches come back quickly, but fingerprint-based checks take 7 to 10 business days to process.
Fingerprint-based searches are also available through MACHS. These cost $20 plus a vendor scheduling fee of about $11.50. You must visit an approved location to have your prints taken. This type of search is more thorough than a name check and can include federal records if you pay the extra $13.25 fee. The results get mailed to you once the check is done.
People Search Using Missouri Corrections
The Missouri Department of Corrections runs a free offender search tool. This database covers people who are currently in state prisons, on probation, or on parole. You search by first and last name, and the system checks aliases too. Results show the person's full legal name, DOC ID number, custody status, assigned facility, and projected release date when that information is available. This is a helpful people search tool for finding out if someone is currently under state supervision in Missouri. The system does not include discharged offenders or people held in county jails. Some records may be restricted for safety or privacy reasons.
The DOC offender search at web.mo.gov/doc/offSearchWeb lets you look up current inmates and supervised offenders.
The search covers state correctional facilities only. It does not include county jails or federal prisons in Missouri.
The Department of Corrections main site at doc.mo.gov has more details about facilities and programs across the state.
You can find visiting hours, contact numbers, and other resources on the DOC home page.
Note: County jails maintain their own inmate rosters separately, so check the local sheriff's office website if you need to find someone held at the county level in Missouri.
Sex Offender Registry in Missouri
The Missouri State Highway Patrol maintains the state sex offender registry. You can search by offender name or by address to see who is registered near a specific location. The registry shows each offender's name, photo, date of birth, and home address. Details about the offense are posted as well. You can sign up for email alerts when a registered offender moves into your area. The toll-free number for sex offender information is 1-888-767-6747. Each county in Missouri also has a local contact number for questions about the registry. For a nationwide search, the federal registry at nsopw.gov covers all 50 states.
The sex offender search page at mshp.dps.mo.gov provides both name and location lookups for Missouri.
An interactive map tool on the site shows registered offenders near any Missouri address you enter.
Missouri People Search and Public Records Law
Missouri's Sunshine Law governs public access to government records. Found in Chapter 610 of the Revised Statutes, this law says that records of public government bodies are open unless another law specifically restricts them. Under RSMo 610.023, any person can ask to inspect and copy public records. The custodian of records must respond within three business days. Copying fees are capped at the actual cost of search and duplication. Standard copies cost no more than 10 cents per page. Under RSMo 610.100, arrest reports are generally open to the public. Many records used in a Missouri people search are accessible under this law. Exceptions exist for sealed or expunged records, juvenile records, and some investigative files.
The Attorney General's Sunshine Law page at ago.mo.gov/missouri-law/sunshine-law explains your rights in detail.
The page includes sample request letters and contact details for filing complaints about denied access.
Each government office in Missouri must have a custodian of records. This person handles requests and decides what can be released. If your request is denied, the custodian must give you a written statement citing the specific law that applies. You can appeal a denial to the Attorney General or file a lawsuit in circuit court. Most people search records in Missouri fall under the open records provisions, so access is rarely denied for standard court and vital records.
Additional People Search Resources
Missouri has several other tools that can help with a people search beyond court and criminal records. The Secretary of State keeps a business entity search at bsd.sos.mo.gov where you can look up registered companies, their agents, and formation dates. The Division of Professional Registration at pr.mo.gov lets you verify professional licenses for nurses, pharmacists, real estate agents, and other licensed occupations in Missouri. Voter registration status can be checked through Go Vote Missouri on the Secretary of State's website. The Missouri State Archives holds historical records including death certificates that are more than 50 years old and available to the general public.
The Missouri Revisor of Statutes at revisor.mo.gov provides free access to all state laws.
You can search by keyword or browse by chapter to find statutes related to public records access in Missouri.
These resources round out a people search in Missouri:
- Business entity search through the Secretary of State
- Professional license lookup at the Division of Professional Registration
- Voter registration status at Go Vote Missouri
- Historical death certificates at the Missouri State Archives
- Full text of Missouri statutes at the Revisor of Statutes
Browse Missouri People Search by County
Each county in Missouri has its own Circuit Clerk, Recorder of Deeds, and Sheriff's Office that maintain searchable public records. Select a county below to find local people search resources and contact details.
People Search in Missouri Cities
Major Missouri cities are served by their county court systems for public records. Select a city below to find local people search resources and learn which county handles records for that area.