Franklin County Court Records
What Is Franklin County Court Records
Court records in Franklin County, Missouri, are official documents generated by the judicial system in the course of legal proceedings. These records serve as the permanent, authoritative account of all actions taken within a case and are maintained by the clerk of the court in which the matter was filed. Under Missouri Revised Statutes § 483.010, circuit court clerks are charged with the custody and maintenance of all court documents within their jurisdiction.
Franklin County court records encompass a broad range of document types, including:
- Case files — the complete collection of documents filed in a specific matter
- Dockets — chronological logs of all filings and court actions in a case
- Pleadings and motions — formal written submissions by parties to a case
- Orders and judgments — official rulings issued by the presiding judge
- Transcripts — verbatim written records of court proceedings
- Exhibits — physical or documentary evidence admitted during hearings or trials
- Sentencing records — documentation of penalties imposed in criminal matters
Court records are distinct from other categories of public records maintained by Franklin County. Property records are held by the County Assessor and Recorder of Deeds, while vital records such as birth and death certificates are administered by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Court records specifically document judicial proceedings and are maintained by the courts themselves.
The courts that generate and maintain records in Franklin County include the Circuit Court (which handles civil, criminal, family, probate, and juvenile matters), the Municipal Court of the City of Union, and other municipal divisions operating within incorporated municipalities in the county. Records span civil litigation, felony and misdemeanor criminal cases, domestic relations and family law matters, probate and estate proceedings, traffic violations, and small claims actions.
Are Court Records Public In Franklin County
Court records in Franklin County are presumptively open to the public under Missouri law. The Missouri Sunshine Law, § 610.010 et seq., establishes the public's right to access government records, including judicial records, subject to specific statutory exemptions. Missouri courts additionally operate under the principle of open courts enshrined in Article I, Section 14 of the Missouri Constitution, which affirms that courts shall be open to every person.
The following categories of court records are generally available for public inspection in Franklin County:
- Most civil case files, including complaints, answers, and supporting documents
- Criminal case files following the filing of formal charges
- Final judgments and court orders
- Docket sheets reflecting the procedural history of a case
- Hearing and trial schedules
- Probate filings, including wills admitted to record
Members of the public should note that federal court records — such as those from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri — are governed by federal rules and are accessible through the federal PACER system, which is separate from Missouri's state court access infrastructure. State court records in Franklin County are governed exclusively by Missouri statutes and Missouri Supreme Court Rules, particularly Rule 57 of the Missouri Rules of Civil Procedure, which addresses record-keeping and access standards.
Certain records are exempt from public disclosure, including juvenile records, mental health commitment records, sealed case files, and records containing identifying information of crime victims in specified circumstances.
How To Find Court Records in Franklin County in 2026
Members of the public seeking court records in Franklin County may access them through several official channels. The primary custodian of circuit court records is the Franklin County Circuit Court Clerk, located at the Franklin County Courthouse in Union, Missouri.
To obtain records in person:
- Visit the Circuit Court Clerk's office during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- Provide the case number, party name, or approximate filing date to assist staff in locating the record
- Request inspection of the file at the public counter or submit a written request for certified copies
- Pay applicable copy fees as established by Missouri statute
To request records by mail:
- Address a written request to the Franklin County Circuit Court Clerk
- Include the full case caption, case number if known, and the specific documents requested
- Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment for applicable fees
- Allow processing time as determined by the clerk's office workload
The Franklin County Missouri government website provides contact information for the Circuit Court Clerk, County Clerk, and other offices that maintain public records.
Franklin County Circuit Court Clerk 400 East Locust Street, Union, MO 63084 (636) 583-6355 Franklin County Missouri
How To Look Up Court Records in Franklin County Online?
Several online portals currently provide access to Franklin County court records without requiring an in-person visit. The Missouri judiciary maintains a statewide case management system that allows members of the public to search court records electronically.
Missouri Case.net is the primary online portal for searching state court records, including those from Franklin County. Available at casenet.courts.mo.gov, this system allows users to search by:
- Party name (first and last name)
- Case number
- Attorney name
- Filing date range
- Case type (civil, criminal, traffic, domestic relations, probate)
Steps to search Franklin County records on Case.net:
- Navigate to the Missouri Courts Case.net portal
- Select "Franklin County" from the court location dropdown menu
- Enter the search criteria (party name or case number)
- Review the case summary, docket entries, and available documents
- Note that some documents may require in-person inspection or a formal copy request
For historical and archived judicial records, the Missouri State Archives judicial records collection holds records from the Missouri Supreme Court, Appellate Courts, and county and municipal courts, providing a valuable resource for older case files no longer maintained by the active court system.
How To Search Franklin County Court Records for Free?
Missouri law guarantees members of the public the right to inspect court records at no charge. Under § 610.026 of the Missouri Sunshine Law, custodians of public records may charge fees only for the actual cost of document duplication, not for the act of inspection itself. Accordingly, viewing records in person at the Franklin County Circuit Court Clerk's office is free of charge.
The following resources currently provide free access to Franklin County court records:
- Missouri Case.net — free to search; no registration required for basic case lookups; docket entries and case summaries are available at no cost
- Franklin County Circuit Court Clerk's public counter — in-person inspection of case files is provided at no charge during business hours
- Missouri State Archives — the judicial records portal provides free access to archived court records from county and municipal courts across Missouri
Fees apply only when requesting certified copies, plain paper copies, or records transmitted by mail. The Circuit Court Clerk's office can provide the current fee schedule upon request.
What's Included in a Franklin County Court Record?
The contents of a Franklin County court record vary by case type, but generally include a standardized set of documents that reflect the full procedural and substantive history of the matter.
Civil case records typically include:
- Petition or complaint and summons
- Defendant's answer and any counterclaims
- Motions, responses, and supporting memoranda
- Discovery-related filings (where entered into the record)
- Pre-trial orders and scheduling entries
- Trial transcripts and admitted exhibits
- Final judgment and any post-judgment motions
Criminal case records typically include:
- Charging documents (information or indictment)
- Arrest and booking information (where filed with the court)
- Bail and bond orders
- Plea agreements
- Sentencing orders and probation conditions
- Appellate filings, if applicable
Family and domestic relations records typically include:
- Petitions for dissolution of marriage or legal separation
- Parenting plans and custody orders
- Child support worksheets and orders
- Protective orders
Probate records typically include:
- Petitions for administration of estates
- Wills admitted to probate
- Inventories and accountings
- Orders of distribution
Traffic and small claims records typically include:
- Citation or complaint
- Defendant's response or plea
- Judgment or disposition
How Long Does Franklin County Keep Court Records?
Franklin County courts retain records in accordance with the retention schedules established by the Missouri State Courts Administrator and the Missouri Supreme Court. Retention periods vary by case type and document category.
Current retention periods for principal record types include:
- Felony criminal case files — retained permanently
- Misdemeanor criminal case files — retained for a minimum of 10 years following case closure
- Civil case files — retained for a minimum of 10 years following final judgment
- Domestic relations case files — retained permanently due to ongoing modification jurisdiction
- Probate case files — retained permanently
- Traffic case files — retained for a minimum of 5 years
- Small claims case files — retained for a minimum of 5 years following judgment
The Missouri State Courts Administrator issues official records retention schedules applicable to all circuit courts in the state. Older records that have been transferred out of active court custody may be located through the Missouri State Archives, which holds historical judicial records from county and municipal courts statewide.
Types of Courts In Franklin County
Franklin County is served by courts operating at the municipal, circuit, and appellate levels. The court hierarchy proceeds from municipal courts at the local level, through the Circuit Court as the court of general jurisdiction, to the Missouri Court of Appeals (Eastern District), and ultimately to the Missouri Supreme Court.
Franklin County Circuit Court (20th Judicial Circuit) 400 East Locust Street, Union, MO 63084 (636) 583-6355 Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Franklin County Missouri
The Circuit Court is the court of general jurisdiction for Franklin County and handles felony and misdemeanor criminal cases, civil matters, domestic relations, juvenile, probate, and traffic cases.
City of Union Municipal Court Franklin County Courthouse, 400 East Locust Street, Union, MO 63084 (636) 583-3600 Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Municipal Court – City of Union
The Union Municipal Court handles ordinance violations and minor traffic matters arising within the city limits of Union. As noted on the city's official website, the Municipal Division court is currently located at the Franklin County Courthouse.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District Missouri Courts Building, 111 North Seventh Street, St. Louis, MO 63101 (314) 539-4300 Missouri Courts
Appeals from Franklin County Circuit Court decisions are heard by the Eastern District of the Missouri Court of Appeals.
What Types of Cases Do Franklin County Courts Hear?
Each court within Franklin County exercises jurisdiction over specific categories of cases as defined by Missouri statute and court rules.
Franklin County Circuit Court hears:
- Felony criminal prosecutions
- Misdemeanor and infraction cases
- Civil disputes involving amounts exceeding the small claims threshold
- Domestic relations matters (divorce, custody, child support, adoption)
- Juvenile delinquency and child abuse/neglect proceedings
- Probate and estate administration
- Mental health commitment proceedings
- Small claims cases (currently up to $5,000)
- Felony and misdemeanor traffic offenses
City of Union Municipal Court hears:
- City ordinance violations
- Minor traffic infractions occurring within Union city limits
- Municipal code enforcement matters
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District hears:
- Appeals from final judgments of the Franklin County Circuit Court
- Interlocutory appeals as permitted by rule
Missouri Supreme Court hears:
- Cases involving the validity of a state statute or constitutional provision
- Discretionary transfer cases from the Court of Appeals
- Cases within its exclusive jurisdiction under the Missouri Constitution
How To Find a Court Docket In Franklin County
A court docket is the official chronological record of all filings, hearings, and actions taken in a specific case. Members of the public may access Franklin County court dockets through the following methods.
Online via Missouri Case.net:
- Visit the Missouri Courts Case.net system at casenet.courts.mo.gov
- Select Franklin County as the court location
- Enter the party name or case number in the search fields
- Select the case from the results list to view the full docket sheet, including filing dates, document descriptions, and hearing entries
In person at the Circuit Court Clerk's office:
- Visit the Franklin County Circuit Court Clerk at 400 East Locust Street, Union, MO 63084
- Request the docket sheet for the specific case by providing the case number or party name
- Staff will provide access to the docket during regular business hours
For municipal court dockets: Members of the public seeking docket information for matters before the City of Union Municipal Court may contact the court directly through the Union Municipal Court office at the Franklin County Courthouse.
Which Courts in Franklin County Are Not Courts of Record?
A court of record is a court whose proceedings are officially documented and preserved, whose acts and judicial proceedings are enrolled in permanent records, and whose judgments carry a presumption of validity. Under Missouri law, specifically § 517.011 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, small claims divisions and certain associate circuit court proceedings may operate under modified record-keeping requirements.
Municipal courts in Missouri, including those operating within Franklin County municipalities, are generally not courts of record in the traditional sense. These courts handle ordinance violations and minor traffic matters, and their proceedings are not transcribed verbatim as a matter of course. A party dissatisfied with a municipal court judgment may appeal to the Circuit Court, where the matter is heard de novo — meaning the case is tried anew as if no prior proceeding had occurred — precisely because no formal record was created at the municipal level.
The Franklin County Circuit Court, by contrast, is a court of record. All proceedings before the Circuit Court are subject to official documentation, and the record created at the circuit level forms the basis for any subsequent appellate review. Associate circuit court divisions, which handle certain civil and criminal matters within the Circuit Court structure, maintain records consistent with circuit court standards under current Missouri Supreme Court administrative rules.