CaseNet MO: Search Missouri Court Cases Online

CaseNet is Missouri’s online court case lookup system. It is used across the state and gives public access to many court records and case details. Instead of checking different county systems, users can search through one statewide platform for available case information.

Through CaseNet, users may be able to:

• Search cases by litigant name
• Search by case number
• Review case header details
• Check docket entries
• View parties and attorneys
• Look at charges, judgments, and hearings
• Track case activity through email or text notifications

courts.mo.gov/casenet officially warns users about fake websites circulating online that pretend to be connected with Case.net. These websites may look similar to the official court website, but they are not managed by or affiliated with the Missouri courts.

According to the official warning, at least one fake Case.net website may expose users to viruses or other malware. We also noticed a few other similar websites that are not listed on the official page. We have listed those websites below:

How to Identify the Official Website

Only www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/ is the official Case.net website run by the Missouri courts. This is the authentic website where users can search Missouri court case information.

Always check the domain before using the website. The official Missouri Courts website uses the courts.mo.gov domain. Avoid websites that use similar names but different endings, spellings, or extra words.

When using Missouri CaseNet, some search methods are more practical than others.

1.Case Number Search

If you already know the exact case number, this is usually the fastest and most accurate way to find a case. It takes you directly to the correct file without forcing you to sort through multiple records with similar names.

2.Litigant Name Search

If you do not have the case number, Litigant Name Search is usually the next best option. This lets you search using the name of the person or party connected to the case.

This method is useful when you are trying to find a case by:

• Last name
• First name
• Middle name or middle initial

Note: Because many people may share the same name, this search often works best when you enter as much accurate information as possible.

If you are trying to find a criminal court case in Missouri, the name search tool is one of the most common starting points. Here is the basic process:

01

Open the Missouri Courts case search page

Start at https://www.courts.mo.gov/ Missouri Case Net Search, the online case search system for state courts, and go to the search section.

02

Choose Litigant Name Search

From the available search options, select Litigant Name Search.

03

Select the case type

Choose the type of case you want to search. For example:

• Criminal
• Civil
• Family
• Domestic
• Traffic
• Municipal

Important: If you are only looking for criminal records, selecting criminal cases helps keep the results more relevant.

04

Enter the person’s name

Type the available name details into the search fields. This may include:

• Last name
• First name
• Middle name
• Middle initial

05

Choose a jurisdiction or search statewide

You may be able to search:

• A specific county or circuit
• All jurisdictions in Missouri

A statewide search is broader, but it may return a very large number of records. If you already know the county, narrowing the jurisdiction can save time.

06

Review the results

Once the search runs, look through the results and find the correct case. If too many records appear, refine the search by adding more identifying details such as the middle name.

One of the most common issues in Case Net MO is getting too many matching records. This usually happens when the name is common.

For example, a search for a name like Tim Smith could return hundreds of results across Missouri. In that situation, adding a middle name or limiting the search to a specific county can reduce the list and make the correct case easier to find.

Good ways to narrow your results include:

• Add a middle name
• Try a middle initial
• Search a specific county or circuit
• Limit the case type
• Use the exact case number if you have it

When using Litigant Name Search, exact formatting can affect your results.

For example:

• If the court record used only a middle initial, searching the full middle name may not show the case
• If the record used only first name and last name, adding a middle initial might block the match
• Some records may appear under slightly different name formats

Because of this, it is often smart to try several versions of the same name, such as:

• First name + last name
• First name + middle initial + last name
• First name + full middle name + last name

This can help you find records that do not appear on the first try.

After you run a search, CaseNet in MO shows a list of matching records. By default, the system may show a smaller number of results per page, but users can often change the display to show more at once.

You may be able to view:

When you click the blue case number link, the full case file page opens. This page may contain several tabs with different types of information.

The amount of information visible online can vary depending on the court and the type of case.

Sometimes yes, but not always.

In many circuit court and probate court cases, some filed documents may be available to open online. However, not every court file will provide full document access. Some records or attachments may be restricted, and certain secure documents may not be publicly visible.

So while CaseNet is useful for checking case activity and basic court information, it may not always show every document connected to a file.

One of the more useful CaseNet features is the ability to track a case.

In some cases, users can choose a Track This Case option and sign up for notifications. After entering an email address, and sometimes a phone number for text alerts, the system may send notices when new activity is filed in the case.

This can be helpful if you want to monitor:

• New filings
• Case updates
• Changes in the docket
• Hearing-related activity

This feature can be especially useful for case parties, family members, heirs, or anyone who wants to follow proceedings without checking the system manually every day.

Missouri is known for offering relatively broad public access to statewide court case information compared with many states where systems differ from county to county.

That does not mean every document is visible in every case, but it does mean members of the public can often search and review a substantial amount of case information through one central system.

To search more efficiently, keep these tips in mind:

• Use case number search whenever possible
• If searching by name, start with the last name and first name
• Try different middle name or middle initial combinations
• Narrow the search to a specific county if you know where the case was filed
• Select the correct case type before searching
• Review multiple pages if the name is common

If you need to find a Missouri court case online, CaseNet is usually the main place to start. For most users, the easiest method is either Case Number Search or Litigant Name Search. Once you locate the right file, you can often review important details like the case header, docket entries, parties, hearings, and available judgments.

The key to getting better results is to search carefully, use the correct case type, try name variations when needed, and narrow the jurisdiction if the statewide results are too broad.