How to Look Up Eviction Records in Missouri 2026

Where to Search Missouri Eviction Records

In Missouri, an eviction case (the state calls it "rent and possession" or "unlawful detainer") is filed and heard in the Circuit Court (Associate Division) of the county where the rental sits. The good news for anyone trying to find a record is that Missouri runs a single statewide case-search system: Missouri Case.Net. You do not have to drive to 114 separate county courthouses or learn 114 different clerk systems. One portal indexes filings from every circuit, so a search by tenant name returns matches statewide.

The harder reality is on the back end. Missouri has no statutory right to expunge or seal an eviction record, which means a case that was filed generally stays visible in the public index regardless of how it ended. That makes Case.Net a powerful tool and a sharp one. The same openness that lets a landlord verify a history lets a stale or dismissed filing follow a renter for years. Read on for how to search, how to interpret what you find, and what the rules mean for screening.

How to look up a Missouri eviction record

Start at Missouri Case.Net, the judiciary's statewide case index. Use the litigant-name search to pull cases tied to a person, or the case-number search if you already have one. Because access is statewide, a single query reaches every county's Circuit Court (Associate Division) rather than just one jurisdiction. Filter by the rent-and-possession or unlawful-detainer case types to isolate eviction matters from unrelated filings.

Case.Net shows the docket, the parties, and the disposition, but it is an index, not a document vault. For the actual judgment or a court-stamped copy, contact the clerk of the circuit court in the county where the case was filed. Certified copies run $0.50 per page. Many records are viewable free on screen; you pay only when you need a certified, file-stamped version for a dispute or formal screening file.

How to read a result: a filing is not a judgment

The single most common mistake is treating any Case.Net hit as proof a tenant was evicted. A filing is not a judgment. Landlords file cases that later settle, get dismissed, are decided for the tenant, or are voluntarily withdrawn after the rent is paid. Always open the docket and read the disposition line before drawing a conclusion.

Look for who prevailed and how the case closed. A judgment for possession against the tenant is a very different fact from a dismissal or a case that ended in the tenant's favor. Check dates too: an old, resolved matter carries far less weight than a recent possession judgment. On Case.Net the docket entries are listed chronologically, so the final entries usually tell you the outcome. Because Missouri offers no sealing, even dismissed cases tend to remain visible, so the disposition is the only honest signal of what actually happened.

Expungement and sealing: what it means for screening

Missouri provides no statutory mechanism to expunge or seal an eviction record. Unlike states that automatically shield dismissed cases or let tenants petition to seal after a waiting period, a Missouri eviction filing generally remains in the public Case.Net index indefinitely. For landlords, that breadth comes with a legal duty.

Tenant-screening reports are governed by the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). If you order a report through a consumer-reporting agency, you must have a permissible purpose, give the applicant any required adverse-action notice, and rely on accurate, current information. Never deny an applicant on a bare filing without checking the disposition, and do not treat an old or tenant-favorable case as a possession judgment. Pulling raw Case.Net data yourself can sidestep some CRA rules but raises its own accuracy and fair-housing exposure, so document what the docket actually says.

The tenant's side: limiting the damage

Because Missouri has no eviction-expungement statute, a tenant cannot simply petition to erase a case the way renters can in some states. That puts the burden on getting the record to read accurately rather than getting it removed. If a case was dismissed, decided in your favor, or filed in error, make sure the Case.Net disposition reflects that, and keep your own copies of the docket and any settlement.

If you dispute how a screening company reported your history, you have rights under the FCRA: you can request the report, dispute inaccurate entries, and require the agency to investigate. When a landlord cites a record to deny you, ask which case and check it on Case.Net yourself. A certified copy from the circuit clerk, at $0.50 per page, can document a favorable outcome when you apply for your next home, where Missouri's average rent of about $854 means a lost application is a real cost.

Step-by-Step: How to Search Missouri Eviction Records

1. Go to Missouri Case.Net. Open https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet in your browser.
2. Search by party name. Enter the prospective tenant's full legal name (last name, first name) as a defendant/respondent. Try name variations including maiden names.
3. Filter by case type. Select eviction, forcible detainer, unlawful detainer, or summary possession as the case type depending on the court's terminology.
4. Review the disposition. Identify whether the case resulted in a judgment for the landlord (eviction), dismissal (tenant won or case settled), or is still pending. A filing alone does not mean the tenant was evicted.
5. Check the filing date. Consider how old the record is, most tenant-screening best practices recommend discounting records older than 5-7 years.
6. Request certified copies if needed. For a certified copy of the court record, contact the Circuit Court (Associate Division) clerk's office directly. Fees are typically $0.50/page.

This page was researched and maintained by the Eviction Risk Map research team using public information from the Missouri Judiciary, which operates the statewide Case.Net case-search system, and the Circuit Court (Associate Division) that hears eviction matters. Missouri has no eviction-record expungement statute as of this review. Last reviewed June 2026. This is general information, not legal advice; consult a licensed Missouri attorney or your local circuit clerk for guidance on a specific case.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I look up an eviction record in Missouri?

Search Missouri Case.Net, the state judiciary's statewide online case index. Use a litigant-name or case-number search and filter to rent-and-possession or unlawful-detainer case types. Because access is statewide, one query covers every county's Circuit Court (Associate Division). For a certified copy of the judgment, contact the clerk of the circuit court where the case was filed.

Are Missouri eviction records public?

Yes. Missouri eviction cases are heard in the Circuit Court (Associate Division) and are part of the public record, searchable statewide through Missouri Case.Net. Because Missouri has no expungement or sealing law for evictions, filings generally stay visible in the index regardless of how the case ended, so always read the disposition rather than assuming a filing means a tenant was evicted.

Can a tenant expunge an eviction in Missouri?

No. Missouri has no statutory right to expunge or seal an eviction record, so a tenant cannot petition to erase a case the way renters can in some other states. The practical step is to ensure the Case.Net disposition accurately reflects a dismissal or a tenant-favorable outcome, and to dispute any inaccurate entry on a tenant-screening report under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act.

How much does a certified copy of a Missouri eviction record cost?

Certified copies from the circuit clerk cost $0.50 per page in Missouri. Viewing a case on Missouri Case.Net is generally free; you pay the per-page fee only when you need an official, file-stamped certified copy, such as documenting a favorable outcome for a future rental application or a formal screening file.

Related Missouri Landlord Guides

Court portal information sourced from the Missouri court administrative office official website. Expungement laws from published Missouri statutes (see citations above). Last updated August 28, 2026. For informational purposes only, not legal advice.