Mcdonald County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Occupying an area measuring 540 square miles, McDonald County is located in the southwestern part of Missouri. Founded on March 3, 1849, this county has a population of 23,381 residents, and its county seat is Pineville. The 40th Judicial Circuit serves the residents of McDonald County with various divisions, including Small Claims, Associate Circuit, Municipal, Juvenile, Criminal, and Family.

The Associate Circuit Division Court handles all criminal misdemeanors, infractions, as well as, preliminary felony cases. The Probate Division Court handles cases involving the estate of minors and incapacitated persons as well as all litigation involving wills, especially trusts established in wills. All legal matters related to dissolution, adoption, abuse, and neglect are handled by the Family Division Court. The Small Claims Division Court handles general civil actions for less than $3,000. Municipal divisions have jurisdiction over ordinance violations such as housing code violations and traffic offenses. McDonald County has municipal divisions in six cities including Anderson, Lanagan, Pineville, Noel, Goodman, and Southwest.

The Circuit Court handles approximately 3,000 cases on an annual basis, with a total of 3,427 case dispositions in 2023. Currently, McDonald County has a crime rate of about 281.28 incidents per 100,000 people, compared to 2,331.23 incidents per 100,000 people reported in 2023. The Circuit Clerk is responsible for maintaining up-to-date records of cases filed in the county and can make them available for public inspection. Also, individuals can search for McDonald County court records using the Missouri Case.net portal by entering information such as litigant name, case number, judgment hearing date, or filing date. However, it is important to note that this portal may not include all court records that are available to the public. To view other court records, it is essential to visit the public access terminals available at the courthouse. The public does not have access to trade secret information, mental health evaluation, or juvenile records. In order to obtain sealed case records, a court order or special permission is required.

In summary, the 40th Judicial District is responsible for administering justice in McDonald County. With its various divisions including Family, Criminal, Juvenile, Municipal, Associate Circuit, and Small Claims, McDonald County ensures that all facets are covered in an efficient and effective manner. Not only does this ensure the safety of the residents, it ensures matters are handled in a timely fashion. McDonald County residents can easily access court records either in person or by utilizing the online system.