Search Butler County Family Court Records
Butler County family court records are filed and stored at the courthouse in Poplar Bluff. The 36th Judicial Circuit manages all family law cases for Butler County, from divorce to child custody. You can look up these records for free on Case.net or visit the circuit clerk's office at 100 N. Main St. The clerk's civil division on the 3rd floor processes family court filings and provides copies. Butler County has some of the lowest copy fees for divorce decrees in the state.
Butler County Family Court Quick Facts
Butler County Circuit Clerk Office
Circuit Clerk Cindi Bowman manages the clerk's office for the 36th Judicial Circuit. The civil division sits on the 3rd floor of the courthouse at 100 N. Main St., Poplar Bluff, MO 63901. Call (573) 686-8082 for the civil side or (573) 686-8087 for criminal matters. The fax number is (573) 686-8094. Staff can help you find family court records, check case status, and get copies of filed documents.
The Butler County Circuit Courts website has details on services and hours. The clerk's office handles dissolution records, name changes, juvenile cases, adoptions, paternity actions, and child support records. They also help with genealogical searches that involve family court records. When you visit, bring a valid ID and the names of the parties or the case number.
The 36th Circuit covers Butler and Ripley counties. Poplar Bluff serves as the main courthouse location. Family court cases from both counties are filed through this office. The circuit uses the Missouri Court Automation Program, so all records are in the electronic system and show up on Case.net.
Butler County Family Court Record Fees
Butler County has clear, posted fees for family court document copies. A divorce decree without any attachment costs just $2.50. If the decree has an attachment like a parenting plan or separation agreement, the fee goes up to $5.00. These are some of the most affordable rates you will find in Missouri for getting a copy of a dissolution decree.
Filing a Family Access Motion in Butler County costs $102. This is the standard Missouri fee for when a parent has been denied court-ordered visitation under RSMo 452.400. The court can order makeup visitation time, counseling, fines up to $500, or attorney fees when it finds a violation. All of these filings become part of the Butler County family court record.
For mail requests, send the names of the parties at the time of the divorce, the approximate month and year, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and your payment to the clerk's office. Fee waivers are available if you can show financial hardship. File a Motion to Proceed In Forma Pauperis with proof of income.
Note: Butler County plain copies of other family court documents run $0.25 to $1.00 per page, with certified copies adding $1.50 to $4.00 per document.
Search Butler County Family Court Records Online
Missouri Case.net lets you search Butler County family court records from any device. Select "Butler County - 36th Judicial Circuit" and filter by "Family/Domestic" case type. The search is free. You can look up cases by name, number, or filing date. Results show docket entries, party names, judgments, and scheduled hearings.
Since July 2023, public documents filed on or after that date can be viewed remotely on Case.net. This was a major shift for Butler County family court records. Before this change, you had to go to the courthouse to see actual documents. The 36th Circuit was part of the later rollout, going live in October 2023. Older documents filed before July 2023 still require an in-person visit to the Poplar Bluff courthouse to view.
You can also track a case on Case.net. Sign up for alerts and get notified by email or text when there are new filings, motions, or hearing changes on a Butler County family court case. This is helpful if you are waiting on a custody or support ruling.
Types of Butler County Family Court Records
Butler County family court records include dissolution of marriage, paternity, child custody, child support, and modifications. The civil division handles all of these case types. Each one produces a unique set of documents that the clerk stores and maintains at the Poplar Bluff courthouse.
Missouri law under RSMo Chapter 452 sets the rules for dissolution. One spouse must be a Missouri resident for 90 days before filing. The petition, response, temporary orders, parenting plan, and final judgment all go into the family court record. The 30-day waiting period after filing applies to all Butler County dissolution cases. Child support follows Section 452.340 guidelines based on both parents' finances and the child's needs.
The clerk's office also maintains records for protection orders. Under Missouri law, a person can file for an ex parte order of protection in cases of domestic abuse. These orders and any follow-up hearings become part of the family court record. Adoption files and juvenile records are handled too, but those are generally sealed or confidential under Missouri law.
Legal Help in Butler County
Legal Services of Eastern Missouri provides free family law help to Butler County residents who meet income guidelines. They assist with divorce, custody, support, and protection orders. Their staff can also help you understand how to access and read family court records.
The Missouri Courts self-help site at selfrepresent.mo.gov has forms for dissolution, paternity, and modifications. The Family Support Division at 1-800-225-0530 handles child support enforcement for Butler County. The Missouri Sunshine Law makes most family court records public, so you do not need to be a party to a case to request copies from the Butler County clerk.