Callaway County Family Court Records
Callaway County family court records are managed by the circuit clerk in Fulton. The county is part of the 13th Judicial Circuit, which it shares with Boone County. You can search for Callaway County family court records on Case.net for free. For certified copies or in-person review, visit the clerk's office at 10 E. 5th St. in Fulton. The 13th Circuit has an active family court division handling dissolution, custody, and support cases for both counties in the circuit.
Callaway County Family Court Quick Facts
Callaway County Circuit Clerk Office
Circuit Clerk Megan Morse manages family court records for Callaway County. The office is at 10 E. 5th St., Fulton, MO 65251. Call (573) 642-0780 with questions about case files, copy requests, or hearing dates.
The Callaway County website has additional information about courthouse services. The clerk's office processes all family court filings for the county. This includes dissolution of marriage petitions, custody motions, child support actions, paternity cases, and modifications. Staff can look up records by party name or case number. They issue certified copies for use in other courts or for personal records. Plain copies run $0.25 to $1.00 per page, and certified copies add $1.50 to $4.00 per document. Bring a photo ID when you visit.
The 13th Circuit shares judges and commissioners between Callaway and Boone counties. Columbia, the Boone County seat, is the larger population center. But Callaway County has its own clerk's office and maintains its own physical family court records at the Fulton courthouse. Family cases filed in Callaway County stay in the Fulton office unless they go up on appeal to a higher court.
Search Callaway County Records on Case.net
Go to Case.net and select "Callaway County - 13th Judicial Circuit" from the court list. Filter by "Family/Domestic" to see only family court records. You can search by name, case number, or filing date. The system returns docket entries, party information, judgments, and hearing schedules. There is no charge for any of these searches.
Missouri expanded Case.net access in 2023. Documents filed on or after July 1, 2023 can be viewed from your own computer or phone. The 13th Circuit was part of the August 2023 rollout. This means recent Callaway County family court documents are available remotely. Older filings still need an in-person visit to the courthouse. The "Track This Case" feature sends you alerts about changes to any case you follow.
Types of Family Court Records in Callaway County
Callaway County family court records cover the full range of domestic relations cases. Dissolution of marriage is the most common. Under RSMo Chapter 452, one spouse must have lived in Missouri for at least 90 days before filing. The standard ground is that the marriage is "irretrievably broken." There is a 30-day wait period after the petition is filed.
The case file for a dissolution in Callaway County typically includes the original petition, the other spouse's response, any temporary orders for custody or support, a parenting plan if children are involved, child support worksheets, and the final judgment of dissolution. All of these documents are part of the permanent family court record. The clerk stores them at the Fulton courthouse.
Custody determinations follow RSMo 452.375. Missouri courts consider the wishes of both parents, the child's adjustment to home and school, and each parent's health. The law presumes equal parenting time is in the child's best interest. Child support orders use the guidelines in Section 452.340, looking at income, the child's needs, and childcare costs. Paternity actions can also be filed to establish a legal parent-child relationship, which then opens the door to custody and support orders.
Note: Adoption records and juvenile cases filed in Callaway County are generally sealed under Missouri law and not available for public viewing.
Callaway County Legal Resources
Legal Services of Eastern Missouri provides free legal assistance to low-income Callaway County residents. They help with divorce, custody, support, and protection order cases. If you need to represent yourself, visit selfrepresent.mo.gov for court forms and step-by-step instructions.
The Missouri Sunshine Law guarantees public access to most family court records in Callaway County. You do not need to be involved in the case to ask for copies. Some records are protected, but the vast majority of dissolution, custody, and support files are open. The OSCA Help Desk at (888) 541-4894 can assist with technical questions about Case.net.
For dissolution verification, contact the Bureau of Vital Records at 930 Wildwood Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65109. They keep records of every dissolution granted in Missouri since 1949. The fee is $15 for a Statement of Dissolution. This is separate from the full case file at the Callaway County Circuit Clerk's office, and it has fewer details than the actual court record.
Nearby Callaway County Resources
Callaway County borders Boone County, home to Columbia. Residents near the county line may find it helpful to know that both counties share the same 13th Circuit judges. Family court cases are still filed in the county where you live, but the same judicial officers hear cases from both sides. Our Columbia family court records page has more on Boone County resources.