Dade County Divorce Records Search

Dade County divorce records are stored at the Circuit Clerk office in Greenfield, part of Missouri's 28th Judicial Circuit. The clerk has domestic and family case files going back to 1841 when the county was first established. If you need to find a dissolution of marriage case or get a copy of a final decree, the Dade County courthouse at 300 West Water Street is where to go. Online searches are also possible through Missouri's free Case.net database, which covers court records from all 114 counties in the state.

Dade County Circuit Clerk Office

The Dade County Circuit Clerk's office is the official source for all divorce records filed in the 28th Judicial Circuit. This office handles domestic and family cases, which includes dissolution of marriage filings. The clerk maintains the full case file from the initial petition through the final decree. You can request copies of any document in a Dade County divorce case file.

The Dade County Circuit Clerk office lists dissolution of marriage as one of the domestic and family case types they handle. Copies are available upon request from staff at the courthouse. The Missouri Association of Counties page for Dade County lists the Circuit Clerk at PO Box 246, Greenfield, MO 65661 with a phone number of (417) 637-2271.

Search Dade County Divorce Cases Online

The Missouri Case.net system lets you search Dade County divorce records from your computer. This free database is run by the Office of State Courts Administrator and holds over 45 million case records. Search by the name of either spouse or by the case number if you have it. Results show the file date, case type, status, parties involved, attorneys of record, and a chronological list of docket entries.

Case.net works well for recent cases. Most counties have digital records going back to the 1980s. Dade County divorce records from before that era are only in paper form at the courthouse in Greenfield. Sealed cases, juvenile matters, and expunged records will not appear in the online system no matter when they were filed.

If you search and get no results, try different name spellings. A recent filing may take a day or two to show up. The case could also be in federal court, which uses the PACER system instead of Case.net.

Getting Copies of Dade County Divorce Records

You can get copies of Dade County divorce records in person at the courthouse, by mail, or by calling the clerk's office. In-person requests are usually fastest. Bring your photo ID to the courthouse at 300 West Water Street in Greenfield. Tell the clerk the names of both parties or give them the case number. They will pull the file and make copies.

For mail requests, write to the Dade County Circuit Clerk at PO Box 246, Greenfield, MO 65661. Include both spouse names, the approximate date of the divorce, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Call (417) 637-2271 to ask about current copy fees before sending your request. Most Missouri circuit clerks charge a small per-page fee for regular copies and a higher rate for certified copies.

The Dade County Health Department at 413 West Water Street in Greenfield handles birth and death records but not divorce records. The Dade County Genealogical Society at PO Box 155, Greenfield, MO 65661-0155 can sometimes help with historical research that touches on old divorce records.

Note: Certified copies of divorce decrees are sometimes required for legal purposes like name changes, remarriage, or updating government records.

Missouri State Divorce Records

The Missouri Bureau of Vital Records issues Certified Statements Relating to Divorce for cases recorded since July 1, 1948. A statement costs $15 and contains only the names of both spouses, the divorce date, and the county. It does not include the full terms of the decree. Mail requests go to 930 Wildwood Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65109 and take 4 to 8 weeks. All mail applications must be notarized per 19 CSR 10-10.

For the actual divorce decree with property division, custody terms, and support orders, contact the Dade County Circuit Clerk directly. The state Bureau cannot provide that level of detail. Under RSMo Section 193.255, certified copies of vital records go only to those with a direct and tangible interest. Court records at the circuit clerk level have broader public access.

Divorce Filing in Dade County

Missouri calls divorce "dissolution of marriage." Under RSMo Chapter 452, the sole ground is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. One spouse must have lived in Missouri for at least 90 days before filing. You file the petition with the Dade County Circuit Clerk and pay the filing fee.

The Missouri Courts family law forms are free to download and include everything needed to start a dissolution case. After filing, the other spouse must be served with the papers. A 30-day waiting period follows before the court can finalize anything. If both sides agree on all terms, the case can be done shortly after that waiting period ends.

Dade County was created on January 29, 1841 from Greene County. The Circuit Clerk has held divorce records since that year. The Recorder of Deeds has marriage and land records from 1841, and the Probate Judge has probate records from the same date. For historical records research, the Missouri State Archives in Jefferson City can also help.

Legal Aid for Dade County Residents

Legal Services of Missouri provides free legal assistance to low-income people with family law matters including divorce. Call 1-800-829-4128 to see if you qualify. The Missouri Bar Association has a lawyer referral service and a Modest Means Program for reduced-fee legal help.

Dade County residents who want to handle their own dissolution can use the self-help forms on the Missouri Courts website. Mediation services are available in many judicial circuits to help resolve disputes. The 28th Judicial Circuit serves Dade County along with Barton County, so local court rules may differ from other parts of the state.

Nearby Counties

These counties are next to Dade County. File your divorce case in the county where you or your spouse lives for the court to have jurisdiction.