Find Divorce Records in Osage County
Osage County divorce records are stored at the combined Circuit Clerk-Recorder office in Linn, Missouri. The 20th Judicial Circuit handles all dissolution of marriage cases for residents of this county. You can search basic case information online through Missouri Case.net or request full copies of divorce decrees from the clerk office at PO Box 825 in Linn. Osage County is one of several Missouri counties where the Circuit Clerk and Recorder of Deeds offices are merged into a single operation, which means one office handles both court records like divorces and land records like deeds and marriage licenses.
Osage County Quick Facts
Osage County Circuit Clerk-Recorder
The Osage County Circuit Clerk-Recorder office serves a dual role. It manages all court records for the 20th Judicial Circuit and also acts as the county Recorder of Deeds. This means when you go to this office, you can get both your divorce decree and other documents like marriage licenses or property records all in one place. The office is in Linn, the county seat.
Contact information for the Osage County Circuit Clerk-Recorder is listed in the Missouri Association of Counties directory. The mailing address is PO Box 825, Linn, MO 65051. Phone is (573) 897-3114. The County Clerk office is separate, located at PO Box 826 in Linn with phone number (573) 897-2139. Make sure you reach out to the right office. For divorce records, it is the Circuit Clerk-Recorder you need.
| Office | Osage County Circuit Clerk-Recorder |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address | PO Box 825 Linn, MO 65051 |
| Phone | (573) 897-3114 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
How to Search Osage County Divorce Records
Start your search on Missouri Case.net. This free site covers all 114 Missouri counties. Enter a name or case number to find case details for Osage County divorce filings. Results include the case type, status, filing date, judge, and docket entries. You cannot download the actual decree from Case.net, but you can confirm a case exists before contacting the clerk for copies.
For older divorces, Case.net may not have records that go back far enough. Osage County records from before the mid-1990s are less likely to appear online. In those cases, call the Circuit Clerk-Recorder at (573) 897-3114. Provide the full names of both parties and the approximate year. The staff will search their files and let you know what is available and what it will cost.
You can request copies in person, by phone, or by mail. Mail requests should include:
- Names of both spouses as they appeared on the divorce
- Approximate date of the divorce or case number
- A check or money order for the copy fee
- A self-addressed stamped envelope
- Copy of your photo ID
Osage County Divorce Record Fees
The Osage County Circuit Clerk-Recorder charges per-page fees for copies of divorce records. Plain copies typically run between $0.50 and $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost more, usually $2.00 to $5.00 extra per document. Call the office at (573) 897-3114 to get the current fee schedule before submitting payment.
If you want a Certified Statement Relating to Divorce at the state level, the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records charges $15. This statement has the names, date, and county only. It does not replace the full divorce decree from the Osage County Circuit Clerk-Recorder. The Bureau has records since July 1, 1948, and mail requests must be notarized.
Osage County Divorce Filing Process
To file for divorce in Osage County, at least one spouse needs to have lived in Missouri for 90 days. You submit the petition to the Circuit Clerk-Recorder in Linn. Missouri only recognizes no-fault grounds. Under Section 452.305 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, you state the marriage is "irretrievably broken." The clerk assigns a case number and adds the case to the 20th Judicial Circuit docket.
After filing, your spouse must be served. You can use the sheriff, a process server, or certified mail. Uncontested divorces have a 30-day waiting period after service. If children are involved, you need a parenting plan. The Missouri Courts website has free forms you can download and fill out. These include the petition for dissolution, financial statements, and parenting plan templates.
Everything filed in the case becomes part of the public record at the Osage County Circuit Clerk-Recorder office. This includes temporary orders, property agreements, and the final decree of dissolution.
Note: The combined Circuit Clerk-Recorder office in Osage County can also help you get marriage records if needed alongside your divorce records request.
Osage County Divorce Legal Resources
Legal Services of Missouri offers free help with divorce cases for qualifying low-income residents. Their hotline is 1-800-829-4128. The Missouri Bar Association can refer you to family law attorneys in the Osage County area. For general state-level information about obtaining divorce records, visit the Missouri state portal.
The Gasconade-Osage County Health Department at 300 Schiller St in Hermann, MO 65041 handles birth and death certificates for the area but does not issue divorce records. That is strictly the job of the Circuit Clerk-Recorder in Linn.
Nearby Counties
Osage County is in central Missouri along the Osage River. These surrounding counties have their own clerk offices for divorce records.