Ste. Genevieve County Divorce Records
Ste. Genevieve County divorce records are held by the Circuit Clerk at the courthouse on South Third Street. This county has the oldest record collection of any county in Missouri, with divorce and court records going all the way back to 1807. The Recorder of Deeds also holds marriage and land records from that same year. If you need to search for a divorce case, get a copy of a decree, or start a dissolution filing, the clerk's office in Ste. Genevieve is where you begin. You can also look up more recent cases through Missouri's Case.net online system. This county's records offer a rare window into some of the earliest legal proceedings in the state.
Ste. Genevieve County Quick Facts
Ste. Genevieve County Circuit Clerk
The Ste. Genevieve County Circuit Clerk maintains all divorce records for the county. The office is at 55 S 3rd St, Sainte Genevieve, MO 63670-1696. Phone: (573) 883-2705. The Missouri Association of Counties page for Ste. Genevieve County lists all county offices. The County Clerk is in Room 2 of the same building at (573) 883-5589. The Recorder of Deeds is in Room 3 at (573) 883-2706.
Ste. Genevieve County has records that date back further than most Missouri counties. The Circuit Clerk has divorce and court records from 1807. The Probate Judge holds probate records from the same year. The Recorder of Deeds has marriage and land records from 1807 as well. The County Clerk has birth records from 1883 to 1893 and death records from 1883 to 1892. This makes the Ste. Genevieve County courthouse a significant resource for both legal and genealogical research.
The Ste. Genevieve County government website provides access to county office information including the Circuit Clerk. Marriage license information is available through the Recorder of Deeds. The courthouse sits at 55 South Third Street in the heart of the town of Ste. Genevieve.
| Office | Ste. Genevieve County Circuit Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 55 South Third Street, Ste. Genevieve, MO 63670 |
| Phone | (573) 883-2705 |
| Recorder | Mary Jane Fallert White, (573) 883-2706 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, standard business hours |
Searching Ste. Genevieve County Divorce Records Online
You can search for Ste. Genevieve County divorce records through Missouri Case.net. The state database holds over 45 million case records from all 114 counties. Search by party name, case number, or filing date. Divorce cases from Ste. Genevieve County will show case type, status, parties, and docket details.
Case.net generally covers cases from the 1980s forward. Ste. Genevieve County has divorce records going back to 1807, so the vast majority of the county's historical records are not in the electronic system. For older records, you must contact the clerk's office at (573) 883-2705. Provide the names of both parties and a rough date range to help staff locate the right file.
Note: Cases filed before August 28, 2009 have portions sealed for 72 years, though the final decree section stays accessible.
Getting Copies of Ste. Genevieve Divorce Decrees
To get copies of Ste. Genevieve County divorce records, you can visit the courthouse at 55 South Third Street or send a written request by mail. For mail requests, write to the Circuit Clerk at 55 S 3rd St, Sainte Genevieve, MO 63670. Include the full names of both spouses, the approximate date of the divorce, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.
The Circuit Clerk is the only local source for certified copies of the full divorce decree. The state Bureau of Vital Records at 930 Wildwood Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65109 issues a Certified Statement Relating to Divorce for $15. But that statement only shows names, date, and county. It does not include the decree's terms for property, custody, or support. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has these statements for divorces recorded from July 1, 1948 onward.
Recorder Mary Jane Fallert White can be reached at (573) 883-2706 or email mjwhite@stegencounty.org. The Missouri Recorders Association also provides contact details. The Recorder's office is helpful if you need marriage records or property documents that relate to a divorce proceeding in Ste. Genevieve County.
Filing for Divorce in Ste. Genevieve County
To start a divorce in Ste. Genevieve County, one spouse must have lived in Missouri for at least 90 days. You file the petition at the Circuit Clerk's office. Missouri uses a no-fault system. The only ground is that the marriage is irretrievably broken.
Free divorce forms are on the Missouri Courts family law forms page. The packet has the Petition for Dissolution, Income and Expense Statement, Property Statement, and Parenting Plan forms if children are involved. Each circuit may have its own local rules on top of these state forms. Ask the Ste. Genevieve County clerk about any additional requirements. Filing fees vary and can change, so call (573) 883-2705 before you file.
The Missouri State Archives in Jefferson City may have historical Ste. Genevieve County records for genealogy research. Given that this county's records stretch back to 1807, the archives could hold materials from the French colonial and early American periods. Email archives@sos.mo.gov or call (573) 751-3280 to ask about specific records.
Nearby Counties
If you need divorce records from areas near Ste. Genevieve County, check these neighboring counties: