Litigant Name Search

The Litigant Name Search on Case.net MO enables users to find court cases involving persons or businesses that are parties to a lawsuit. This search does not include the judge or attorneys involved in the case.

How to Use the Search:

1. Search Scope:
   • Default: All Participating Courts, including all trial court judicial circuits and appellate court locations.
   • Narrowed Search: If known, selecting a specific circuit or appellate court can help refine the results.
2. Entering Names:
   • Last Name (Required): Enter the full last name or the initial part of the last name. The search is not case-sensitive. At least two characters are required to conduct a search.
     • Examples:
       • “Herman”: Retrieves all cases with litigants named Herman.
       • “Herm”: Finds litigants whose last names begin with “Herm” such as Herman or Hermit.
       • “Herman Roofing Company”: Locates cases involving Herman Roofing Company.
   • If a search with a common last name yields over 1,000 results, a message prompts to narrow the search further to avoid timing out.
3. Alias Information:
   • By default, the alias box is unchecked. Check this box if you want to search using a name that might be an alias.
4. Optional Search Fields:
   • First Name: Functions like the Last Name field; enter the first letter(s) of the first name.
   • Middle Initial (MI): Only the first letter of the middle initial is necessary.
   • Year Case Was Filed: Requires all four digits of the year.
   • Case Status: Available only for circuit-specific searches.
     • “All”: Displays all cases.
     • “Pending”: Shows open cases.
     • “Disposed”: Lists cases with a final determination.
   • Case Type: Choose from Civil, Criminal, Probate, Traffic/Municipal, and Infractions. Note: Mental health cases in Probate are not public.
   • County and Location: These fields adjust based on the selected court. Not available when searching “All Participating Courts.”
5. Executing the Search:
   • Click the “Find” button to execute the search. A list of cases matching the criteria will appear. Click on the Case Number hyperlink to view detailed information about the case.

Important Notes:

• Paternity cases only display defendant details if a judgment is entered.
• Petitioner/Plaintiff names in Protection Order cases and cases dismissed without judgment do not display.
• Use the Case Number Search to find detailed case information at any stage before or after a judgment is entered.

Searching Tips and Troubleshooting:

• If you receive a message about a common last name causing a potential timeout, consider adding more specific details to your search criteria.