About the Clay County Circuit Clerk
The Circuit Clerk of Clay County serves the Seventh Judicial Circuit. The circuit is a single-county circuit, so the clerk works only Clay County cases. The office sits inside the James S. Rooney Justice Center on South Water Street in Liberty. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The clerk is the named custodian for case files, the keeper of the court docket, and the issuing office for certified copies.
The Clay County Circuit Clerk page sends record requesters to Case.net first, then offers a fax channel for files older than July 1, 2023. Closed criminal records have a stricter route that needs photo ID and a notarized signature.
Clay County Circuit Clerk
James S. Rooney Justice Center
11 South Water Street
Liberty, MO 64068
Civil 816-407-3850
Closed-record fax: 816-407-3899
Mon-Fri 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Source for the screenshot: Clay County Circuit Clerk - Seventh Judicial Circuit.
The clerk page shown above is the official starting point for Clay County court record requests.
Clay County Circuit Clerk Departments
The Circuit Clerk splits work across seven departments. Each one runs its own intake, its own forms, and its own phone line. Knowing the right department speeds up any Clay County records request.
- Accounting - bond, fines, costs, restitution, and court financial files.
- Child Support - support orders, payment records, and IV-D files.
- Civil - Circuit Civil over $25,000, Associate Civil under $25,000, family, and small claims; 816-407-3850.
- Criminal - felony and misdemeanor files; closed-record requests by ID or notarized fax.
- Probate - estates, wills, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, and Chapter 632 cases.
- Records Retention - physical files, microfilm, and digitization under Court Operating Rule 8.
- Traffic - tickets from listed Clay County agencies and partner cities; 816-407-3870.
The Civil Department handles three civil thresholds. Circuit Civil covers cases over $25,000. Associate Civil covers cases under $25,000 and includes rent and possession, Director of Revenue, replevin, foreign judgment, delinquent tax, name change, and collection cases. Small Claims is money-judgment only and capped at $5,000.
What the Clerk Does in Clay County
The Circuit Clerk takes filings, manages the docket, issues process, collects fees, indexes judgments, and answers public record requests. The same office stores the original case file. When Case.net does not show enough public information on an older case, the clerk pulls the physical file under the Records Retention process.
- Receive and index civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic filings.
- Issue summons, subpoenas, writs of garnishment, and other court process.
- Maintain bond books, fine ledgers, and cost accounting under the Accounting Department.
- Pull and certify court copies for parties, lawyers, and the public.
- Process expungement filings and feed sealed cases under RSMo 610.140.
- Respond to Sunshine Law and Court Operating Rule 2 requests on the right side of the access split.
How to Request a Certified Copy
Certified copies are needed for many off-court uses such as title issues, name changes, federal filings, child support enforcement, and out-of-state cases. The Case.net image is not a certified record. The Circuit Clerk is the only office that can certify a Clay County court file.
- Look up the case on Missouri Case.net to confirm the case number, parties, and document index.
- Pick the department that holds the case: Civil, Criminal, Probate, or Traffic.
- Call the department or use the clerk's request form to confirm fees and pick-up rules.
- For older files (pre-July 1, 2023) or thin public views, fax the closed-record request to 816-407-3899 with case numbers, identifiers, return address, and a contact number.
- For closed criminal records, attach valid photo ID, full name, date of birth, last four of SSN, the documents requested, and a notarized signature.
- Pay the per-page and certification fees by the method the department accepts at the time of pickup or mail.
- Pick up in person or wait for the mailed certified copy.
The Case.net help page below explains why the online view is not the official copy. The Circuit Clerk's certification stamp is what turns a copy into proof of record.
Source for the screenshot: Missouri Courts - Case.net help.
The page above lists the public indexes and the official-record limit that every Clay County record requester should know about.
Clay County Records Request Form Fields
The closed-record fax process is the strictest channel the Clay County Circuit Clerk runs. The fields below come from the clerk's official process; the same fields work for in-person closed-record requests with ID.
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Valid photo ID | Yes | Bring in person or attach a clear copy by fax. |
| Full name | Yes | Match the name on file. |
| Date of birth | Yes | Required for criminal closed-record fax. |
| Last four of SSN | Yes | Required for criminal closed-record fax. |
| Documents requested | Yes | List specific files; vague requests get sent back. |
| Case information | Optional | Add case number or division if known. |
| Return location | Yes | Mail address or pickup option. |
| Contact number | Yes | For follow-up. |
| Notarized signature | Yes | Required for fax requests. |
Closed criminal files are released only to the defendant, the attorney of record, and parties allowed by law. The fields above keep the chain of custody tight.
Clay County Circuit Clerk Fees
Court fees follow Missouri Supreme Court rules and state statute. The clerk collects filing fees at intake, certification fees on copies, and cost recoveries on disposition. The table below shows common items; the clerk's department staff can confirm the day's amount.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Plain copy per page | Posted at the clerk's window |
| Certified copy per page | Posted at the clerk's window |
| Certification stamp per document | Posted at the clerk's window |
| Civil filing fee | Set by Missouri Supreme Court rule and case type |
| Small claims filing fee | Lower than Associate Civil under state rule |
| Expungement surcharge under RSMo 488.650 | Statute amount; waiver possible |
| Sheriff service fee | Set by the Sheriff under state law |
| Garnishment / execution fee | Posted at the Civil Department |
For deed and marriage license copies, see the Recorder's posted schedule on the Recorder and County Clerk page; those are not Circuit Clerk fees.
Common Clerk Forms
The clerk uses statewide forms from the Missouri Courts forms library, plus a small set of local Clay County forms posted under each department. The list below points to the official sources.
- Missouri Courts statewide forms - civil, family, probate, small claims, expungement, and protection-order forms.
- Missouri Courts expungement page - petition forms and rules under RSMo 610.140.
- Civil Department forms - parenting plan, small claims petition, adult abuse, and trial de novo.
- Criminal Department resources - closed-record request rules and criminal forms.
Source for the screenshot: Missouri Courts forms library.
The forms library above is the same one the Clay County clerk's departments hand out at the counter.
Expungement Through the Circuit Clerk
Clay County's Civil Department lists "Expungement or Correction of Arrest Record" among its civil case types. The petition runs through the clerk under RSMo 610.140, which sets the offense exclusions, waiting periods, and lifetime caps. The petition also carries a surcharge under RSMo 488.650.
Some marijuana-related expungements are automatic; most criminal expungements need a petition. The Missouri Courts expungement page below explains the steps and links the forms the clerk accepts.
Source for the screenshot: Missouri Courts expungement overview.
The expungement page above is the rule book the Clay County Civil Department uses when it screens a petition at the counter.
Case.net and the Clerk
Case.net is the public window into the Circuit Clerk's case management system. The clerk feeds the data; the state runs the portal. Most public indexes appear within a few days of filing. Older cases or thin public views need a clerk request.
Court Operating Rule 2 sets the rules of the road. Public indexes may run by case number, file date, party name, calendar date, and judgment against. The rule also blocks data scraping and may show a CAPTCHA on busy days.
Note: Case.net is provided as a service, not as a certified court record; certified copies always come from the Clay County Circuit Clerk.
Circuit Clerk vs Recorder and County Clerk
Clay County splits its records work across three offices. The Circuit Clerk holds court files. The Recorder of Deeds holds real estate documents and marriage licenses. The County Clerk holds commission records and license files. Sending a request to the wrong office is the most common reason a Clay County record request stalls. The Recorder and County Clerk page covers the other two offices in depth.