Miller County occupies a total land area of 593 square miles in Missouri. It was founded in 1837 and named after the fourth Governor of Missouri, John Miller. More than 24,000 persons reside in the county. The City of Eldon is Miller County’s largest city, while the county seat is Tuscumbia.
Courts in Miller County
Miller County’s Circuit Court falls under Missouri’s 26th Judicial Circuits. The court has several divisions: Associate Circuit, Juvenile Division, Family Court, Probate Division, and Traffic Court. The Associate Circuit judge in Miller handles all criminal and civil cases, such as felony/misdemeanor trials, infractions, and financial disputes involving more than $3,000. Legal proceedings such as truancy, adoption, and juvenile delinquency are resolved at the Juvenile Division. County residents typically approach the Family Court in Miller County to resolve marriage annulment cases, alimony, and child custody matters. Meanwhile, the Probate Division presides over probate of wills, guardianship/conservatorship cases, and determination of heirs. The Traffic Division exercises jurisdiction over all traffic offense cases in the county.
Civil disputes involving less than $3,000 in financial settlements are within the jurisdiction of the Small Claims Division. There are three Municipal Courts in Miller County. They are also regarded as Municipal Divisions of the county’s Circuit Court. Ordinance violation cases are handled at any of the Municipal Courts.
Where to Find Public Court Records in Miller County
The Miller County Circuit Court Clerk is responsible for distributing public court records, which comprise the following information:
- Complaints, outlining the plaintiff's case.
- Answers, showing the defendant's written response
- Motions filed by parties asking the court to issue a specific ruling or order.
- Orders issued by a judge that require parties to take specific actions.
- Affidavits, also known as written statements made under oath, are used as evidence in court.
- Depositions or transcripts of witness testimony taken under oath outside of court.
- Court judgments regarding the outcome of a case.
- Subpoenas, ordering a person to attend court or produce evidence.
- Briefs or Written arguments submitted by parties explaining their legal and factual positions.
- Warrants issued by a judge authorizing law enforcement to take specific actions, such as arrests or searches.
Interested persons can call the Circuit Clerk at (573) 369-1970 to obtain copies of public court records. Alternatively, they can use Missouri’s Case.net platform to access court documents online.
Types of Public Court Records in Miller County
Types of case files in Miller County that are available to the public include:
- Civil case files
- Criminal case files
- Traffic citations
- Family court records
- Probate case files
- Small claims lawsuits
Confidential Court Records in Miller County
According to Missouri Court Rules, the following records are confidential and are prohibited from public inspection.
- Mental health records
- Juvenile court record
- Adoption records
- Court records involving paternity cases
- Grand jury proceedings records
- Criminal psychiatric evaluation records
- Drug court records
- Search warrant applications
- Records showing victims of sexual offenses
- Sealed records
Juvenile Delinquency in Miller, MO
Unfortunately, in many areas of the Miller County, juvenile delinquency crimes are on the rise. There are many reasons for the increase in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Missouri often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of offenses, and other family matters.
In 2017, a total of 161 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Miller County. Of that total, 26% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 42 court cases. Another 36% were dependency cases that accounted for 58 of the juvenile cases.
A lot of counties, including, Miller County, are focusing on family health and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Miller County juvenile delinquency statistics will show whether or not this approach is working.
| Juvenile Cases | Number of cases |
|---|---|
| Delinquency | 3,119 |
| Dependency | 1,216 |
| Status | 2,504 |
Government of Miller County, MO
| County Seat: | Tuscumbia |
| Government Type: | County |
| Authority: | Dillon's Rule |
| Year Organized: | 1837 |
| Total Square Miles: | 600 |
| 2019 Population: | 25,228 |
| Persons/Square Mile: | 0.02 |
| County Contact: | PO BOX 12
County Courthouse Tuscumbia , MO 65082-0012 http://millercountymissouri.org/ |
Miller County, MO Courts
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Miller County Circuit Court
Address: Po Box 12, Tuscumbia, MO 65082
Phone: 573-369-1970