Which Missouri court hears your civil case
Civil jurisdiction thresholds with statutory authority. Source: 1Court Directory, verified 2026-08-20 (official source).
| Tier | Court | Amount in controversy | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small claims | Associate Circuit Court: Small Claims Division | Up to $5,000 | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 482.305 |
| Limited civil | Associate Circuit Court | Up to $25,000 | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 517.011 |
| General civil | Circuit Court Over $25,000. | No limit | Mo. Const. art. V |
Answer deadline after service
A defendant generally has 30 days after service of the summons and complaint to file an answer (Mo. R. Civ. P. 55.25(a)).
14 Missouri forms SimpleCase prepares
Generated from your uploaded complaint, with captions and terminology matched to Missouri practice. Every document is a draft for attorney review.
- Summons in Civil Case (Rule 54 pattern)Clerk-issued: 30-day answer (Rule 55.25); Ch. 517 cases appear on return date (§ 517.031)
- Civil Filing Information SheetCounty/e-file sheet (no statewide civil cover sheet)
- Return of ServiceMo. R. Civ. P. 54.20: proof of service
- Motion to Proceed as a Poor Person (OSCA GN10)OSCA GN10 pattern: Rule 77.03 / RSMo § 514.040 fee waiver
- Notice of Voluntary DismissalMo. R. Civ. P. 67.02: voluntary dismissal
- Motion for Default JudgmentMo. R. Civ. P. 74.05: 30-day default (Petition)
- Affidavit of Non-Military ServiceSCRA: 50 U.S.C. § 3931
- Default JudgmentMo. R. Civ. P. 74.05: 9% or contract rate (§ 408.040); presumed paid after 10 years (§ 516.350)
- Garnishment Application and Order (OSCA CV92)Rules 90.07, 90.13 / § 525.030: 25% / 30x fed min wage / 10% head-of-family cap; continuous until paid; confidential identifiers via Confidential Case Filing Information Sheet (§ 509.520)
- Interrogatories to Garnishee (OSCA CV110)Rule 90: served WITH every garnishment (Missouri quirk)
- Statement of Judgment Balance Remaining Due (OSCA CV93)Rule 90.19(b): required of the garnishor
- Execution Application and Order (OSCA CV91)Rule 76 / §§ 513.010 et seq.: property & bank account levy
- Proceedings to Discover Assets§ 513.380: post-judgment asset discovery
- Satisfaction of Judgment (OSCA CV250)RSMo § 511.570: enter satisfaction of record
Filing packages
One click assembles the forms a Missouri matter typically needs at each stage.
General Civil
Summons in Civil Case (Rule 54 pattern) · Civil Filing Information Sheet · Return of Service
Collections: File & Serve
Summons in Civil Case (Rule 54 pattern) · Civil Filing Information Sheet · Return of Service
Collections: Default Judgment
Motion for Default Judgment · Affidavit of Non-Military Service · Default Judgment
Collections: Enforce Judgment
Garnishment Application and Order (OSCA CV92) · Interrogatories to Garnishee (OSCA CV110) · Statement of Judgment Balance Remaining Due (OSCA CV93) · Execution Application and Order (OSCA CV91) · Proceedings to Discover Assets
Fee Waiver
Motion to Proceed as a Poor Person (OSCA GN10)
Voluntary Dismissal
Notice of Voluntary Dismissal
County-level court details
Filing fees, clerk contacts, e-filing portals, and courthouse addresses for every Missouri county are in the 1Court Directory: Missouri.
How it works
Upload your case document
PDF, Word, image, or text. SimpleCase extracts parties, claims, amounts, and dates.
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For unfiled cases, SimpleCase suggests the county, court level, and courthouse, with the statutory basis shown.
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Every required form, filled and assembled as a ZIP, ready for attorney review and filing.
Turn a complaint into a filing-ready case
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Try SimpleCase freeSimpleCase prepares document drafts for attorney review; it is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by using it. Court data on this page is sourced from the 1Court Directory with the verification date shown, and statutes and court rules change: always confirm current requirements, deadlines, and fees with the clerk of the court before filing.