Frequently Asked Questions
of the Circuit Clerk's Office

TRAFFIC RELATED

WHAT DO I OWE ON MY TICKET(S)?

With ticket(s) in hand, contact the Circuit Clerk’s Office for assistance.
WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO GET A TICKET AMENDED?

Your attorney must contact the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

I NEED TO GET A CONTINUANCE ON A TICKET, WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?

With ticket(s) in hand, contact the Circuit Clerk’s Office for assistance.

If the ticket was transferred from the Fine and Collection Center, one continuance is allowed but a Written Entry of Appearance from an attorney is required before a new date will be given. If the ticket did not come from the FCC, one continuance is allowed.

I UNDERSTAND THERE IS AN OUTSTANDING WARRANT FOR ME. CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT IT’S FOR?

• Contact the Circuit Clerk’s Office for information regarding the charges.
• To satisfy the warrant, you may surrender yourself to the Lafayette County Jail where you will have an opportunity to post a bond and receive a court date.

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO GET A HARDSHIP LICENSE?

Contact an attorney. The petition will be filed in the Circuit Clerk’s office.

I RECEIVED A TICKET AND I NEED TO KNOW WHAT MY COURT DATE IS?

With ticket(s) in hand, access case.net at www.courts.mo.gov or contact the Circuit Clerk’s Office for assistance. It takes about 3 weeks for tickets to be filed after they are written.

HOW CAN I CHECK THE STATUS OF MY TICKET(S)?

With ticket(s) in hand, access case net at  www.courts.mo.gov or contact the Circuit Clerk’s Office for assistance.

I NEVER RECEIVED MY COMPLIANCE NOTICE AFTER SENDING IN A WRITTEN GUILTY PLEA. HOW CAN I GET ONE?

With ticket(s) in hand, contact the Circuit Clerk’s Office for assistance. (660) 259.6101

I LOST MY TICKET AND WANT TO PLEAD GUILTY. DO I NEED A SPECIAL FORM?

No, a written guilty plea can be on a blank piece of paper. Please include the ticket number(s), your statement of guilt, a current mailing address and telephone number. Include the ticket number(s) on the money order as well.

Mail your guilty plea with money order for payment in full to the Circuit Clerk's Office - PO Box 10, Lexington, MO  64067.  PARTIAL PAYMENTS WILL BE RETURNED. Most traffic violations can be disposed of by phone with a credit card payment. Call 660.259.6101 for assistance.

I RECEIVED A TICKET FROM A CITY POLICE OFFICER. DO I PAY FOR IT AT YOUR OFFICE?

You must pay the fine and costs at the Circuit Clerk’s Office if the ticket was written from Alma, Corder, Emma, or Mayview. All other municipal infractions should be paid at their respective City Hall offices.

DO I HAVE TO APPEAR IN COURT FOR MY TICKET OR CAN I JUST PAY IT?

The following citations carry mandatory court appearances: NO INSURANCE, C & I w/ACCIDENT, SPEEDING OVER LIMIT BY 26 MPH, DEFENDANT IS UNDER AGE 16, or any infraction associated with misdemeanors or felonies. All other infractions can be resolved without a court appearance.

I JUST GOT A TICKET YESTERDAY. CAN YOU TELL ME HOW MUCH IT IS GOING TO BE?

We cannot assist people with fines and costs until the ticket has actually been filed. It takes about 3 weeks for tickets to be filed after they are written. We recommend you access case.net at www.courts.mo.gov periodically to determine when the ticket is filed with the Circuit Clerk’s Office.

CAN I GO AHEAD AND PAY MY TICKET WITH A CREDIT CARD AND FAX THE GUILTY PLEA TO YOU LATER?

Effective 01/01/2011, fines & costs on ticket citations may be paid by most major credit cards without faxing a guilty plea. Call the Circuit Clerk's Office (660) 259.6101 for assistance.

 
GENERAL THINGS TO KNOW - TRAFFIC RELATED

• In order to have a ticket amended, your attorney must contact the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
• FCC tickets CANNOT BE CONTINUED without an attorney filing an Entry of Appearance first.
• Regular tickets can be continued once, but always to the officer’s next court date.
• Regular tickets take about 3 weeks from the date they are written before they are filed with us. FCC tickets take approximately the same amount of time after being mailed to the PA’s office.
• We cannot assist with the calculation of fine and costs without the benefit of having the ticket filed first.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - CRIMINAL

CAN YOU TELL ME THE BOND AMOUNT ON A WARRANT?

You may contact the Circuit Clerk’s Office for assistance or access the case net, docket entry tab at www.courts.mo.gov
Bond allowances will be detailed in the text field.

CAN I POST MY BOND AT YOUR OFFICE?

Yes. However, we prefer you surrender yourself at the jail and post bond there so that required fingerprinting can occur. This eliminates the need to travel to both locations.

CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED ON CASE NUMBER . . . . OR SO AND SO’S CASE?

You may contact the Circuit Clerk’s Office for assistance or access case.net at www.courts.mo.gov for information.

I NEED A LETTER OF INCARCERATION

Please contact the Lafayette County Jail at 660-259-6682.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - FINANCIAL

WHAT DO I OWE ON COURT COSTS?

Please contact the Circuit Clerk’s Office for assistance. We ask that you have your case number readily available.

WHAT CREDIT CARDS DO YOU ACCEPT?

 VISA  or  MasterCard,  Discover and   American Express

WILL YOU TAKE A PERSONAL CHECK?

The account holder must reside in Lafayette County or the account holder must be the attorney of record.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - CIVIL and GENERAL INFORMATION

I NEED TO OBTAIN A COPY OF . . . . . . . .

Please access the Court Forms link and click on Request for Records Search. There is a charge of .25 per page plus $2.50 for certification. Non-Certified documents can be faxed at a cost of $1.00 per page.

I FORGOT MY COURT DATE, WHO SHOULD I CALL?

You may contact the Circuit Clerk’s Office for assistance or access case.net www.courts.mo.gov for information.

I NEED TO GIVE YOU MY NEW ADDRESS . . . . . .

You may contact the Circuit Clerk’s Office by telephone, (660) 259.6101,  Regular  mail or e-mail with your new address. Please include a few remarks about the reason why you need it updated. For example, are you receiving or paying child support, are you currently on Court Supervised Probation, or do you have a pending action on file?

WHAT IS YOUR PHYSICAL ADDRESS?

Lafayette Hall, 116 S. 10th, Lexington, Mo. 64067

WHAT IS YOUR FAX NUMBER?

660-259-6148

WHAT ARE YOUR FILING FEES?

Please access the Payment/Deposit link for filing and service fee information.

I NEED TO FILE A CHILD PROTECTION/ADULT PROTECTION PETITION

This is a pro se process. Please access the Court Forms link and select the appropriate form category. Once the forms are completed, they must be presented to a deputy in the Circuit Clerk’s office.

DOES THE STATE OF MISSOURI RECOGNIZE COMMON LAW MARRIAGES?

No

CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED ON CASE NUMBER . . . . OR ON SO AND SO’S CASE?

You may contact the Circuit Clerk’s Office for assistance or access case.net www.courts.mo.gov for information.

WHAT IS THE LIMIT FOR A SMALL CLAIMS CASE?

Small Claims - up to $5,000.00
Associate Civil - up to $25,000.00

WHO DO I CALL TO SET UP A PARENTING CLASS?

FOCUS on KIDS is offered by several Extension Offices in our immediate area. Approved on-line courses are available at www.puttingkidsfirst.org and www.parentsforever.org For more information, please select the courts tab and select the parenting program information link.

HOW CAN I GET A JUDGMENT AGAINST SOMEONE?

We can provide small claims petitions to pro se applicants. However it is recommended that Associate and Circuit civil petitions be prepared by attorneys. Access the Court Forms link and select Small Claims Forms.

HOW CAN I COLLECT ON THE JUDGMENT IN MY FAVOR?

You can file an Execution/Garnishment with the Circuit Clerk’s office, but you will need to know the judgment debtor’s employer or bank account information to begin. Access the Court Forms link and select General Forms.

WHERE CAN I INITIATE AN EXECUTION/GARNISHMENT?

Execution/Garnishment requests are filed with the Circuit Clerk’s office. You may access the Court Forms link and select General Forms to print the execution/garnishment form. Service Fees are required upon filing.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - JURY

I RECEIVED A REMINDER CARD BUT DIDN’T GET A JURY QUESTIONNAIRE.

Please contact the Circuit Clerk’s Office and ask for another questionnaire.

I WOULD LIKE TO BE EXCUSED FROM JURY DUTY FOR THE ENTIRE TERM.

Please contact Cindy Heins at 660-463-5834.

I NEED TO BE EXCUSED FROM JURY DUTY FOR A SPECIFIC PERIOD OF TIME.

Please contact Cindy Heins at 660-463-5834.

I NEED TO POSTPONE MY JURY SERVICE.

Please contact Cindy Heins at 660-463-5834.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS -