If you have a case in St. Louis County, the St. Louis County local court rules you need are the 21st Judicial Circuit’s Rules of Court, most recently updated May 15, 2024. They sit on top of the statewide Missouri Supreme Court Rules and control the day-to-day mechanics: which division hears your matter, how you file, what you pay, how you get on the docket, and how you behave once you’re there. Miss one of these steps and your case can stall before a judge ever looks at the merits.
Where to Read the Current Rules
The full rules are published as a PDF on the St. Louis County Courts website.1St. Louis County Courts. 21st Judicial Circuit – The Rules of Court The Missouri Courts website also hosts local rules for every circuit in the state. Because the rules are revised periodically, confirm you’re reading the current version before you rely on anything. If a search result surfaces an older PDF, call the clerk’s office rather than guess.
The court’s forms page has downloadable documents for common filings, from civil cover sheets to garnishment paperwork.2St. Louis County Courts. Forms – St. Louis County Courts – 21st Judicial Circuit Using the court’s own forms is the safest way to get the required fields and formatting right the first time.
Which Division Will Hear Your Case
Rule 1 lays out the structure. Divisions 1 through 21 are circuit judge divisions. Divisions 31 through 44 are associate circuit judge divisions.321st Judicial Circuit, St. Louis County, Missouri. 21st Judicial Circuit Rules of Court Beyond those, several commissioner divisions handle specific matters:
- Divisions 46 and 47: traffic commissioners
- Divisions 61 through 65: family court commissioners
- Divisions 66 and 67: probate commissioner and deputy probate commissioner
- Division 68: treatment court commissioner
Circuit judge divisions generally handle higher-value civil cases and felonies. Associate circuit judge divisions hear civil disputes where the amount sought does not exceed $25,000, along with certain statutory actions.4Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Missouri Code 517.011 Family law matters go to the family court divisions, and estates and guardianships go to probate. Division assignment matters because each may have its own scheduling practices layered on top of the general rules.
How Cases Get Assigned
Rule 6 controls distribution. Associate circuit cases follow Rule 6.1, family court cases follow Rule 6.2, and all other circuit-level cases follow Rule 6.3.321st Judicial Circuit, St. Louis County, Missouri. 21st Judicial Circuit Rules of Court
A few developments can shift a case after it’s filed. Requesting a jury trial in an associate circuit case triggers Rule 6.4.1. If a counterclaim or third-party petition pushes the amount past the associate circuit jurisdictional limit, Rules 6.4.2 and 6.4.3 allow certification up to circuit court. Rule 6.6 governs reassignment when a judge is disqualified or unavailable. These moves generally require you to file a motion or request; they don’t happen on their own.
Filing Fees
The 21st Judicial Circuit publishes a detailed fee schedule with amounts tied to case type. As of the schedule effective August 28, 2025:
- Circuit civil case: $105.50
- Associate circuit civil case: $53.50
- Small claims (under or over $100): $20.50
These are filing deposits, not the total cost of litigation. Service fees, witness fees, and certified copies add up on top.5St. Louis County Courts. Schedule of Deposits and Fees – 21st Judicial Circuit Rule 5.4 provides a process for requesting a fee waiver if you cannot afford the deposit; you’ll need to file documentation of financial hardship with the court.
Electronic Filing
The 21st Judicial Circuit uses Missouri’s statewide electronic filing system for most case types. Rule 4 governs filing, and Rule 4.8 lists the narrow exceptions where paper filing is still permitted.321st Judicial Circuit, St. Louis County, Missouri. 21st Judicial Circuit Rules of Court
Attorneys register through the Missouri eFiling system. Self-represented litigants go through a separate registration process on the Missouri Courts eFiling portal.6Missouri Courts. Electronic Filing Registration isn’t instant, so don’t wait until the day a deadline expires to start it.
All electronically filed documents must be in PDF format and should be text-searchable so the court’s systems can process them. Blurry, incomplete, or wrong-format documents get rejected, and a rejection does not extend your deadline.
Redacting Personal Information
Missouri Code 509.520 bars any filing from containing a full Social Security number, credit card number, financial account number, PIN, or password. Where a number is relevant, you include only the last four digits.7Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Missouri Code 509.520 – Court Records, Required Redactions
This is a statewide statutory requirement, not just a local rule, and it applies to pleadings, exhibits, attachments, and any orders the court issues. Local Rule 3.5 adds a specific redaction requirement for documents submitted for a judge’s signature. Failing to redact does more than risk a rejected filing; it can expose sensitive information in what becomes a public record.
Getting a Motion Heard
Rule 2.3 establishes “Law Days,” the designated times judges hear routine matters. Each division may set its own schedule, so contact the clerk for your assigned division and ask when the judge hears motions.
After you have a date, serve the opposing party with a notice of hearing identifying the time, date, and courtroom, and file that notice through eFiling so it’s part of the record. Notice timing is strict. Serve too close to the hearing and the judge may continue the matter or strike the motion. Check both the local rules and the applicable Missouri Supreme Court Rules for the notice period that applies to your specific motion type.
When Mediation Is Required
Rule 68.14 requires parties in every contested domestic relations and paternity case to participate in mediation before trial. That covers custody, parenting time, child support, maintenance, and property division. The exceptions involve domestic violence, abuse, or a significant power imbalance between the parties, and even then someone has to show good cause for the exemption.321st Judicial Circuit, St. Louis County, Missouri. 21st Judicial Circuit Rules of Court
For non-family civil cases, Rule 38 provides a framework for alternative dispute resolution, either by agreement of the parties or by court order. If the court orders mediation, skipping it is not optional, and you’ll pay the mediator’s fee on top of your other costs.
Courtroom Conduct and Recording
Rule 9.4 governs courtroom decorum and dress; the general expectation is professional, respectful attire and behavior. Stand when the court is called to order, speak only when addressed or during your turn, and follow instructions from court personnel. Disruptive behavior can lead to removal or contempt sanctions.
Rule 9.5 separately prohibits photographing or recording any court session without express permission from the judge. That applies to phones, cameras, and any other electronic device. Silence phones before you walk into the courtroom.
Remote Hearings
Since 2020, Missouri courts have offered remote hearing options with growing frequency, and the 21st Judicial Circuit is no exception. Whether a particular hearing will be virtual depends on the judge and the case type. When one is scheduled, participants typically join through Webex or a similar platform.
The expectations mirror a physical courtroom. Recording without permission is prohibited, and the court can remove disruptive participants and impose sanctions as it would in person. You’ll need a device with at least audio capability and a reliable connection. Dress appropriately, be on time, find a quiet location, and don’t speak unless prompted.
Contacting the Court
Rule 13 governs how parties and attorneys communicate with the court. Rule 13.1 covers oral communications, and the overriding principle is that you don’t contact a judge directly about the substance of a pending case without the other side present or notified. That’s an ex parte communication, and it can get you sanctioned or get favorable rulings overturned.
Rule 13.2 requires written communications to go through proper filing channels. If you need to bring something to the judge’s attention, file a motion. Don’t send letters or emails to chambers unless the court has specifically authorized that route for something like scheduling. When in doubt, file through eFiling and serve a copy on opposing counsel. That creates a record and keeps everything on the level.