Civil Process Information

"All process of the circuit court in said city of St. Louis...shall be directed to and executed by the sheriff of said city." (RsMO 57.470)

The Sheriff's Deparment receives over 65,000 court papers per year for service. These include city, foreign, garnishment, property tax, juror, and ex parte orders of protection papers.

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Service Fees

Effective August 28, 2008: New legislation was passed by the 94th General Assembly as House Bill No. 2224. This legislation added the following new sections to our statutes: RSMo 57.278, 57.280, 488.435, 590.050 and 650.350. In accordance with the Revised Statutes of the State of Missouri, Sheriff fees for service will be:

Summons $30.00
Subpoena $30.00
Garnishments $30.00
Executions $30.00
Evictions $30.00
Writs $30.00
Deeds $30.00
Summons $32.50 (Cases filed outside of Missouri – includes Notary Fee)
Subpoena $32.50 (Cases filed outside of Missouri – includes Notary Fee)

Any papers received in our office on August 28, 2008 and thereafter should include the new service rate or the papers will be returned to you . Before August 28, 2008, the service fee in the City of St. Louis is $20.00 per defendant and if is filed outside of Missouri, the fee is $22.50 per defendant.

 

Court Time Limits for Service

• Papers without a court date, including Circuit Court Summons, have 30 days from the date of the court seal. (Missouri Supreme Court Rule 54.21)
• Associate Circuit Court Summons have to be served 10 days before the court date.
• Papers dealing with rent have to be served 4 days before the court date.
• Serve or Post papers have to be served 4 days before the court date or have to be posted 10 days before the court date. (Missouri Revised Statute 535.030)
• Post only summons have to be posted 10 days before the court date.
• Order of Publications have to be posted 10 days before the court date.
• Subpoenas may be served anytime before the court date.

We serve only those defendant who reside or work in the City of St. Louis. To verify if an address falls within our jurisdiction, check the city address locator or the United States Postal Service website.

For more information or to check service call 314-622-4851.