Missouri courts roll out ‘Auto Create Case’ feature to northern judicial circuits

The Missouri judiciary will continue its introduction of its new “Auto Create Case” feature, which is scheduled to be implemented Friday in the first 10 judicial circuits in the northern half of the state.

The feature is designed to give attorneys and the public faster access to new civil cases. The state’s e-filing system has allowed attorneys to file cases nearly around the clock — typically those cases would have stayed in a queue until local court staff could manually create new cases and accept filings during business hours. By automating the process of electronically accepting new petitions filing in 28 designated civil case types, the new feature removes both the clerk queue and the wait.

Using Auto Create Case, the system will automatically generate a new case, accept the petition, assign a case number and enable attorneys to proceed with filing additional documents or starting other urgent work. Additionally, the new case becomes automatically viewable by the public.

Feedback from pilot courts state attorneys should carefully review filings before submission, as the Auto Create Case feature has led to increased dismissals due to cases being filed in incorrect divisions or missing petitions. Attorneys should continue using the existing eFiling System for new cases; clicking “submit” results in automatic acceptance with no option to recall filings or request clerk holds. This feature applies exclusively to initial filings in specific civil case types, not to subsequent filings.

The feature is already active in several counties. The pilot began in St. Louis County in October, and expanded to eight other counties in November, including St. Charles County, Boone County and Greene County. Some of the designated case types include several personal injury torts, contract law and administrative review.

The Auto Create Case feature will be rolled out across the entire state in phases over the coming months.