Civil Process

We are located at: 

1305 Locust, 2nd Floor 
Kansas City, MO 64106
Phone Number: 816-881-3644
 
In the 16th Judicial Circuit, the Department of Civil Process performs the same duties as a Sheriff’s Civil Division in other Missouri counties. The authority to perform those duties is granted under the Jackson County Home Rule Charter which was approved by a majority of qualified electors on November 3, 1970 and became effective January 1, 1973.
 
Those duties include:
  • Serve circuit, associate circuit, probate and criminal summons, notices, protection orders and subpoenas.
  • Execute pre and post judgment orders and writs i.e. order of delivery (replevins), writ of attachment, restitution (eviction), levy by actual seizure of personal and real property, and levy by garnishment.
  • Conduct the annual Court Administrator’s Delinquent Land Tax (DLT) sale in Kansas City and Independence. All documents regarding the sale are maintained in the Department.
 
THE SHERIFF DOES NOT SERVE LEGAL DOCUMENTS IN JACKSON COUNTY. PLEASE DO NOT DIRECT YOUR CORRESPONDENCE TO THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE.
 

DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Evictions
Effective 8/26/2021 the Supreme Court of the United States in a per curiam decision held that the CDC exceeded its statutory authority in entering the August 3, 2021 CDC Oder, in effect invalidating it, and as a result, Administrative Order No. 2021-099 is hearby Repealed. 
 
Note: There may become a back log of evictions and we will endeavor to work through them as quickly as our manpower allows.
 

COVID-19 Updates

New methods to contact the Civil Process Department as a result of COVID-19
The Civil Process Department is still open; however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic we have made some changes in how you may contact our department. We are still accepting papers for service. Because we are trying to prevent the spread of this virus and practicing the social distancing guidelines, we are limiting our contact with members of the public. We are no longer accepting paper in person, but rather by:
 
  • US Mail, Civil Process Department. 1305 Locust, 2nd floor, Kansas City, MO 64106
  • Civil Process Drop Box (please follow this link Drop Box Procedures) located at 1315 Locust, Kansas City MO 64106
 
The drop box located at the Albert Riederer Community Justice Building (1315 Locust) inside the front glass doors. Documents will be retrieved multiple times a day, between the hours of 8am and 5PM. For the full information on this new procedure, please follow this link Drop Box Procedures
 
For questions about Civil Process, please email civilprocess@courts.mo.gov and for questions about the delinquent land tax, please email DLTEmail@courts.mo.gov .
 
Questions about Private Process Servers:
The Department of Civil Process is not connected to or involved with Private Process Servers. Our department does not supervise nor bear any responsibility for Private Process Servers.
For question about Private Process Servers please contact the Civil Records Department at 816-881-3926.
 
If you wish to express any concerns regarding Civil Process, please contact:
 
Director                                                                    Assistant Director
Jack Foster                                                               Richard Kessler
Phone: 816-881-3696                                               Phone: 816-881-3936
Email: Jack.Foster@courts.mo.gov                          Email: Richard.Kessler@courts.mo.gov
 
Manager, Civil Process                                          Supervisor, Clerical Staff
Barry Harris                                                               Jennifer Hodge
Phone: 816-881-1372                                               Phone: 816-881-3935
Email: Barry.Harris@courts.mo.gov                         Email: Jennifer.Hodge@courts.mo.gov
 
Administrative Assistant II                                    Supervisor, Process Servers
Victoria Gaughan                                                      Phillip "Kyle" McAfee
Phone: 816-881-3696                                               Phone number: 816-881-3093
Email: Victoria.Gaughan@courts.mo.gov                 Email: Phillip.McAfee@courts.mo.gov