Cal. Civ. Code § 534.060
Before whom cognizable — centralized filing — assignment of cases
Operative Text
Forcible entries and detainers, and unlawful detainers, may be heard and determined by any associate circuit judge of the county in which they are committed. Neither the provisions of this section or any other section in this chapter shall preclude adoption of a local circuit court rule providing for the centralized filing of such cases, nor the assignment of such cases to particular associate circuit or circuit judges pursuant to local circuit court rule or action by the presiding judge of the circuit. Such cases shall be heard and determined by associate circuit judges unless a circuit judge is transferred or assigned to hear such case or cases or unless the plaintiff pursuant to subsection 2 of section 478.250 has designated the case as one to be heard under the practice and procedure applicable before circuit judges. All cases under this chapter shall be heard on the record. Unless the plaintiff under subsection 2 of section 478.250 has designated the case as one to be heard under the practice and procedure applicable before circuit judges, to the extent practice and procedure are not provided in this chapter the practice and procedure provided in chapter 517 shall apply. If the plaintiff under subsection 2 of section 478.250 has designated the case as one to be heard under the practice and procedure applicable before circuit judges, the case shall be heard and determined under the rules of practice and procedure provided in the Missouri Rules of Civil Procedure instead of those contained in chapter 517, notwithstanding the specific references to chapter 517 in this chapter.
Missouri Revised Statutes § 534.060 establishes which courts and judges have authority to hear eviction-related cases — specifically forcible entry and detainer and unlawful detainer actions. These cases are generally handled by associate circuit judges in the county where the dispute arose, though local court rules may centralize filing or assign cases to specific judges. The procedural rules that govern how a case proceeds depend on whether the plaintiff has designated the matter to be heard under circuit-judge procedures or the streamlined rules of chapter 517; all such cases must be heard on the record regardless.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 534.060, a landlord initiating a forcible entry and detainer or unlawful detainer action files in the county where the property is located and follows that circuit's local rules for where and how to submit the case. A compliant operator is aware that the choice of procedural track — either the chapter 517 process before an associate circuit judge or the Missouri Rules of Civil Procedure before a circuit judge, as permitted under § 478.250(2) — affects how the case unfolds from filing through hearing. Property managers generally confirm the local circuit's centralized filing requirements before submitting paperwork, since local rules may direct cases to a specific courthouse or docket.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 534.060 governs the court structure and procedures that apply when a landlord brings a forcible entry and detainer or unlawful detainer case against a tenant in Missouri. Because the procedural track chosen by the plaintiff can affect the pace and formality of the proceedings, tenants facing such actions may benefit from understanding which set of rules — chapter 517 or the Missouri Rules of Civil Procedure — applies to their case. Tenants can consult a local tenant-rights organization or legal aid office to better understand how the procedural framework under § 534.060 may affect their ability to present a defense at the hearing.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
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