Hiring a Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Missouri

The deadline to sue for medical malpractice in Missouri, any limits on damages, how lawyers usually charge (contingency fees), how to check a lawyer's license, and free help. We do not recommend or rank lawyers.

What a lawyer costs in Missouri: fee rules

If you disagree with a lawyer's bill	The Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel refers fee complaints to the Fee Dispute Resolution Committees operated by The Missouri Bar. Source: Missouri Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel, Filing a Complaint
If a lawyer takes your money	The Missouri Bar's Client Security Fund, created in 1966 and maintained by Bar members' annual fees, can compensate clients harmed by a lawyer who has been disbarred, suspended, ruled mentally incapacitated, or has died. Fee disputes and malpractice are not covered. File within two years of discovering the loss using the Client Security Fund Claim Form on MissouriLawyersHelp.org (or request a printed copy from the fund coordinator). A committee recommends full or partial payment or denial, the Board of Governors has final discretion, and the committee aims to decide claims within a year. Source: The Missouri Bar, Client Security Fund frequently asked questions and answers (March 12, 2026)

If you disagree with a lawyer's bill

The Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel refers fee complaints to the Fee Dispute Resolution Committees operated by The Missouri Bar.

Source: Missouri Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel, Filing a Complaint

If a lawyer takes your money

The Missouri Bar's Client Security Fund, created in 1966 and maintained by Bar members' annual fees, can compensate clients harmed by a lawyer who has been disbarred, suspended, ruled mentally incapacitated, or has died. Fee disputes and malpractice are not covered. File within two years of discovering the loss using the Client Security Fund Claim Form on MissouriLawyersHelp.org (or request a printed copy from the fund coordinator). A committee recommends full or partial payment or denial, the Board of Governors has final discretion, and the committee aims to decide claims within a year.

Source: The Missouri Bar, Client Security Fund frequently asked questions and answers (March 12, 2026)

Missouri rules to know first

Deadline to sue for medical malpractice	Two years from the date of the negligent act. Exceptions: for a foreign object left in the body or a negligent failure to report medical test results, two years from when the problem was or should have been discovered; a minor has until age 20. In no event may a malpractice action be filed more than ten years after the act, or two years after a minor's 18th birthday, whichever is later. Source: Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.105
Medical malpractice damage caps	Yes. Noneconomic damages against health care providers are capped at a base of $400,000 for personal injury and $700,000 for catastrophic personal injury or death, regardless of the number of defendants. All wrongful death claimants count as one plaintiff. The caps increase by 1.7% every January 1, with the current values published in the Missouri Register by the Department of Commerce and Insurance. The jury is not told about the cap. Punitive damages against a health care provider require clear and convincing proof of intentional harm or malicious misconduct. Source: Mo. Rev. Stat. § 538.210

Deadline to sue for medical malpractice

Two years from the date of the negligent act. Exceptions: for a foreign object left in the body or a negligent failure to report medical test results, two years from when the problem was or should have been discovered; a minor has until age 20. In no event may a malpractice action be filed more than ten years after the act, or two years after a minor's 18th birthday, whichever is later.

Source: Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.105

Medical malpractice damage caps

Yes. Noneconomic damages against health care providers are capped at a base of $400,000 for personal injury and $700,000 for catastrophic personal injury or death, regardless of the number of defendants. All wrongful death claimants count as one plaintiff. The caps increase by 1.7% every January 1, with the current values published in the Missouri Register by the Department of Commerce and Insurance. The jury is not told about the cap. Punitive damages against a health care provider require clear and convincing proof of intentional harm or malicious misconduct.

Source: Mo. Rev. Stat. § 538.210

Full Missouri guide

Find and check a lawyer

Lawyer referral service	The Missouri Bar offers LawyerSearch, a directory of lawyers who have chosen to be listed, searchable by area of practice or Missouri county, with optional language-assistance filters; it is not described as a referral service, and "Inclusion on this list does not constitute an endorsement by The Missouri Bar of particular attorneys." In the St. Louis area, the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis sponsors a Lawyer Referral and Information Service (bamsl.org). Missouri Bar phone: (573) 635-4128. BAMSL LRIS described at https://www.moept.uscourts.gov/lawyer-referral-and-information-service Source: The Missouri Bar, LawyerSearch; U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Lawyer Referral and Information Service
Check discipline history or file a complaint	Complaints about Missouri lawyers go to the Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel (OCDC) in writing, using the online form, a printed or fillable PDF form, or a letter, one complaint per attorney (OCDC cannot investigate law firms). Mail: OCDC, 3327 American Ave, Jefferson City, MO 65109; phone 573-635-7400. Include the lawyer's name and address, the legal matter, any court and case caption, a detailed statement of facts, and documents such as fee agreements and proof of payment. There is no cost. Staff Counsel reviews complaints in order and tries to respond in writing within about four weeks; if a file is opened, the lawyer is usually notified and may respond, and you may reply. OCDC cannot give legal advice or recover money for you. A list of public discipline imposed since January 1, 2006 is posted by the Missouri courts. Public discipline list: https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=109856 ; disciplinary certificates: https://mochiefcounsel.org/obtaining-disciplinary-certificates/ Source: Missouri Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel, Filing a Complaint

Lawyer referral service

The Missouri Bar offers LawyerSearch, a directory of lawyers who have chosen to be listed, searchable by area of practice or Missouri county, with optional language-assistance filters; it is not described as a referral service, and "Inclusion on this list does not constitute an endorsement by The Missouri Bar of particular attorneys." In the St. Louis area, the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis sponsors a Lawyer Referral and Information Service (bamsl.org). Missouri Bar phone: (573) 635-4128.

BAMSL LRIS described at https://www.moept.uscourts.gov/lawyer-referral-and-information-service

Source: The Missouri Bar, LawyerSearch; U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Lawyer Referral and Information Service

Check discipline history or file a complaint

Complaints about Missouri lawyers go to the Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel (OCDC) in writing, using the online form, a printed or fillable PDF form, or a letter, one complaint per attorney (OCDC cannot investigate law firms). Mail: OCDC, 3327 American Ave, Jefferson City, MO 65109; phone 573-635-7400. Include the lawyer's name and address, the legal matter, any court and case caption, a detailed statement of facts, and documents such as fee agreements and proof of payment. There is no cost. Staff Counsel reviews complaints in order and tries to respond in writing within about four weeks; if a file is opened, the lawyer is usually notified and may respond, and you may reply. OCDC cannot give legal advice or recover money for you. A list of public discipline imposed since January 1, 2006 is posted by the Missouri courts.

Public discipline list: https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=109856 ; disciplinary certificates: https://mochiefcounsel.org/obtaining-disciplinary-certificates/

Source: Missouri Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel, Filing a Complaint

Free legal help

Free legal aid	Missouri's LSC-funded legal aid organizations give free civil legal help to eligible low-income people by region: Legal Aid of Western Missouri, Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, Legal Services of Southern Missouri and Mid-Missouri Legal Services Corporation. Source: Legal Services Corporation, Our Grantees

All legal help in Missouri · Background guide

Last verified against official sources: October 27, 2026.

How we source this page: each state-specific rule links to the statute, court rule or official government page it comes from. A rule taken from a public copy of a state code (used only where the official code is not freely readable online) is marked as a secondary source. Spot an error? Use the contact page to report it. About our sources

General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.