Search Missouri Property Records
Missouri property records are kept by the Recorder of Deeds in each of the state's 115 counties. These files hold deeds, deeds of trust, plats, surveys, liens, and other land documents that show who owns a piece of real estate and what claims exist on it. You can look up Missouri property records at a county office in person, or search them through one of the many online portals that county recorders now run. The Missouri Recorders Association lists contact details for every county office and can help point you to the right place for your search. Each county sets its own hours and rules, but the basic steps for finding property records in Missouri are the same from one end of the state to the other.
Missouri Property Records Quick Facts
Where to Find Missouri Property Records
The Recorder of Deeds is the main office for property records in Missouri. Every county has one. The recorder files and stores deeds, deeds of trust, releases, easements, plats, and surveys. When a home sells or a new lien goes on file, that document gets recorded at the county level. Under Section 442.380 RSMo, all documents that affect real estate must be recorded in the county where the land sits. This makes the local Recorder of Deeds your first stop for any Missouri property records search.
Many Missouri counties also have a County Assessor who keeps a separate set of property records. The assessor tracks the value of land and buildings for tax purposes. Under Section 137.115 RSMo, real property in Missouri gets reassessed every odd year. The assessor uses three rates: 19% for homes, 12% for farm land, and 32% for commercial or other property. These records tell you who owns a parcel, how much it is worth on paper, and what taxes are due. You can often search assessor data online for free, even when the recorder charges a fee for deed images.
The Missouri Recorders Association at morecorders.com provides a directory of all 115 county recorders, along with contact details and links to local search tools. You can find the right office for your Missouri property records search through their site.
The association also posts updates on recording fee rules and e-recording options that apply across the state.
How to Search Property Records in Missouri
Most Missouri counties let you search property records online. The most common platform is iCounty, which more than 60 counties use for their iRecord Search system. You create an account, pick the county, and look up documents by owner name, legal description, or instrument number. Some counties offer free index searches while others charge a daily or monthly fee. A single day pass on iCounty runs about $10 in most places. Monthly plans range from $50 to $250 based on how much access you need.
Other counties use the Fidlar Tapestry or Laredo systems. Tapestry works on a pay-as-you-go basis. You search for free, then pay per page when you want to see or print a document image. Laredo is a monthly subscription that gives you more features. A handful of counties still use the SFFlexSuite platform for online deed searches. Check with your county recorder to see which system they run.
The Missouri Land Survey Index is a state tool that lets you find surveys filed with county recorders. It is free to use. Per Section 59.003 RSMo, surveys filed after December 31, 1969 must be requested from the original recorder's office, so the index tells you where to go for the full document.
For in-person searches, visit the Recorder of Deeds at the county courthouse. Most offices have public computer stations. Copies cost about $1 per page and certified copies run $1 per page plus $1 for the certificate. Bring the name of the property owner or the legal description and the staff can help you pull the right records.
Types of Missouri Property Records
Missouri county recorders file many types of property records. Each one serves a different role in land transactions.
Warranty deeds are the most common type of deed in Missouri. The seller guarantees that the title is clear and free of claims. A quitclaim deed, on the other hand, just transfers whatever interest the seller has with no promises about the title. Deeds of trust work like a mortgage in Missouri. The borrower puts the property up as collateral and a trustee holds the deed of trust until the loan is paid. Under Section 442.410 RSMo, a deed must be recorded to hold up against third parties who might also claim the land.
Missouri also allows beneficiary deeds, sometimes called transfer-on-death deeds. Under Section 461.025 RSMo, a property owner can sign a deed that passes the land to a named person when the owner dies. This avoids probate. The deed gets recorded with the county like any other property record, but it does not take effect until the owner passes.
Other Missouri property records include:
- Plats that show how land was divided into lots
- Surveys that map out property lines and corners
- Easements that grant rights to use someone else's land
- Release deeds filed when a loan gets paid off
- Tax liens placed by the state or federal government for unpaid taxes
- Mechanic's liens filed by contractors for work that was not paid
Note: Military discharge records (DD214) can also be filed with the Recorder of Deeds, but under Missouri law they are closed records and not open to the public.
Missouri Property Records Fees
Recording fees in Missouri are set by state law. The standard cost is $24 for the first page and $3 for each page after that. If your document does not meet the formatting rules in Section 59.310 RSMo, the recorder adds a $25 penalty on top. Documents must be on 8.5 by 11 inch paper, use at least 8-point type, and have a 3-inch top margin on the first page.
Plats have their own fee schedule. A plat on 18-by-24-inch paper costs $44 for the first page and $25 for each extra page. Surveys on the same size paper cost $24 for the first page and $5 for each page after. Copies from most county offices are $1 per page, and a certification seal costs $1 per document. These fees apply statewide, though some counties may have small differences for special document types.
Federal tax lien filings cost $9 to file and $7.50 to release. State tax liens run $3 to file and $1.50 to discharge. Many Missouri counties now take e-recorded documents through vendors like Simplifile, CSC, and eRecording Partners Network. The vendor may charge its own service fee on top of the county recording cost.
Historical Missouri Property Records
Missouri has a long history of land records going back to the French and Spanish colonial periods. The Missouri State Archives holds a database of more than 280,000 historical land entries from 1777 through 1969. These cover French and Spanish land concessions, federal land sales from 1818 to 1903, and state-issued land patents. You can search by name, year, location, or county. The archive records include the name of the purchaser, the county, the date of purchase, and the legal land description with township, section, and range.
The Bureau of Land Management keeps federal land patent records for Missouri through its General Land Office database. Missouri was a public-domain state, so the federal government sold or granted most of the original land. Eight federal land offices ran in Missouri starting in 1818. Land was given out through cash sales, homesteads, and military bounty land warrants. If you are looking for the very first transfer of a piece of land from the government to a private owner, this is where to look.
The Missouri Digital Heritage portal gives online access to many of these historical land records. You can search and view entries without visiting the archives in person. Some records include names of purchasers, claimants, and assignees. Not every entry has all fields filled in, so you may need to check multiple sources to build a full picture of a property's history in Missouri.
Missouri Property Tax Records
Property tax records are a key part of Missouri property records. The Missouri Department of Revenue oversees the property tax system at the state level, but each county collects its own taxes. Tax bills go out by November 1 and payment is due by December 31. The average Missouri homeowner pays about $1,750 per year in property taxes, though this varies a lot from county to county.
Missouri has about 2,093,490 taxable properties with a median sale price around $210,000. The state offers several relief programs. The Property Tax Credit (MO-PTC) helps seniors age 65 and older. Disabled veterans can apply for a property tax exemption. The Homestead Preservation Credit provides extra help for qualifying homeowners. There is no estate tax in Missouri, and a capital gains tax exemption took effect in January 2025 under HB 594.
County collectors handle the actual billing and collection. You can usually look up your tax bill online through your county's collector website. The bill shows the assessed value, the tax rate set by local districts, and the total amount due. If taxes go unpaid, the collector can sell the property at a delinquent tax sale.
Missouri Property Records Title Search
A title search digs into Missouri property records to track who has owned a piece of land and what claims sit on it. This is a standard part of any real estate deal. The search looks at deeds, liens, judgments, and other recorded documents to make sure the seller has the right to sell. Under Missouri law, a deed only protects you against competing claims if it has been recorded with the county. That is why the chain of title matters so much.
Title companies and abstractors handle most formal title searches in Missouri. They pull records from the Recorder of Deeds, check for liens at the county and federal level, and review court records for judgments that might affect the property. The AFX Research guide walks through the steps of a Missouri title search in detail. You can do your own informal search at the recorder's office, but a professional search gives you the full picture and often comes with title insurance that protects you if something was missed.
Common issues that show up in a Missouri property records title search include old mechanic's liens, unpaid tax liens, boundary disputes, and unreleased deeds of trust from loans that were paid off years ago but never cleared from the record.
Are Missouri Property Records Public
Yes. Property records in Missouri are public. Anyone can go to a Recorder of Deeds office and ask to see recorded documents. You do not need to own the property. You do not have to give a reason. The Missouri Public Records Act gives you a legal right to view these files. Most county assessor records are also public, including owner names, assessed values, and tax amounts.
There are a few limits. Social Security numbers and certain financial details may be redacted from public copies. Military discharge records (DD214) filed with the recorder are closed to everyone except the veteran, their spouse, or certain authorized parties. But standard property records like deeds, liens, plats, and surveys are fully open.
The Missouri State Treasurer runs a separate unclaimed property program at ShowMeMoney.com. This covers things like old bank accounts and stocks but does not include real estate. If you have a question about unclaimed real property in Missouri, contact the Recorder of Deeds in the county where the land is located.
Missouri Property Records Fraud Alerts
Property fraud is a growing concern across Missouri. Someone could file a fake deed to steal your property title. Many county recorders now offer free fraud alert services. When you sign up, you get an email any time a document is recorded in your name. This lets you catch problems fast.
Several Missouri counties use the Deedwatch system for fraud alerts. It is free to sign up. You pick your county, enter your name, and the service watches for new recordings. Benton, McDonald, Ray, Webster, and Wright counties are among those using Deedwatch. Other counties run their own fraud alert programs through iCounty or their recorder website. Check with your local recorder to find out what fraud protection tools they offer for your Missouri property records.
Browse Missouri Property Records by County
Each county in Missouri has its own Recorder of Deeds who keeps property records for that area. Pick a county below to find local office details, online search tools, and recording fee info.
Property Records in Major Missouri Cities
Major cities in Missouri use their county's Recorder of Deeds for property records. Pick a city below to see which county handles filings and how to search records in that area.