Find Ralls County Property Records

Ralls County property records are managed by the Circuit Clerk who also serves as the Ex-Officio Recorder. The office is at the Ralls County Courthouse in New London, Missouri. All deeds, deeds of trust, plats, liens, and other land documents for the county are filed here. You can search for property records through the iDoc Market online system or visit the courthouse in person. Ralls County also offers a free Document Alerts service for fraud protection, which notifies property owners if someone files a document using their name. The recorder handles both property documents and court records from the same office.

Ralls County Recorder of Deeds Office

Gina Jameson serves as the Ralls County Circuit Clerk and Ex-Officio Recorder. In smaller Missouri counties, the circuit clerk sometimes handles both court records and property recordings. That is the case in Ralls County. The office processes deed filings, land transfers, and lien recordings. They also manage marriage licenses and court documents. Staff can help you find a specific record or explain what documents are on file.

The office has two phone lines. Use the deeds and marriage line at (573) 985-5631 for property record questions. The court line at (573) 985-5633 handles case-related matters. You can also reach the office by email or fax if you have a quick question about filing requirements or copies.

Search Ralls County Property Records Online

Ralls County uses the iDoc Market system for online property record searches. This platform lets you look up recorded documents from your computer without having to visit the courthouse in New London. You can search by name to find deeds, deeds of trust, releases, and other property filings. The system may require an account or subscription for full access to document images.

Ralls County also provides a free Document Alerts service. This tool is designed to protect property owners from fraud. When you sign up, the system will send you a notification if anyone files a document that uses your name. It is a good way to catch unauthorized filings early. Contact the recorder's office for details on how to register for this service.

For historical research, the Missouri Digital Heritage land database has over 280,000 land patent entries from 1777 to 1969. The Bureau of Land Management also holds federal land patent records that may include parcels in Ralls County.

Ralls County Property Recording Fees

Ralls County follows the statewide fee schedule for recording property documents. The cost is $24 for the first page and $3 for each additional page. This applies to deeds, deeds of trust, releases, and most other standard property documents. A $25 penalty fee applies to documents that do not meet Missouri's format requirements under Section 59.313 of the Missouri Revised Statutes. Documents need to be on 8.5 by 11 inch paper with a 3 inch top margin and at least 8 point type.

Copies from the Ralls County office run $1 per page. Certified copies cost a bit more for the certification stamp. Check with the office about accepted payment methods before you visit.

Note: Call the Ralls County Recorder at (573) 985-5631 to verify current fees before submitting documents.

Property Records Filed in Ralls County

The Ralls County Recorder handles all types of property documents. Warranty deeds transfer ownership and guarantee a clear title. Quitclaim deeds also transfer interest but carry no warranty. Deeds of trust secure a loan against the property, and release deeds remove that claim when the loan is paid. All documents that affect real estate must be recorded in the county where the property is located, per Section 442.380 of Missouri law.

The office also records plats, surveys, easements, tax liens, and mechanic's liens. Beneficiary deeds are allowed in Missouri under RSMo 461.025. These let a property owner name a person to receive the real estate after death without probate. Military discharge papers can also be recorded at this office, though they are kept confidential.

Ralls County Property Tax Information

Property taxes in Ralls County are assessed on all real estate. The county assessor values property on odd-numbered years. Missouri assessment ratios are 19% for residential, 12% for agricultural, and 32% for commercial. Tax bills get mailed by November 1. They are due by December 31. Unpaid taxes can result in a lien on the property, which will show up in the recorder's files.

The Missouri Department of Revenue has details on tax credit programs that Ralls County homeowners may qualify for. The Senior Citizen Property Tax Credit helps residents 65 and older. There are also exemptions for disabled veterans. Contact the Ralls County collector for payment questions or to get a tax receipt.

Historical Land Records for Ralls County

Ralls County has land records that go back to the county's early days. For research into original land patents, the Missouri State Archives holds records from 1777 to 1969. These include French and Spanish grants, federal land sales, and state-issued patents. The FamilySearch Missouri Land and Property guide is a helpful tool for genealogy work that involves Ralls County property. Pre-1900 deed records for many Missouri counties are available through the FamilySearch catalog.

The Missouri Land Survey Index is another resource for finding surveys that were filed with county recorders. Per RSMo 59.003, records filed after December 31, 1969 must be requested from the original recorder's office in Ralls County.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Ralls County in Missouri. Always confirm that you are searching in the right county before requesting property records.