Ste. Genevieve County Property Records

Ste. Genevieve County property records are filed at the Recorder of Deeds office at 55 South Third Street in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri. This county is one of the oldest civil jurisdictions in Missouri, with roots going back to French colonial days. The town of Ste. Genevieve was founded in the early 1750s, making it Missouri's oldest settlement. Property records in the county reflect centuries of land transfers, starting from French colonial grants. The recorder's office keeps deeds, deeds of trust, plats, liens, and other land documents for the county on file.

Ste. Genevieve County Recorder of Deeds

Mary Jane Fallert White serves as the Ste. Genevieve County Recorder of Deeds. The office is at 55 South Third Street, Room 3, in Ste. Genevieve. Staff at this office record all property documents for the county. That covers warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, releases, plats, surveys, liens, and easements. When you bring a document in for filing, staff check it for compliance with state format rules and then record it.

You can reach the office at (573) 883-2706 or by email at mjwhite@stegencounty.org. Walk-ins are welcome during regular courthouse hours. Documents must meet Missouri's format standards: 8.5 by 11 inch paper, a 3 inch top margin, and at least 8 point type. Non-standard documents carry a $25 penalty fee under Section 59.313.

Search Ste. Genevieve County Property Records

To search for property records in Ste. Genevieve County, you can visit the recorder's office in person or contact them by phone. The office has index books covering all recorded property documents. You look up the name of a buyer or seller, find the reference, and then ask staff to pull the document. Copies are available for a per-page fee.

Because Ste. Genevieve County dates to the French colonial period, some of the earliest property records in the area involve French and Spanish land grants. The Missouri Digital Heritage land database has over 280,000 entries of land patents from 1777 to 1969, and some of the French and Spanish concessions in that database relate to parcels in Ste. Genevieve County. The Bureau of Land Management has federal land patent records as well.

The Missouri Recorders Association lists contact information for all 115 county recorders. If you are not sure which county a property is in, this is a good place to start.

Note: Some of the oldest Ste. Genevieve County land records may use French colonial land measurement systems rather than the modern township and range system.

Ste. Genevieve County Recording Fees

Recording fees in Ste. Genevieve County follow the statewide schedule. The first page costs $24 and each additional page is $3. Documents that do not meet format standards get a $25 penalty fee under Section 59.313. All documents need to be on 8.5 by 11 inch paper with a 3 inch top margin and at least 8 point type.

Copies cost $1 per page. Certified copies carry an additional charge for the certification stamp. Contact the Ste. Genevieve County Recorder's office to check what payment methods they accept before you visit. E-recording through providers like Simplifile may be available for remote filings.

Types of Ste. Genevieve County Property Records

The Ste. Genevieve County Recorder files all standard property documents. Warranty deeds transfer ownership with a clear title guarantee. Quitclaim deeds transfer interest without warranty. Deeds of trust secure loans against property. Release deeds clear those claims. Under Section 442.380, all documents affecting real property must be recorded in the county where the land sits.

Plats, surveys, easements, tax liens, and mechanic's liens are also on file. Missouri allows beneficiary deeds under RSMo 461.025, which let owners transfer property at death without probate. Under Section 442.410, deeds must be recorded to be valid against third parties. Given the area's long history, some Ste. Genevieve County property records may involve old French colonial land claims that were later confirmed by the U.S. government.

Ste. Genevieve County Property Tax Records

The Ste. Genevieve County assessor values real estate on odd-numbered years. Missouri's assessment ratios are 19% for residential, 12% for agricultural, and 32% for commercial property. Tax bills are mailed by November 1. They are due December 31. Unpaid taxes lead to a lien that gets recorded at the recorder's office.

The Missouri Department of Revenue has details on property tax credits. The Senior Citizen Property Tax Credit is for homeowners 65 and older. Disabled veteran exemptions are also available. The Ste. Genevieve County collector handles payments and tax receipts.

Historical Land Records for Ste. Genevieve County

Ste. Genevieve County has some of the oldest land records in all of Missouri. The county was organized in 1812, but the settlement dates to the early 1750s under French colonial rule. The Missouri State Archives has land patents and concessions from 1777 to 1969. Some French and Spanish land grants in that collection relate directly to Ste. Genevieve County parcels. The FamilySearch Missouri Land and Property guide explains how to work with these early land records for genealogy research.

Pre-1900 deed records for many Missouri counties are available on microfilm through the FamilySearch catalog. Ste. Genevieve County, given its age, may have particularly rich collections of early deeds and land grants that predate Missouri statehood in 1821. Property owners here should also check their records each year to guard against deed fraud. Even in a small county, a forged deed can cause big problems if it goes unnoticed.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Ste. Genevieve County. Property records must be filed in the county where the land is located.