Find Sullivan County Property Records

Sullivan County property records are held at the Recorder of Deeds office in Milan, Missouri. The office files deeds, deeds of trust, plats, liens, surveys, and other land documents for the entire county. If you want to look up a deed or check ownership of a parcel in Sullivan County, you can visit the courthouse during business hours. The recorder's staff can help you search through index books and pull copies of any document on file. Sullivan County property records are public, and anyone can request to view or copy them. Whether you are buying land, checking a title, or doing research, the recorder's office is your starting point.

Sullivan County Recorder of Deeds

Susie Gardner serves as the Sullivan County Recorder of Deeds. The office is at 109 North Main, Suite 20, in Milan. This is where all property documents for Sullivan County get recorded. Warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, releases, plats, and surveys are all filed here. The office also handles liens, easements, and any other instrument that affects land in the county. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Call the Sullivan County Recorder at (660) 265-3630. You can also reach them by fax at (660) 265-5071 or email at sullcorecorder@nemr.net. Staff can answer questions about document preparation, fees, and how to get copies. Walk-ins are welcome.

How to Search Sullivan County Property Records

To search property records in Sullivan County, visit the recorder's office in the courthouse in Milan. The staff maintains index books that list recorded documents by grantor and grantee name. You give them a name, and they can look up all deeds, liens, and other filings tied to that person. Once you find the document you need, they can pull the original or make a copy for you. Copies cost $1 per page, and certified copies are $1 extra for the stamp.

Sullivan County is a smaller county, so most searches go through the office in person or by phone. If you cannot make it to Milan, call ahead and the staff may be able to look something up for you over the phone and mail copies. For broader research, the Missouri Digital Heritage land database covers historical land patents from 1777 to 1969 that you can search by name or county.

The Missouri Land Survey Index is another state resource for finding survey records filed with county recorders across the state, including Sullivan County.

Sullivan County Property Recording Fees

Recording fees in Sullivan County match the state schedule. The first page of a document costs $24 to record. Each page after that adds $3. Documents that fail to meet Missouri's formatting rules face a $25 penalty per Section 59.313. The format rules call for 8.5 by 11 inch paper, a 3 inch top margin, and at least 8 point type.

Copies are $1 per page at the Sullivan County Recorder's office. A certification stamp adds $1 per document. Contact the office for details on which forms of payment they accept. If you need to e-record, ask whether they work with vendors like Simplifile or CSC.

Note: Check with the Sullivan County office about current accepted payment methods before going in person.

Types of Sullivan County Land Records

The Sullivan County Recorder files many kinds of property documents. Warranty deeds are the most common and provide a full title guarantee from the seller. Quitclaim deeds transfer interest with no guarantee. Deeds of trust secure a loan against the property. When the loan is paid, a release deed clears the lien. Under Section 442.380 of Missouri law, all documents that affect real estate must be recorded where the property sits.

Plats, surveys, easements, and restrictive covenants are also on file at the Sullivan County office. Tax liens from unpaid taxes and mechanic's liens from unpaid contractor work get recorded here as well. Beneficiary deeds, authorized under RSMo 461.025, let a property owner name someone to receive the land after death without probate. The Missouri Recorders Association has more about document types and standards used across the state.

Sullivan County Property Tax Information

Property tax records connect to the broader land record system in Sullivan County. The county assessor sets values for all real estate on odd-numbered years. Missouri uses assessment ratios of 19% for homes, 12% for farm land, and 32% for commercial property. Tax bills go out by November 1 and are due December 31. Unpaid taxes result in a lien filed at the recorder's office.

The Missouri Department of Revenue provides information on property tax credits that Sullivan County residents may qualify for. The Senior Citizen Property Tax Credit applies to homeowners 65 and older. Programs for disabled veterans are available too. The county collector handles tax payments and can provide receipts or statements.

Historical Sullivan County Property Records

For Sullivan County property research going back further than the recorder's current records, the Missouri State Archives holds land patents from 1777 to 1969. The Bureau of Land Management has federal land patent records covering cash sales, homesteads, and military bounty land warrants in Missouri. The FamilySearch Missouri guide is helpful for tracing property through old deed books and county records.

Sullivan County property owners should stay alert to deed fraud. Check your name in the recorder's index at least once a year to make sure no one has filed a forged deed or a lien you did not approve. Acting fast on a fraudulent filing makes it much easier to fix.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Sullivan County in Missouri. Property records must be filed in the county where the land is located.