Worth County Property Records

Worth County property records are kept at the Recorder of Deeds office in Grant City, Missouri. The office stores deeds, deeds of trust, plats, liens, surveys, and other land documents for the county. Worth County is one of the smallest counties in Missouri by population, but it still maintains a full set of property records going back many years. You can search for property records by visiting the courthouse during business hours. The recorder's staff can pull up any recorded document and make copies for you. Worth County property records are public, and anyone can request to view them. Whether you are buying land, doing title research, or just checking on a parcel, the recorder's office handles it all.

Worth County Recorder of Deeds

Amanda Gilland serves as the Worth County Recorder of Deeds. The office is at 11 West 4th Street in Grant City. All property documents for Worth County are recorded at this location. This covers warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, releases, plats, and surveys. Liens, easements, and other instruments affecting real estate in the county are also filed here. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Contact the Worth County Recorder at (660) 564-2484 or fax at (660) 564-2432. Email questions to recorderwoco@grantcity.net. Being a small county office, the staff can often give personal attention to your search needs. Walk in during business hours and they can help you find what you are looking for in the index books.

How to Search Worth County Property Records

To search property records in Worth County, visit the recorder's office at the courthouse in Grant City. The staff keeps grantor-grantee index books that list all recorded documents by name. Give them the name of a buyer, seller, or property owner, and they can pull up all deeds, liens, and other filings connected to that person. Once you find your document, they can make copies for you. Copies cost $1 per page, with certification at $1 extra per document.

Worth County is a small county, so most record searches go through the office in person or by phone. If you cannot visit Grant City, try calling ahead and the staff may be able to check the index over the phone and mail you copies. For broader property research, the Missouri Digital Heritage land database has over 280,000 historical land patent entries you can search by name or county.

The Missouri Land Survey Index is a state resource for finding survey records that may relate to Worth County property. The Missouri Recorders Association also lists contact info for all 115 county recorders in the state.

Worth County Property Recording Fees

Recording fees in Worth County follow the state schedule set by Missouri law. The first page of a standard document costs $24. Each added page is $3. Under Section 59.313 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, documents that do not meet format standards face a $25 penalty. Format requirements include 8.5 by 11 inch paper, a 3 inch top margin, and 8 point type minimum.

Copies are $1 per page at the Worth County office. Certified copies add $1 for the stamp. Contact the office about accepted payment methods before your visit. E-recording through providers like Simplifile or CSC may be available for filing from a distance.

Types of Worth County Property Records

Worth County's recorder files many types of property documents. Warranty deeds are the most common. They transfer ownership with a full title guarantee. Quitclaim deeds pass interest with no guarantee. Deeds of trust secure loans against the property. Release deeds clear those liens when the debt is paid off. Under Section 442.380, all documents affecting real estate must be recorded in the county where the property sits.

The office also records plats, surveys, easements, and restrictive covenants. Tax liens from unpaid taxes and mechanic's liens from unpaid contractor bills go on file here. Beneficiary deeds, authorized under RSMo 461.025, allow a property owner to name someone to receive the land after death without going through probate. Even though Worth County is small, the recorder's office handles the full range of land document types required by Missouri law.

Note: All deeds must be recorded to be valid against third parties under Section 442.410 of Missouri law.

Worth County Property Tax Records

Property tax records tie into the land record system in Worth County. The county assessor values all real estate on odd-numbered years. Missouri assessment ratios are 19% for homes, 12% for farm land, and 32% for commercial property. Worth County is a largely rural county, so most assessed property is agricultural. Tax bills go out by November 1, and the due date is December 31. Unpaid taxes lead to a tax lien filed at the recorder's office.

The Missouri Department of Revenue has details on tax credits for Worth County homeowners. The Senior Citizen Property Tax Credit is for those 65 and older. Disabled veteran programs are also available. The county collector handles all tax payments and can give receipts or statements for any parcel.

Historical Worth County Land Records

For Worth County property research that goes back before the current records, the Missouri State Archives has land patents from 1777 to 1969. The Bureau of Land Management holds federal patent records covering cash sales, homesteads, and military bounty land warrants in Missouri. The FamilySearch Missouri guide is useful for tracing Worth County property through old deed books and county records.

Nearby Counties

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