How to Search Missouri Public Records

Missouri's court, criminal, vital, property, voter, and licensing records are maintained across state agencies and the 115 counties listed below. Use the tabs to filter by record type, or jump directly to any source.

  • Courts: The Missouri Supreme Court sits at the top of the system; trial-court business is handled by the Circuit Court (46 circuits). Most courts publish dockets and case lookups online.
  • Criminal history: The state's criminal-history repository handles official background checks. Fees and procedures are set by the state agency — see the linked official source.
  • Vital records: Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates are issued by the state Department of Health (or equivalent) and may also be available locally.
  • Property & recorded documents: Maintained at the county level by the Assessor, Recorder, or Clerk's office.
  • Business filings: The Secretary of State (or equivalent) operates the official business-entity search.
Population
6,263,220
Households
2,470,000
Median Income
$65,920
Median Home Value
$199,400

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (2024 Population Estimates Program; 2022 ACS 5-year)

Recorded Documents Databases

25 official Missouri recorded documents sources.

Recorded Documents

Boone County
Official Free
Land record and tax lien searches from the Boone County Recorder of Deeds.
Cape Girardeau County
Official Free
Recorded documents and land records in Cape Girardeau County. Requires registration and fees.
Clay County
Official Free
Clay County Recorder of Deeds Office records.
Franklin County
Official Free
Find Franklin County recorded documents (deeds, liens, mortgages, etc.) by name, document type, or address.
Greene County
Official Free
Greene County Recorder of Deeds land records.
Jackson County
Official Free
Jackson County Recorder of Deeds land records.
Lafayette County
Official Free
Lafayette County Recorder of Deeds access to two online recorded document search services. Both charge fees.
Newton County
Official Free
Newton County, Missouri recorded documents from the Newton County Recorder. Search for land records, mortgages, deeds, liens, judgments, lis.
St. Charles County
Official Free
St. Charles County Recorder of Deeds database for recorded documents / land records. Requires registration.
St. Louis County
Official Free
Saint Louis County deed and other land record searches. Choose fee searches with document copies or a free data-only search.
Stone County
Official Free
Stone County, Missouri recorded documents - liens, mortgages, deeds, etc. Click on Records Access to enter the database.
Taney County
Official Free
Taney County Recorder information on how to access the two available fee-based recorded document indexes.
Lincoln County
Official Free
Lincoln County Recorder of Deeds land records including historical (1819-1987) and contemporary documents.
Christian County
Official Free
Christian County Recorder of Deeds land records.
Recorded Documents | 22 Counties
Official Free
Find deeds, mortgages, and other recorded documents from 22 Missouri counties by name and/or date. Pay for a one-time basic search, or register for more advanced search features.
Laclede County
Official Free
Land records, tax liens, plats, and surveys from the Laclede County Recorder of Deeds.
Barry County
Official Free
Search Barry County, Missouri recorded documents.
Bates County
Official Free
Land records filed since 1980 with the Bates County Recorder of Deeds. Subscription required.
Cass County
Official Free
Cass County Recorder of Deeds land records. Subscription required.
Nodaway County
Official Free
Use this service from the Nodaway County, Missouri Recorder's office to search for recorded documents (deeds, mortgages, liens, etc.) by name, document or tract search.
McDonald County
Official Free
Use this pay subscription service to find recorded documents in McDonald County and five other Missouri counties.
Livingston County
Official Free
Recorded documents and land records filed in Livingston County. Requires a day pass or subscription.
Sainte Genevieve County
Official Free
Sainte Genevieve County Recorder land records. Day pass or subscription required.
Texas County
Official Free
Texas County, Missouri Recorder of Deeds land records search.
Butler County
Official Free
Land record searches for Butler County. Subscription required.

Missouri Counties

All 114 Missouri counties. Click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.

Frequently Asked Questions

Missouri's official criminal-history repository is operated by the state law-enforcement agency. Free public access to a complete criminal history is generally not available; an official background check typically requires fingerprints and a fee. County-level court records can be searched at no cost through individual court websites.

Missouri's court system is headed by the Missouri Supreme Court. Trial-court business is handled by the Circuit Court (46 circuits). Many Missouri courts publish docket searches and case lookups online — see the Court Records tab above for direct links.

The Missouri Secretary of State (or equivalent agency) operates the official business-entity search. You can typically search corporations, LLCs, LPs, and other registered entities by name or registration number. See the Licenses or Business tab above.

The Assessor determines property values for tax purposes. The Recorder (or Clerk-Recorder) records deeds, mortgages, liens, and other property documents. Some county offices combine these roles, others keep them separate. Check the specific county page for details.

Missouri vital records (birth, death, marriage, divorce certificates) are issued by the state Department of Health (or equivalent) and, in many cases, by local county clerks. Fees and ID requirements are set by the issuing agency.

Most county-level property and recorded-document searches are free for basic information through the Assessor or Recorder website. Certified copies of deeds typically have a per-page fee. Direct links are in the Property Records tab above.

The Missouri sex offender registry is maintained by the state law-enforcement agency under the Sex Offender Registration and Community Notification Act. The registry is searchable by name, ZIP code, or address.

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