St. Louis County, Missouri • Recorder of Deeds search and office guide • reviewed September 2026
St. Louis County MO Recorder of Deeds: Search Deeds, Order Copies, Record Documents and Find the Office
The St. Louis County Recorder of Deeds records and maintains land records for property located in St. Louis County, Missouri.
Use this office for deeds, deeds of trust, releases, plats, surveys, liens, marriage-license copies and property-fraud alert tools.
Use the County Assessor for assessed value, parcel details and locator numbers. Use the Collector for property-tax bills and payments.
Fast answer
What the St. Louis County Recorder of Deeds Does
Records real-estate documents and provides recorded-document copies.
County Government Center, Clayton, MO 63105.
Call before visiting because counter hours and appointment rules can change.
County fee page lists $26 first page and $3 for each additional page.
Missouri formatting failures can trigger a non-standard recording fee.
Deed-copy form lists $2 first page, $1 each additional page, plus certification/postage when needed.
Confirm whether the property is in St. Louis County or the independent City of St. Louis before searching. The two have separate recorder offices and separate record systems.
Avoid the biggest search mistake
St. Louis County or City of St. Louis? Choose Before You Search
St. Louis County and the City of St. Louis are separate recording jurisdictions.
A mailing address that says “St. Louis, MO” does not automatically mean the property is inside the City of St. Louis.
Use St. Louis County Recorder
Use the Clayton office for property in St. Louis County municipalities and unincorporated county areas.
Examples include Clayton, Florissant, Chesterfield, Ballwin, Kirkwood, Ferguson, University City, Creve Coeur and Maryland Heights.
Open County Deed SearchUse City of St. Louis Recorder
Use the City Recorder for property inside the independent City of St. Louis.
The City Recorder is at City Hall, 1200 Market Street, and uses a different land-record system.
Open City RecorderOffice information
St. Louis County Recorder of Deeds Office
Recorder of Deeds
Office: St. Louis County Recorder of Deeds
Recorder: Gerald E. Smith
Address: 41 S. Central Avenue, Clayton, MO 63105
Phone: 314-615-7100
Email: Recorder@stlouiscountymo.gov
Visit tip: call before going because public-counter hours, walk-in cutoffs, copy pickup and payment rules may change.
Which office should you contact?
Recorder: deeds, liens, releases, plats, marriage-license copies and property-fraud alerts.
Assessor: locator number, parcel details, assessed value, owner display and property characteristics.
Collector: property-tax payments, tax receipts, tax bills and delinquent tax questions.
Attorney/title company: deed preparation, ownership disputes, title defects and legal advice.
Recording gives public notice that a document was filed. It does not prove that the document was legally sufficient, fraud-free or the best document for your situation.
Map and arrival
Map to the St. Louis County Recorder of Deeds
41 S. Central Avenue, Clayton, MO 63105
The Recorder of Deeds is in the St. Louis County Government Center area in Clayton.
Bring the document, payment method, return envelope if needed, parcel/locator information, and any document number or book/page reference you already have.
For copies, bring the property address, owner name, approximate purchase date and document type.
Search guide
How to Search St. Louis County Deeds and Recorded Documents
Start with the official County deed-search page if you need a recorded deed, deed of trust, release, lien, subdivision plat or other land record.
Start with the Assessor’s real-estate search if you only need parcel, owner display, locator number, assessment or property-characteristic information.
-
Confirm the county.
Make sure the property is in St. Louis County, not the independent City of St. Louis.
-
Search the parcel first if needed.
Use the county real-estate search to get the locator number, owner display and deed index link.
Open County Real Estate SearchAfter opening: search by address, owner name, locator number or subdivision if the portal offers the option. Open the matching parcel and save the locator number, owner name and any deed index/book/page reference. -
Open the official deed-search page.
Use the Recorder’s deed search when you need the recorded document or recording index.
Open St. Louis County Deed SearchAfter opening: choose the search option that matches what you have. Try owner/grantor-grantee name, document number, book/page or property-related index details. Save the document number and book/page before ordering a copy. -
Use broader search only if the first search fails.
Remove middle initials, punctuation, trust suffixes, LLC punctuation and extra street words.
-
Order or print only the correct document.
Check instrument type, grantor, grantee, recording date and legal description before paying for copies.
Search troubleshooting
No result by address? Search the Assessor first and use the locator number or deed index information.
No result by owner? Try last name only, remove punctuation, omit “trustee,” and try prior owner names.
Wrong jurisdiction? Confirm whether the parcel is in St. Louis County or the City of St. Louis.
Need older chain of title? Use deed index details and consider professional title research or archival/genealogy resources.
Record decoder
How to Read a St. Louis County Recorded Document Result
Instrument type: tells you whether it is a warranty deed, quitclaim deed, deed of trust, release, lien, plat, easement or another recorded document.
Grantor: the person or entity giving, signing or releasing an interest.
Grantee: the person or entity receiving the interest or benefit.
Recording date and time: when the Recorder accepted the document for public record.
Book/page or document number: the reference needed for copy orders, title work and follow-up searches.
Legal description: the property description used in the document. Do not replace it with a short tax-assessor description when preparing a deed.
Locator number: useful for matching the recorded document to the county real-estate/assessment record.
A recorded deed is not the same as a title insurance policy, legal opinion or ownership guarantee. Ask a qualified attorney or title professional if title status matters.
Copies
How to Order a St. Louis County Deed Copy
Use the Recorder’s deed-copy order form when you need a copy by mail or cannot download the correct document online.
The form lists $1 for each additional page of the same document.
Add certification when an official stamped copy is required.
The form lists postage amounts based on number of documents, or you can include a stamped envelope.
-
Collect identifying details.
Use property address, owner name, approximate purchase date, document type, document number or book/page.
-
Open the deed-copy form.
Open Deed Copy Order Form
After opening: enter the property address, owner name, approximate purchase date and document type. If you already found the document number or book/page, add it to prevent a wrong-copy request.
-
Choose certified or non-certified.
Use certified if a lender, court, agency or title company specifically asks for a certified copy.
-
Mail payment and return information.
Make payment payable to the Recorder of Deeds and include a self-addressed stamped envelope or postage amount as instructed by the form.
Recording
How to Record a Deed or Land Document in St. Louis County
The Recorder accepts completed recordable documents. The office does not prepare deeds, choose the correct deed type or give legal advice.
County fee page lists $3 for each additional page.
Added if the document fails Missouri formatting standards.
State law controls paper, margins, signatures, legibility and first-page information.
Missouri recording format checklist
Pages: individual pages, one-sided, not permanently bound.
Ink and type: black or dark ink; type not smaller than 8-point.
Margins: first page needs a 3-inch top margin for recorder use; other margins must meet state standards.
Signatures: signatures must be in dark ink with names typed, printed or stamped below.
First page: document title, date, grantor names, grantee names, statutory addresses, legal description and required references should appear or be referenced.
Notary: many documents require proper notarization. Ask an attorney or title professional if unsure.
If you are transferring ownership, adding/removing a person, dealing with a trust, probate estate, divorce, beneficiary deed or lien release, get legal or title help before recording.
Marriage records
Marriage License Copies Through the St. Louis County Recorder
The St. Louis County Recorder also handles marriage-license copy requests for licenses issued by St. Louis County.
If the marriage license was issued by the City of St. Louis or another Missouri county, request it from that issuing recorder.
The 2026 county copy form lists $9 per certified license copy.
The form also lists $9 per certified application copy.
Use only when a certified copy is not required.
Property fraud alert
Free St. Louis County Property Fraud Alert
A property fraud alert does not block a recording. It can notify you when a name you registered appears on a newly recorded document.
It is useful for homeowners, trustees, landlords, heirs, businesses and anyone worried about fraudulent quitclaim deeds or suspicious filings.
Open Property Fraud AlertIf you receive notice of a document you do not recognize, contact the Recorder, a title professional, an attorney and law enforcement if fraud is suspected.
Avoid delays
Common St. Louis County Recorder Search and Filing Mistakes
Searching the City instead of the County: St. Louis City and St. Louis County have different recorder offices.
Using the tax address as the legal description: a tax description may be too short for recording a deed.
Assuming the Recorder prepares deeds: the office records documents; it does not draft legal instruments.
Skipping book/page or document number: copy requests are faster and more accurate when you include recording references.
Ignoring non-standard formatting: poor margins, small type, missing first-page information or unclear signatures can add cost or cause rejection.
Buying unnecessary “title lock” services: start with the county’s official fraud-alert tool and professional title/legal advice when needed.
Using property records for regulated screening: do not use deed or owner records for tenant, employment, credit, insurance or FCRA-regulated decisions.
Decision path
What Should You Do Next?
I need a copy of my deed: search the deed index first, then use the deed-copy order form if you cannot download the correct document.
I need to record a deed: confirm the document is complete, formatted, signed and notarized before taking it to the Recorder.
I need property value or locator details: start with the County Assessor real-estate search.
I need to pay taxes: contact the Collector, not the Recorder.
I think a deed is fraudulent: sign up for alerts, save evidence and contact the Recorder, a lawyer/title company and law enforcement.
I need to change legal ownership: talk to an attorney or title company before recording anything.
Important notice
Independent Information, Legal Caution and Property-Records Notice
This page is independent informational content. It is not the official website of St. Louis County, the Recorder of Deeds, the Assessor, the Collector or any government office.
It is not legal advice, title advice, tax advice or a substitute for a deed review by an attorney or title professional.
Recorder fees, forms, search tools, hours and counter procedures can change. Verify current instructions with the official Recorder page before visiting, mailing a request or recording a document.
Property and deed records are public-record references. Do not use them for employment screening, tenant screening, credit eligibility, insurance underwriting or any other FCRA-regulated consumer decision. This website is not a Consumer Reporting Agency.
FAQs
St. Louis County Recorder of Deeds FAQs
Where is the St. Louis County Recorder of Deeds located?
The Recorder of Deeds is at 41 S. Central Avenue, Clayton, MO 63105. Call 314-615-7100 before visiting to confirm current public-counter hours and service rules.
Is St. Louis County the same as the City of St. Louis for deeds?
No. St. Louis County and the City of St. Louis are separate recording jurisdictions with separate recorder offices and deed-search systems.
How do I search St. Louis County deeds online?
Use the official St. Louis County Recorder deed-search page. If you do not know the document number or book/page, start with the County real-estate search to find locator and deed-index details.
How much does it cost to record a deed in St. Louis County?
The county fee page lists $26 for the first page and $3 for each additional page. A $25 non-standard fee may apply if the document does not meet Missouri formatting requirements.
How do I order a copy of a St. Louis County deed?
Use the deed-copy order form with property address, owner name, document type and document number or book/page if known. The form lists $2 for the first page, $1 for each additional page and $1 additional for certification.
Can the Recorder prepare a deed for me?
No. The Recorder records completed documents. For deed preparation, ownership changes, trusts, probate, divorce or title problems, contact a qualified attorney or title professional.
What is the St. Louis County property fraud alert?
It is a notification tool that can alert you when a registered name appears on a newly recorded document. It does not block a recording, but it can help you notice suspicious activity quickly.
Does the Recorder handle property tax payments?
No. The Recorder handles recorded documents. Property-tax bills, payments and receipts are handled by the Collector. Assessed value and property characteristics are handled by the Assessor.
Can I use the Recorder search to prove ownership?
Recorded documents are public records, but a search result is not a title opinion. Use a title company or attorney when ownership, liens, priority or legal rights matter.
Where do I get a St. Louis County marriage-license copy?
Use the St. Louis County Recorder marriage-copy order form if the license was issued by St. Louis County. The 2026 form lists $9 for certified license or application copies and $2 for photocopies.
Official resources