Mission Statement "To record, preserve and provide timely public access to official recorded documents; to provide record preservation and retrieval services for Executive and Judicial Agencies of Jackson County; and to issue State of Missouri Marriage Licenses."

Welcome to the Recorder of Deeds Department!  It is an honor to serve you. We hope you will find our website easy to understand and navigate. If you need additional assistance, please call us at (816) 881-3192. Thank You!

Every workday, at our Independence and Kansas City recording offices, we receive 800 to 1,000 document submissions from citizens seeking to record documents so that they can be placed in the “public record.” By placing a document in the "public record", notice has been given to alert others of an action that has taken place.

Over 90% of documents recorded with our Department relate to land transactions such as real estate deeds, mortgages, assignments, releases, liens and associated documents. The remaining 10% of document submissions involve approximately ninety other types of documents including affidavits, agreements, judgments, power of attorney, and financing statements.

In addition to recording documents we also have the important responsibility of issuing State of Missouri Marriage Licenses. Nearly 6,000 couples come to our offices annually to complete a marriage application and receive their marriage license. We issue almost 1 out of every 6 licenses issued throughout the 114 counties in Missouri.

It is also the responsibility of our Department to manage and operate the Jackson County Records Center. This underground, climate-controlled facility (…the size of an NFL football field!) maintains and preserves executive and judicial branch records dating back to the beginning of our County in 1826. Over 80,000 file boxes contain various agency records including civil, criminal, election, probate, and executive branch records.

Recorder of Deeds Services

Our professional-trained staff provide document recording/copy services, issue marriage licenses and assists in research/genealogy searches. (Please keep in mind that we are not attorneys and cannot offer legal advice. If you have questions relating to the preparation or legality of a document, we advise you to consult with an attorney.)

As an alternative to driving to the Courthouse to conduct your business, by accessing this website we offer E-Government solutions to document recording or record searches. (If you are interested in E-Recording , please contact us at (816) 881-3191.)  For record searches of our electronic database you may search documents recorded after 1968 by clicking here.

For additional information related to our services, please click on any of the following items:

Search and Copy Services (PDF)
Recording and Copy Fees (PDF)
Recording Requirements (PDF)
Military Discharge Request Form (PDF)
Redaction Request Form (PDF)
Frequently Asked Questions
Glossary of Terms