Columbia Deed Records

Columbia deed records are kept by the Boone County Clerk, who also serves as the Recorder of Deeds. This combined office is a bit unusual in Missouri, where most counties have a separate recorder. With about 125,000 people, Columbia is the fourth largest city in the state and home to the University of Missouri. The university creates a high volume of real estate activity, from student housing sales to campus expansion projects. All warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, deeds of trust, releases, plats, and surveys for Columbia property go through the Boone County Clerk's office. You can search Columbia deed records in person at the Boone County Courthouse or through the county's online portal. Records go back to 1820, covering nearly the entire history of settlement in the area.

Boone County Clerk and Recorder

The Boone County Clerk's office handles all deed recordings for Columbia and the rest of Boone County. In most Missouri counties, the Recorder of Deeds is a separate elected position. In Boone County, the clerk and recorder functions are combined into one office. This does not change what records are available or how you access them. The office still maintains the same indexes and follows the same state recording laws.

Under RSMo Chapter 59, the Boone County Clerk maintains a Direct Index (by grantor) and an Indirect Index (by grantee) for all recorded documents. Each entry shows the names of the parties, date filed, book and page, document type, and legal description. Columbia deed records dating to 1820 are in this system. The office also handles marriage licenses and military discharge filings.

The Boone County government website has links to various county services. The City of Columbia website can help with planning, zoning, and other city-level property matters. For deed recordings specifically, the Boone County Clerk is the only office you need.

How to Search Columbia Deed Records

You can search Columbia deed records online or in person. The Boone County Clerk's office has an online search tool accessible through the county website. You will need the grantor or grantee name, an approximate date, or a book and page number. The online system covers recent decades of recordings. Older documents may require a visit to the courthouse.

In-person searches are available during business hours at the Boone County Courthouse. Staff can help you find records by name or by legal description. The office has public search stations. Call ahead to check current hours, especially around holidays. If you need a certified copy of a Columbia deed record, you will need to request it from the clerk's office directly.

E-recording is also available in Boone County. Title companies and attorneys can submit documents electronically through approved vendors. Per RSMo 59.563, recorders may accept documents in electronic format. This can get a deed recorded in minutes rather than days.

Columbia Deed Records Fees

Recording fees for Columbia deed records follow the statewide schedule set by Missouri law. A standard deed costs $24 for the first page and $3 for each additional page. Documents that do not meet formatting standards under RSMo 59.310 get a $25 non-standard penalty on top of the regular fee.

Plat recordings cost $44 for the first 18" x 24" page and $25 for additional pages. Surveys are $24 for the first page. Copy fees run about $1 per page for uncertified copies. Part of every recording fee goes to state funds: $1 to the Local Records Preservation Fund, $1 to the Missouri Land Survey Fund, and $3 to the Missouri Housing Trust Fund. Checks are payable to the Boone County Clerk.

Historical Columbia Deed Records

Boone County has deed records from 1820. That covers the entire period of American settlement in the Columbia area. For records from before 1969, the Missouri State Archives is another source. The Archives holds historical land records from French and Spanish land grants through 1969.

Columbia is home to the State Historical Society of Missouri, which has its main research center on the University of Missouri campus. The Historical Society has extensive collections of county histories, family papers, atlases, and property documents. This is one of the best places in the state for deep property research. The Missouri Land Survey Database can help verify legal descriptions for Columbia parcels.

Transfer on Death deeds work in Columbia the same as anywhere else in Missouri. Under RSMo 461.025, you can name a beneficiary to get your property when you die without going through probate. Record the deed with the Boone County Clerk before the owner's death. You can revoke it at any time by recording a revocation.

Public Access to Columbia Deed Records

Columbia deed records are public. The Missouri Sunshine Law under RSMo Chapter 610 gives everyone the right to inspect and copy government records. No reason required. Walk into the Boone County Clerk's office during business hours and look up any deed record on file.

Some records have restrictions. Military discharge records need a notarized request form. UCC filings at the county level are limited to fixture filings. All other UCC filings go through the Missouri Secretary of State's office. The Secretary of State does not have a branch office in Columbia, so those filings go through the main office in Jefferson City or online.

Nearby Cities

Columbia sits in central Missouri, with Independence being the nearest major city that has its own deed records page on this site.