Chariton County Deed Records

Chariton County deed records are held by the Recorder of Deeds in Keytesville, Missouri. The county was organized in 1820, the year before Missouri became a state, and land records date back to those earliest years of settlement. Chariton County sits along the Grand River in north-central Missouri, and much of the land is agricultural. The recorder's office maintains warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, deeds of trust, releases, plats, surveys, and all other real estate instruments that affect property within Chariton County borders.

Chariton County Recorder of Deeds

The Chariton County Recorder of Deeds office is in Keytesville at the county courthouse. This small rural office handles all deed recording for property in Chariton County. Under RSMo Chapter 59, the recorder maintains both a Direct Index (by grantor) and an Indirect Index (by grantee). Each entry lists party names, date filed, book and page, type of instrument, and the property description.

Chariton County is one of the oldest counties in Missouri. Land records from the 1820s show the original settlement patterns along the Grand River and the Missouri River to the south. Many Chariton County deed records involve farmland transfers that have been in the same families for generations. Staff at the recorder's office can help you search by name, book and page, or legal description.

The Recorders' Association of Missouri has contact details for the Chariton County recorder and all other county recorder offices in Missouri. RAM provides recording guidelines and document formatting standards that apply statewide. Their website is a good starting point if you need phone numbers or office hours for the Chariton County office.

Search Chariton County Deed Records Online

Online access to Chariton County deed records may be available through a vendor platform. Some smaller Missouri counties have set up web-based search tools through companies like iCounty Technologies or Fidlar Technologies. These platforms let you search by grantor, grantee, document type, or date. Contact the Chariton County Recorder of Deeds for the latest on available online options.

For in-person searches, visit the courthouse in Keytesville during business hours. The recorder's office has indexes you can search on your own. Copies cost about $1 per page for uncertified versions. Certified copies are a bit more. Since Chariton County is a smaller office, it is a good idea to call ahead and check the hours. Some rural Missouri recorder offices close for lunch or keep shorter afternoon schedules.

Whether or not Chariton County has e-recording set up, the option is authorized by RSMo 59.563. Missouri counties can accept electronic submissions for warranty deeds, deeds of trust, releases, and other standard documents. This service is optional at the county level, and not all rural counties have adopted it yet.

Chariton County Recording Fees

Chariton County deed records follow the statewide fee schedule. Standard documents cost $24 for the first page and $3 for each page after. Plats are $44 for the first 18" x 24" page. Surveys cost $24 for the first page. These fees are set by Missouri law and are the same in all 114 counties.

A $25 non-standard penalty applies if your document does not meet the requirements of RSMo 59.310. White 8.5" x 11" paper, black ink, 8-point type minimum, and a 3-inch top margin on the first page are all required. The first page must also show the document title, date, all grantor and grantee names, addresses, and legal description. Part of each fee goes to the Local Records Preservation Fund, Missouri Land Survey Fund, and Missouri Housing Trust Fund.

Types of Chariton County Deed Records

The Chariton County recorder files warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, deeds of trust, releases, assignments, sheriff's deeds, and other real estate instruments. Many recordings in this agricultural county involve farm transfers, easements for utilities, and conservation easements. Under RSMo 442.380, every conveyance of real estate must be recorded in the county where the property sits.

Missouri recognizes Transfer on Death deeds under RSMo 461.025. These are popular in rural Missouri for passing family farmland without going through probate. The deed must be recorded with the Chariton County Recorder before the owner's death. The owner keeps full control and can revoke or change the deed at any time during their life.

Historical Chariton County Land Records

Chariton County deed records begin in 1820. The Missouri State Archives holds historical Chariton County records from those early years through 1969. The Archives has land patents, plat books, and surveyor records. Their Land Patents Database has over 35,500 transcribed patents you can search by name and county. Per RSMo 59.003, requests for Chariton County deed records after December 31, 1969 go to the county recorder.

The Missouri Land Survey Database covers surveys in Chariton County. The State Historical Society of Missouri has research centers with land document collections that may include Chariton County records from the Grand River region.

Are Chariton County Deed Records Public

Yes. The Missouri Sunshine Law under RSMo Chapter 610 makes Chariton County deed records open to the public. Anyone can inspect and copy recorded documents without giving a reason. Military discharge records (DD-214) are the exception; they need a notarized request under RSMo 59.480. All other deed records are freely accessible.

Nearby County Deed Records

Chariton County is in north-central Missouri along the Grand River. These neighboring counties have their own recorder offices for cross-county property searches.