I own a home in Missouri
Property taxes, exemptions, deeds, and assessment notices.
MISSOURI GUIDE
Life in Missouri comes
with its own rules.
Know what comes next.
From personal property tax and the paid receipt for your plates to the Recorder of Deeds, tornado season, and starting a business, CountyOffices gives you clear Missouri-specific guidance for the things that matter.
Reviewed against official Missouri government sources • Updated as laws and requirements change
What brings you here today?
I own a home in Missouri
Missouri property tax runs through your county Assessor and Collector, and if you're 62 or older (or otherwise eligible for Social Security retirement benefits, whether or not you're drawing on them), check whether your county has opted into the state's senior property tax freeze under Senate Bill 190 (2023) - it effectively locks in your property tax bill at the level from the year you became eligible, but participation is entirely county-by-county, not automatic statewide, so confirm with your county Collector whether yours has adopted it. Separately, Missouri's long-standing Property Tax Credit ("circuit breaker") offers eligible seniors and disabled residents a credit based on income and property tax paid, up to $1,100 for homeowners and $750 for renters, filed through your state income tax return regardless of which county you live in. Deeds are recorded with the county Recorder of Deeds, and if you own a vehicle, remember you'll need a paid personal property tax receipt from your county Collector to renew your license plates each year - a genuinely distinctive Missouri requirement.
Sources: Missouri Dept. of Revenue, Missouri Senate, county Assessor and Collector offices
I'm buying or selling property
Closings, title searches, deeds, recording fees, and property records.
I'm buying or selling property
Missouri closings typically go through a title company, with deeds recorded by the county Recorder of Deeds (or, in the City of St. Louis, its own independent Recorder - St. Louis City is not part of St. Louis County and runs entirely separate offices). A title search through the Recorder's records confirms there are no outstanding liens before closing. Once you buy, remember Missouri property tax runs on a real property and personal property split: your home's real property tax goes through the county Assessor and Collector, while any vehicles you own require a separate annual personal property tax declaration and payment - and you'll need a paid personal property tax receipt to renew vehicle plates, so if you've just moved to Missouri, get this set up promptly. If you're 62 or older, check with your specific county whether it has opted into the state's senior property tax freeze (SB 190), since adoption varies by county and isn't automatic statewide.
Sources: county Recorder of Deeds and Assessor offices, Missouri Dept. of Revenue
I'm preparing for tornado season
Safe rooms, weather alerts, insurance documents, and county resources.
I'm preparing for tornado season
Missouri sits at the eastern edge of Tornado Alley and the northern reach of Dixie Alley both, with risk peaking in spring through early summer, though tornadoes can occur nearly any time of year - the 2011 Joplin tornado remains one of the deadliest in U.S. history, a reminder of how seriously Missouri communities take storm preparedness. Before storms threaten, know whether your home or neighborhood has access to a safe room or community shelter, and know your county's specific weather alert system, since notification methods vary from county to county across Missouri's 115 jurisdictions. After a tornado, your county Assessor can reassess storm-damaged property, and the county Recorder of Deeds holds the property records you'll need for insurance and any FEMA claims if a federal disaster is declared. If you're rebuilding, check with your county or city building department about permit requirements before starting repairs.
Sources: Missouri State Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, county Emergency Management offices
Someone passed away
Probate Division, wills, estates, and county filing steps.
Someone passed away
Probate in Missouri runs through the Probate Division of Circuit Court, one per county, handling estates, wills, and guardianships. Missouri follows the Uniform Probate Code, offering informal probate for straightforward, uncontested estates (avoiding a full court hearing) alongside formal probate for anything contested. Missouri also offers a small estate affidavit process for estates under a statutory value threshold, letting heirs collect certain assets without opening full probate. If the deceased was participating in a county senior property tax freeze (available where the county has adopted SB 190) or the state Property Tax Credit, neither transfers automatically to heirs - whoever inherits and occupies the home needs to independently qualify and apply. Property records for any real estate in the estate are held by the county Recorder of Deeds, separate from the Probate Division handling the case. If the deceased lived in the City of St. Louis, remember it's an independent jurisdiction with its own Probate Division and Recorder, entirely separate from St. Louis County.
Sources: Missouri Courts, Missouri Probate Code (Chapter 472-475 RSMo)
I'm getting married or divorced
Marriage licenses, divorce filing, name changes, and official records.
I'm getting married or divorced
Marriage licenses in Missouri are issued by the county Recorder of Deeds - the same office that records property deeds, a genuinely different pairing than most states use. Missouri has eliminated its former 3-day waiting period entirely, so you can apply and marry the same day; the license is valid for 30 days. Divorce (Missouri calls it "dissolution of marriage") is filed in Circuit Court, and Missouri requires 90 days of residency before filing, with a mandatory 30-day waiting period after filing before a judge can finalize the case - a period that can't be waived even in a fully uncontested divorce. Missouri is a pure no-fault state, using only "irretrievably broken" as grounds since eliminating fault-based grounds entirely, and courts divide marital property under an equitable distribution standard. Once final, there's no additional waiting period to remarry - you can apply for a new marriage license at any county Recorder of Deeds office right away.
Sources: Missouri Courts, county Recorder of Deeds offices, Missouri Revised Statutes §452
I'm caring for an aging parent
Senior services, tax freezes, benefits, and estate planning information.
I'm caring for an aging parent
If your parent is 62 or older, check whether their county has adopted the senior property tax freeze under Senate Bill 190 (2023) - it locks in property tax at the level from the year they became eligible for Social Security retirement benefits, but adoption is entirely up to each individual county, so this genuinely isn't available everywhere yet; call your parent's county Collector to check. Separately, Missouri's long-standing Property Tax Credit ("circuit breaker") is available statewide, offering eligible seniors and disabled residents a credit based on income and property tax paid, up to $1,100 for homeowners, filed through the state income tax return. These two programs are distinct and can potentially both apply, so don't assume qualifying for one rules out the other. If your parent needs help managing property or finances, a durable power of attorney can avoid the need for court-supervised guardianship in many situations; guardianship itself, when necessary, goes through the Probate Division of Circuit Court. Remember that a paid personal property tax receipt is required annually to renew any vehicle your parent owns, so keep that current alongside real property tax.
Sources: Missouri Dept. of Revenue, Missouri Senate, county Collector offices
I need an official record
Birth, death, marriage, court, property, and business records.
I need an official record
Birth and death certificates come from the Missouri Dept. of Health and Senior Services' Bureau of Vital Records, though local public health agencies can also assist. Marriage records are held by the county Recorder of Deeds where the license was issued - the same office as property records, a distinctive Missouri combination. Property records - deeds, mortgages, liens - are recorded and searchable through the county Recorder of Deeds, generally free to search in person with a fee for certified copies. Court records for civil and criminal cases come from the Circuit Clerk; probate, estate, and guardianship records are held separately by the Probate Division of Circuit Court, though often through the same Circuit Clerk's office administratively. Business entity records are filed with the Missouri Secretary of State, searchable statewide. Personal property tax receipts (needed for vehicle registration) and real property tax bills come from the county Collector, and the City of St. Louis maintains entirely independent versions of all these offices, separate from St. Louis County.
Sources: Missouri Dept. of Health and Senior Services, county Recorder of Deeds and Circuit Clerk offices, Missouri Secretary of State
I'm starting or running a business
Licenses, permits, EIN, sales tax, and local requirements.
I'm starting or running a business
Registering a business in Missouri starts with the Secretary of State, where you file to form an LLC or corporation and register a trade name. From there, most businesses register with the Missouri Dept. of Revenue for a sales tax license if they'll sell taxable goods or services, and get an EIN from the IRS if they're not a sole proprietor with no employees. Local business licenses and zoning approval vary by county and city, so check both levels for your specific location. If you'll own commercial vehicles, remember Missouri handles vehicle titling and plate renewal through privately-run contract license offices, not a state-staffed DMV - these are independently operated businesses under contract with the state, so hours and specific services can vary from office to office even within the same area. You'll also need a paid personal property tax receipt from your county Collector to register or renew any business vehicle. Business real estate is assessed by your county Assessor the same way residential property is.
Sources: Missouri Secretary of State, Missouri Dept. of Revenue, IRS
How-To Guides for Missouri
How do I access court records?
Read guide →How do I appeal my property tax assessment?
Read guide →How do I find an inmate or search a jail roster?
Read guide →How do I find and access senior services?
Read guide →How do I get a business license?
Read guide →How do I get a copy of a birth certificate?
Read guide →How do I get a copy of a death certificate?
Read guide →How do I get a marriage license?
Read guide →How do I pay my property taxes?
Read guide →How do I register to vote or check my registration?
Read guide →How to Research Your Family History in Missouri
Read guide →Missouri Statewide Probate Guide
Read guide →Open Records
Read guide →Missouri works differently. Here's what to know.
Personal Property Tax on Vehicles
You pay the county on your car each year and need the paid receipt to renew your plates.
Personal Property Tax on Vehicles
Most states fold vehicle costs into registration fees or a modest excise tax. Missouri takes a more direct approach: your car, truck, boat, or other titled personal property is taxed annually by your county, calculated on the assessed value the same way real property tax works, billed separately from your home's property tax. This creates a real practical dependency: to renew your vehicle's license plates, you need a paid personal property tax receipt (or a statement of non-assessment if you didn't own a taxable vehicle) from your county Collector - you genuinely cannot renew plates without it. This trips up new Missouri residents constantly, since many states don't tax vehicles this way at all, and it means an unpaid personal property tax bill has real, immediate consequences beyond just the tax itself. Pay by December 31 each year to avoid penalties and to keep your receipt current for whenever your specific plate renewal comes due.
Sources: Missouri Dept. of Revenue, county Collector offices
Declare by March 1
Each year you file a personal property declaration with the Assessor listing what you own.
Declare by March 1
Because Missouri taxes personal property (mainly vehicles, but also boats, trailers, and certain business equipment) the same as real estate, you're required to file an annual personal property declaration with your county Assessor by March 1 each year, listing everything taxable you owned as of January 1. This isn't a one-time registration - it's an annual filing obligation, and many counties now offer online declaration systems, but the requirement to actually file each year doesn't go away just because your vehicle roster hasn't changed. Missing the March 1 deadline can trigger a late-filing penalty added to your personal property tax bill later in the year. This March 1 declaration deadline is separate from the December 31 deadline to actually pay the resulting tax bill - two different dates for two different steps in the same process, and missing either one has separate consequences.
Sources: Missouri Dept. of Revenue, county Assessor offices, Missouri Revised Statutes §137.080
Probate Division of Circuit Court
Estates, wills, and guardianships run through the Probate Division in your county.
Probate Division of Circuit Court
Missouri doesn't run a separate probate-only court - estates, wills, and guardianships are handled by the Probate Division within each county's Circuit Court, one division among several (family, civil, criminal, and probate) that make up the full Circuit Court system. This means the same courthouse, and sometimes overlapping administrative staff, handles probate matters alongside the county's other civil litigation, a structural choice some states avoid by keeping probate entirely separate. Missouri follows the Uniform Probate Code, so procedures are relatively standardized statewide, and the Probate Division offers both informal probate for straightforward, uncontested estates and formal probate for anything contested. If you're settling an estate in Missouri, you're filing with the Circuit Court in the county where the deceased lived - specifically its Probate Division - rather than looking for a separate "Probate Court" building, which doesn't exist as a standalone entity in Missouri's court structure.
Sources: Missouri Courts, Missouri Probate Code (Chapters 472-475 RSMo)
The City of St. Louis Stands Alone
St. Louis City separated from the county in 1876 and runs its own city-county offices.
The City of St. Louis Stands Alone
The City of St. Louis separated from St. Louis County in 1876 - a deliberate historical split, not a naming coincidence - and today functions as an independent city entirely outside county government, the way a handful of other U.S. cities (like Baltimore) also operate. This means the City of St. Louis runs its own Recorder of Deeds, its own Circuit Court and Probate Division, its own Assessor and Collector, and every other function a Missouri county would otherwise provide - St. Louis City is genuinely its own jurisdiction, equivalent in legal standing to any of Missouri's 114 actual counties, not a subdivision of St. Louis County. If you're searching for records, filing court paperwork, or handling any local government business connected to the City of St. Louis, confirm you're dealing with the City's own offices rather than St. Louis County's - the two have separate courthouses, separate staff, and no overlap in jurisdiction despite the shared name and adjacent geography.
Sources: Missouri State Archives, City of St. Louis government
Contract License Offices
Plates and driver licenses come from privately run license offices, not a state DMV counter.
Contract License Offices
Unlike most states, where a government-staffed DMV runs every location, Missouri contracts out its roughly 180+ license offices to independent operators - companies, individuals, or nonprofits that bid competitively for the right to run a specific office and collect a portion of the fees, all overseen by the state Dept. of Revenue. These offices issue driver's licenses and vehicle registrations and plates, handling the same functions a state-run DMV would elsewhere, but the specific business running your local office can change over time as contracts turn over through the bid process - an office you visited last year might be under entirely new management now. Hours, exact services, and even the physical location can shift when a contract changes hands, so it's worth checking the state's license office locator before visiting rather than assuming last year's information is current. This system exists partly to keep smaller, rural offices financially viable in a way a purely state-run network might struggle to sustain.
Sources: Missouri Dept. of Revenue
Senior Tax Relief Options
Missouri offers a property tax credit, and many counties now freeze taxes for seniors.
Senior Tax Relief Options
Missouri layers two genuinely different senior property tax relief programs, and they're not the same thing. The state's long-standing Property Tax Credit ("circuit breaker"), available since 1973, offers eligible seniors and disabled residents a credit based on income and property tax paid, up to $1,100 for homeowners and $750 for renters, filed through the state income tax return - this applies statewide with no county-by-county variation. Separately, Senate Bill 190 (2023) created a genuinely different mechanism: a property tax freeze locking in the tax bill at the level from the year a homeowner becomes eligible for Social Security retirement benefits (as early as 62). But SB 190 is opt-in by county - each county must adopt its own ordinance (or put it to a public vote) to participate, so it is not automatically available statewide, and some counties have opted out entirely, leaving it to voters to decide via ballot petition. These two programs can potentially stack for an eligible senior, so check both with your county Collector rather than assuming one covers everything.
Sources: Missouri Dept. of Revenue, Missouri Senate, Missouri Budget Project
The questions Missouri residents actually ask
Missouri county records benefit from some of the strongest statewide online infrastructure in the Midwest. Case.net at casenet.courts.mo.gov provides free Circuit Court case searching across all 45 judicial circuits statewide. Many Recorder of Deeds offices provide online deed searching through county websites. The Missouri State Archives offers digitized historical county records through its online portal. Vital records require ordering through the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records. The Missouri Secretary of State provides free online business entity searching. For Missouri county records not available online, the Sunshine Law at Missouri Revised Statutes Chapter 610 requires agencies to respond within three business days.
Missouri birth and death certificates from 1910 onward are maintained by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City. Certified copies can be ordered online through VitalChek, by mail, or in person at the Jefferson City office. Birth records are restricted to the individual named, immediate family members, and legal representatives. Pre-1910 births and deaths are found in county registers, church records, and census materials held by the Missouri State Archives. Some Missouri county records for births before 1910 survive in local registers maintained at the county level before statewide recording began.
Missouri county records for real property are held by the Recorder of Deeds in the county where the property is located. The Recorder maintains deeds, deeds of trust, mortgages, and plats. Many Missouri counties provide online deed searching through the Recorder's website or through the Missouri land records statewide portal. Property tax assessment records are held by the County Assessor, and tax collection records are maintained by the Collector of Revenue. Researchers need to contact all three offices for a complete picture of a property's title history, assessed value, and tax payment record within Missouri county records.
Missouri's Case.net portal at casenet.courts.mo.gov provides free public access to Circuit Court case information across all 45 judicial circuits statewide. Case details include party names, charges, hearing dates, and case dispositions for civil, criminal, probate, and domestic relations matters. Actual case documents require contacting the Circuit Court Clerk in the county where the case was filed. Missouri county records for probate and estate matters are part of the Circuit Court's probate division. Fees for certified copies of court documents are set by Missouri Supreme Court rules. Case.net's comprehensive statewide coverage makes Missouri court records among the most accessible in the country.
The Missouri State Archives in Jefferson City is the primary repository for historical Missouri county records, holding transferred deed books, court minutes, probate files, and vital records from many of the state's 114 counties. The State Archives has digitized significant Missouri county records holdings accessible online. The State Historical Society of Missouri in Columbia holds extensive newspaper archives and manuscript collections. FamilySearch has digitized significant Missouri county records microfilm. County libraries and genealogical societies across the state hold local collections. For pre-1803 colonial research, the Missouri State Archives and the St. Louis Mercantile Library hold translated colonial documents.
Missouri's Sunshine Law at Missouri Revised Statutes Chapter 610 provides public access to government records and meetings. Submit a written or oral request to the custodian of records at the relevant county agency. The agency must respond within three business days, either providing access, citing a specific exemption, or explaining the need for additional time. No reason for the request is required. Fees are limited to actual costs of duplication and staff research time in certain cases. If a request is denied, the requester may appeal to the circuit court in the county where the records are held. Prevailing requesters may be awarded attorney fees for wrongful denial of Missouri county records.
The Recorder of Deeds in Missouri maintains property recording and marriage license records in a combined office. Missouri county records held by the Recorder include deeds, deeds of trust, mortgage instruments and releases, plats of subdivisions and surveys, mechanics' liens, UCC financing statements in some counties, and marriage licenses and marriage record books. The Recorder does not maintain court case records, which are held by the Circuit Court Clerk, or property assessment records, which are held by the County Assessor. For researchers, the Recorder of Deeds is the starting point for both property title research and marriage record research in Missouri.
Marriage licenses in Missouri are issued by the Recorder of Deeds in the county where the couple applied. To obtain a copy, contact the Recorder of Deeds with the names of both parties and the approximate marriage date. The Missouri Bureau of Vital Records holds statewide marriage records from 1948 onward and can provide certified copies. Historical marriage records before 1948 are found in Recorder of Deeds files and microfilm held by the Missouri State Archives. FamilySearch provides indexed and digitized Missouri marriage records from many counties. Early Missouri county records include marriage registers from the territorial period predating statehood in 1821.
Missouri criminal history records are maintained by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Criminal Justice Information Services Division. The public can request a criminal background check through the Highway Patrol online portal for a fee. Individual county-level criminal case records within Missouri county records are accessible through Case.net, which provides free statewide Circuit Court case searching. Certified criminal history information requires a formal Highway Patrol request with identifying information and applicable fees. Some Missouri records may be expunged under Missouri expungement statutes upon petition to the Circuit Court in the county of conviction.
Free access to Missouri county records for land varies by county. Many Recorder of Deeds offices provide free online deed searching through county websites or the Missouri land records statewide portal. Some counties charge subscription or per-document fees. Searching in person at the Recorder of Deeds is generally free. The Missouri State Archives provides free in-person access to historical Missouri county records including transferred deed books. FamilySearch provides free online access to digitized Missouri land records and vital records. Case.net provides completely free statewide court case searching including probate records.
St. Louis City separated constitutionally from St. Louis County in 1876 and has operated as an independent jurisdiction ever since, not part of any county. This means Missouri county records for St. Louis City are maintained by city offices rather than a county government. The St. Louis City Recorder of Deeds maintains land records, the St. Louis City Circuit Court Clerk maintains court records, and city agencies handle other functions that county offices perform elsewhere in Missouri. Researchers must specify St. Louis City or St. Louis County when requesting records, as they are entirely separate jurisdictions. Some researchers also confuse the City with St. Louis County, which surrounds the city and has its own county seat in Clayton.
Fees for Missouri county records vary by record type and county. Missouri's Sunshine Law limits copying fees to the actual cost of reproduction. Certified copies of deeds and recorded instruments carry per-page fees set by state statute. The Missouri Bureau of Vital Records charges fixed fees for certified copies of birth, death, and marriage certificates. Circuit Court fees for copies of case documents are set by Missouri Supreme Court rules. Collector of Revenue fees for certified tax records vary by county. Contacting the relevant office before submitting a request is the best way to confirm current fee schedules and available delivery options.
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Important Deadlines in Missouri
Missouri's personal property declaration - listing every taxable vehicle, boat, trailer, or piece of farm equipment you owned as of January 1 - is due to your county Assessor by March 1 each year.
Important Deadlines in Missouri
Missouri's personal property declaration - listing every taxable vehicle, boat, trailer, or piece of farm equipment you owned as of January 1 - is due to your county Assessor by March 1 each year. Miss it and a real, tiered late penalty applies ($15 to $105+ depending on assessed value), though many counties waive the penalty for declarations filed by May 1. This declaration genuinely matters beyond the penalty: you're taxed on whatever you owned January 1, even if you later sold it, and you need your paid personal property tax receipt to renew your state license plates, so a missed or unpaid declaration can directly block your vehicle registration. Tax bills, mailed in the fall once rates are set, are due by December 31 - a payment postmarked after that date faces interest and penalties. If you disagree with your assessed value, informal appeals typically run through May, and the formal deadline to file with your county Board of Equalization is generally the second Monday in July (dates can shift slightly by county, so confirm locally). New Missouri residents genuinely enter the assessment cycle the January 1 after they arrive - moving here mid-year means your first personal property tax bill isn't due until the following December.
Sources: Missouri State Tax Commission, county Assessor and Collector offices, RSMo §137.080, §137.280, and §137.345
Assessment Appeals in Missouri
If you disagree with your property's assessed value, Missouri offers a genuinely two-stage process worth starting early.
Assessment Appeals in Missouri
If you disagree with your property's assessed value, Missouri offers a genuinely two-stage process worth starting early. Informal appeals with your county Assessor typically run through May - a real opportunity to resolve a disagreement directly before it becomes formal, and many disputes genuinely get settled this way. If informal resolution doesn't work, the formal deadline to file with your county Board of Equalization is generally the second Monday in July (specific dates can shift slightly by county, so confirm locally). Missouri assesses different property types at genuinely different percentages of true value - personal property at 33.3%, residential real property at 19%, agricultural real property at 12%, and other real property at 32% - so understand which category applies to your specific property when evaluating whether your assessment is accurate. Bring real supporting evidence: comparable sales, an independent appraisal, or documentation of a factual error in your property's characteristics. Taxpayers who don't act can see meaningful assessment increases (up to 20% in some reported cases) go unchallenged, so genuinely worth reviewing your notice each cycle rather than assuming it's accurate. If the Board of Equalization doesn't resolve things in your favor, further appeal to the Missouri State Tax Commission, and beyond that to circuit court, remains available.
Read the full property tax appeal guide →
Sources: Missouri State Tax Commission, county Assessor and Board of Equalization offices, RSMo §137.115 and §138.060
Public Records Access in Missouri
Missouri's Sunshine Law presumes that records held by state and local government agencies are open to public inspection, and like most states' open-records laws, you generally don't need to explain your reason for a request or demonstrate a personal interest in the records.
Public Records Access in Missouri
Missouri's Sunshine Law presumes that records held by state and local government agencies are open to public inspection, and like most states' open-records laws, you generally don't need to explain your reason for a request or demonstrate a personal interest in the records. Agencies must respond within 3 business days, and cite a specific statutory exemption if a request is denied - common exemptions include certain law enforcement investigative records, personnel and medical information, and other categories the legislature has carved out. Real estate records - deeds, mortgages, liens - are recorded with the county Recorder of Deeds. Probate and estate records come from the Probate Division of the Circuit Court in your county. Business entity records are filed with the Missouri Secretary of State, searchable statewide. Property valuation and appeal records go through your county Assessor, while tax billing and collection run through the county Collector - two separate offices, and you'll genuinely need your Collector-issued paid tax receipt to renew vehicle license plates through the state. Remember the City of St. Louis has operated independently of any county since 1876, running its own complete set of these offices - Recorder, Assessor, Collector, Circuit Court - separate from surrounding St. Louis County. If a Sunshine Law request is denied, disputes can ultimately go to circuit court, and Missouri's law allows for real financial penalties against agencies found to have knowingly violated it.
Read the full open records guide →
Sources: Missouri Attorney General's Office, RSMo Chapter 610 (Sunshine Law), county Recorder of Deeds, Assessor, and Collector offices
Storm & Recovery Help in Missouri
Missouri faces genuine tornado risk with peak season running spring through early summer, and the state's location genuinely straddles the transition between southern and midwestern storm patterns, giving it real exposure to both severe thunderstorm outbreaks and significant tornado events.
Storm & Recovery Help in Missouri
Missouri faces genuine tornado risk with peak season running spring through early summer, and the state's location genuinely straddles the transition between southern and midwestern storm patterns, giving it real exposure to both severe thunderstorm outbreaks and significant tornado events. Know your county's warning system and, if you have one, your safe room or storm shelter location before severe weather season starts. Missouri has supported residential and community safe room grant programs given the state's tornado history - check with your county Emergency Management office about current program availability. Your county Emergency Management Agency coordinates local response and maintains current warning information during active weather events. After a tornado or storm causes damage, your county Assessor can adjust your property's valuation to reflect the damage, and if a federal disaster is declared, FEMA assistance becomes available for both individual homeowners and local government recovery costs. Insurance claims should be filed promptly with documentation (photos, a written inventory, receipts for emergency repairs). Building permits for storm repairs and rebuilds go through your county or city building department, and rules can differ depending on whether you're rebuilding in a floodplain versus simply repairing storm damage elsewhere - remember Missouri's rivers, including the Missouri and Mississippi, also bring real flood risk in many counties beyond severe storm season.
Sources: Missouri State Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, county Emergency Management Agency and Assessor offices
New to Missouri?
As a new Missouri resident, check with a privately run contract license office (Missouri uses these instead of a state-run DMV counter for plates and driver's licenses) for the current specific window to transfer your license and register your vehicle.
New to Missouri?
As a new Missouri resident, check with a privately run contract license office (Missouri uses these instead of a state-run DMV counter for plates and driver's licenses) for the current specific window to transfer your license and register your vehicle. Genuinely important: your first personal property tax obligation doesn't begin until the January 1 following your move - if you arrive mid-year, you're not assessed on what you own until the next January 1, and you won't owe or pay that tax until the following December. Once you do own property here, remember you need a paid personal property tax receipt from your county Collector to renew your state license plates each year - a real, practical link between two offices that catches newcomers off guard. File your personal property declaration (listing vehicles, boats, and similar items) with your county Assessor by March 1 each year going forward. Register to vote through your county Clerk's office. If you're settling in St. Louis, confirm whether you're in the independent City of St. Louis or St. Louis County - they've run entirely separate governments since 1876, with separate Assessor, Collector, and Recorder offices. Property deeds are recorded with the county Recorder of Deeds; estate matters go through the Probate Division of Circuit Court.
Sources: Missouri Dept. of Revenue, Missouri State Tax Commission, county Assessor, Collector, and Recorder of Deeds offices
Find the services available in your county
Missouri laws apply statewide, but offices, services, procedures and local requirements can vary by county. Select your county for verified local offices, services and official resources.
All 115 Missouri jurisdictions
Browse every county, plus the City of St. Louis, and its seat.
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Sources and References
- Missouri Sunshine Law, Missouri Revised Statutes Chapter 610
- Missouri State Archives: sos.mo.gov/archives
- Missouri Bureau of Vital Records: health.mo.gov/data/vitalrecords
- Missouri Case.net: casenet.courts.mo.gov
- Missouri Secretary of State, Business: sos.mo.gov/business
- State Historical Society of Missouri: shsmo.org
- Missouri State Highway Patrol, CJIS: mshp.dps.missouri.gov
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