Recorder of Deeds
Official Name: Danyelle Baker, Bates County Recorder of Deeds
Bates County Administration Building
103 W Dakota, Room 3
Butler, MO 64730
660-386-7776 Opt 5
Employees: Stephanie Austin- Chief Deputy
Robin Kuhns- Deputy
Online search is available!
To search online, please visit batesmo.icounty.com
- You will have to register with icounty
- You can contact icounty at 816-295-1540
Duties of the Recorder of Deeds:
●The Recorder of Deeds Office is a place where all transactions having to do with land are recorded and kept in a permanent file. This is where land records are kept. Bates County land records start in 1840.
●The Recorder of Deeds Office takes marriage license applications, issues marriage licenses, files the license after the marriage, and maintains a permanent record of the marriage. Bates County marriage records start in 1860.
●The Recorder’s Office records surveys and plats of subdivisions.
●The Recorder’s Office records and files copies of Armed Forces discharge papers for all veterans who reside in the county. This is a free service.
●Federal and state tax liens are filed in the Recorders Office.
●The Recorder’s Office DOES NOT perform lien searches, title searches or land research.
Document Formatting Standards RSMo 59.005, 59.310, and 59.313
STANDARD DOCUMENTS
- 8-1/2″ x 11″ paper
- White, 20# paper without watermarks or logos
- Printed in black or dark ink on one side only
- No continuous forms or permanent binding
- Minimum 8-point type. (Note: nonessential information within any margin is exempt from this requirement.)
- Signatures must be in black or dark ink to insure reproduction from record
- All signatures must have the name typed, stamped, or printed underneath
FIRST PAGE DESIGNATIONS
*Every document (except plats and surveys) containing any of the following items shall have such information on the first page of the document below the 3″ margin:
1. Title of the document
2. Date of the document
3. All grantors’ names with martial status
4. All grantees’ names
5. Any statutory addresses
6. Legal Description –may be referenced to page legal located
7. Reference book and pages if required
COVER PAGES
*A cover page for the document is not required, but a filer may choose to present a cover page and it will recorded as the first page of the document. The cover page must have the top 3″ margin and include first page designations.
*If a document is presented for re-recording, in addition to all other requirements, there must be a new first page or cover sheet with the top 3″ and the required first page designations.
EXEMPT DOCUMENTS FROM THE FORMATTING REQUIREMENTS
*Documents signed prior to January 1, 2002
*Military separation papers
*Documents executed outside the United States
*Certified copies of documents, including birth and death certificates
*Any document where one of the original parties is deceased or incapacitated
*Judgments or other documents formatted to meet court requirements
*Fixtures Filings on the National Approved UCC Forms.
FEES
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| *Standard | Document that meet both the statutory requirements and formatting standards will have only the per page recording fee schedule applied. |
| *Non-Standard | Documents that meet the statutory requirements, but do not meet the formatting standards will have the per page recording fee plus an additional $25.00 per document penalty applied. |
| *Exempt | Documents that meet the statutory requirements, but are exempt from the formatting standards will have only the per page recording fee schedule applied. Note: For a document that releases or assigns more than one item, there isa a $5.00 per each additional item charge. |
REJECTIONS
All documents that are rejected must be returned with a reason for rejection.
APPLICATION FOR MARRIAGE LICENSE
PLEASE NOTE: License is issued same day of application. Once the license is issued, it is good for thirty (30) days–you have thirty (30) days to use it. The license can be used anywhere in the state of Missouri.
Effective August 28, 2025, the minimum age for marriage in Missouri is 18 years old.
REQUIREMENTS IF BOTH BRIDE AND GROOM ARE OVER THE AGE OF 18
- Both parties must apply in person at the Recorder’s Office.
- Both must show Valid Photo ID and provide Social Security Number.
- If either party has been married before, must know the date (Month & Year) it ended
- Payment of $50 cash only (non-refundable) must be made at time of application. (No $100 bills)
- The marriage license must be returned, used or unused, to the Recorder’s office from which it was issued within 15 days after the marriage. Failure to make such return is a misdemeanor.
Fee Schedule for Non-Charter Counties
EFFECTIVE August 28, 2026
| Service | Fee |
| REAL ESTATE: | |
| Standard Document | |
| ~First Page | $26.00 |
| ~Each Additional Page | $3.00 |
| ~Non-Standard Document Fee (in addition to standard fee) | $25.00 |
| PLATS: | |
| ~First Page (18”x24”) | $46.00 |
| ~Each Additional Page | $25.00 |
| ~First Page (24”x36”) | $71.00 |
| ~Each Additional Page | $50.00 |
| SURVEYS: | |
| ~First Page (18”x24”) | $26.00 |
| ~Each Additional Page | $5.00 |
| ~First Page (24”x36”) | $31.00 |
| ~Each Additional Page | $10.00 |
| UCC FIXTURE FILINGS: on approved forms with required addendum | |
| ~First Page | $26.00 |
| ~Each Additional Page | $3.00 |
| (Overpayment will not be refunded) | |
| MARRIAGE LICENSES | $50.00 |
| Copy of Marriage Licenses | $1.00 |
| Certified Copy of Marriage Licenses | $9.00 |
| TAX LIENS | $9.00 |
| Discharges | $7.50 |
| COPIES | $1.00 per page |
| FAX FEE & EMAIL | $2.00 & $1.00 per page |
| CERTIFICATION | $1.00 per page plus
$1.00 per certification |
EXCESS FUNDS POLICY
Excess limit – In order to provide for the timely recording of documents and to be cost effective, the Recorder of Deeds of Bates County, Missouri, will retain any excess payment of fees up to $10.00 This will reduce rejections and allow for the priority of recording documents so long as the submitted payment is not less than the statutorily prescribed fee. The amount submitted shall be considered and receipted as payment for service.
MILITARY DISCHARGES
The Recorder of Deeds will file and preserve a military discharge. Per RSMo 59.480, they are restricted from public search and may only be accessed by the veteran or authorized party. A veteran or authorized party can request a copy from our copy center for no additional charge. If a military discharge is filed in another county, you must contact that county’s Recorder of Deeds Office for a copy.
STAFFED HOURS
- 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday. (closed for lunch noon to 1 PM)
- Closed on holidays
- Recordings accepted until 4:00 PM. All other recordings will go on the next business day in the order they were received.
- Marriage licenses are issued until 3:45 PM. Unless prior arrangements are made.