Document Formatting Standards

• Effective January 1, 2002

• Statutory requirements are found in Revised Statutes of Missouri section 59.310. See also Section 442.150 for proof of acknowledgment requirements.

• E-recordings are accepted, during regular business hours, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 

• All other documents, received after 4:00 p.m., will not be processed until the next business day. 

• Sample Cover Page

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Requirements for Standards Documents
Size & Ink

• 8½" x 11" paper

• White, light-colored, 20# paper without watermarks, logos, or other visible inclusions

• Printed in black or dark ink on one side only

• All text within document shall be clear to insure reproduction from record.

• No continuous forms or permanent binding, but documents may be stapled for presentation.

• Minimum type size of 8 pt. typewriter print or 10 pt. Times New Roman computer font.

• All signatures shall be original and printed in black or dark ink to insure reproduction from record.

• All signatures must have the name typed, stamped or printed underneath.

 
Attachments
No attachments stapled or affixed to any page except as necessary to comply with statutory requirements.
 

Margins

• Top 3" vertical space of the first page only of each document is designated for the Recorder’s certification.

• All other margins on the first and subsequent pages will be a minimum of ¾".

 
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 and marital status

4. All grantees’ names

5. Any statutory addresses

6. Legal Description

7. Reference book and pages, if applicable

If there is not sufficient room on the first page for all of the information, the page reference within the document where the information is set out shall be stated on the first page. If one of the required fields begins on the first page and continues uninterrupted to subsequent pages, it meets the first page requirements.
 

Re-Recordings
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

• State and Federal Tax Liens

• Subdivision Plats & Surveys

 
Fees

• Standard:
  Documents that meet both the statutory requirements and formatting standards will be subject only to the per page recording fee schedule applied.

• Non-Standard:
  From January 1, 2002 to present…Documents that do not meet the requirements set forth in 59.310, may be recorded for an additional fee of $25.00.

• Exempt:
  Documents that meet the statutory requirements but are exempt from the formatting standards will be subject only to the per page recording fee schedule applied.

• Additional Fees:
  For a document that releases or assigns more than one item, there is a $5.00 charge per each additional item.