Office Name:  Lucille Mundey, Bates County Recorder of Deeds

Address:  Bates County Courthouse, 1 North Delaware,
                   P. O. Box 186, Butler, Mo.  64730

Telephone:  660-679-3611

Office Hours:  8:30 - 4:30 weekdays (closed 12:00 - 1:00)

Employees:  Carol Higgins, Deputy

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.

(A note to genealogical researchers, the Butler Public Library has a copy of the land records from 1840 through 1902 and marriage records from 1860 through 1940 are available on microfilm.)

Fee Schedule for Non-Charter Counties
EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1, 2003

DOCUMENT FORMATTING STANDARDS
EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2002

REQUIREMENTS FOR STANDARD DOCUMENTS

SIZE AND INK
    *8 1/2" X 11" paper
    *White, light colored, 20# paper without watermarks or logos
    *Printed in black or dark ink on one side only
    *No continuous forms or permanent binding, but documents may be stapled for presentation
    *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.

ATTACHMENTS
    *Attachments to a page may not be stapled or taped other than a securely attached bar-coded labor or than as required by law.  (Note:  'Attachment' does not refer to an Exhibit, but additions to a document page.)

MARGINS
    *Top 3" vertical space of the first page only of each document is designated for the Recorder's certification.  All Recorder's certification will be placed in this area.
    *All other margins on the first and subsequent pages will be a minimum of 3/4"
    *Nonessential information contained with the margins does not have to comply with the 8-point requirement, but it should be noted that the Recorder is not liable or responsible for insuring that nonessential information is archived.  Examples:  page numbers, form numbers, return addresses, etc.

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
        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

REJECTIONS
    All documents that are rejected must be returned with a reason for rejection.  The Recorders Association will develop a standard rejection form (to view form click: images\Recorder's Rejection Form.tif)  that can be used or adapted by any filing officer.

APPLICATION FOR MARRIAGE LICENSE

PLEASE NOTE:  Effective August 28, 2007, Missouri no longer requires the three day waiting period.  After receipt of the application, the Recorder may issue the license.  Once the license is issued, it is good for thirty (30) days and can be used anywhere in the State of Missouri.

REQUIREMENTS IF BOTH BRIDE AND GROOM ARE OVER THE AGE OF 18

1.  Both bride and groom must apply in person at the Recorder's Office.
2.  Both must bring proof of Social Security Number and date of birth.  (Drivers license or Social Security card and birth certificate).
3.  If either party has been married before, must know the date of death of spouse or date of dissolution of the marriage.
4.  Payment of $46 (non-refundable) must be made at time of application.
 

REQUIREMENTS IF BRIDE AND/OR GROOM ARE UNDER AGE OF 18 AND OVER THE AGE OF 15

1.  Both bride and groom must apply in person at the Recorder's office.
2.  Custodial parent of minor must be present at the same time to sign consent.
3.  Bride and groom must have birth certificate to show date of birth and name of parents.
4.  Custodial parent must have picture identification.
5.  If either party has been married before, must know the date of death of spouse or date of dissolution of the marriage.
6.  Payment of $46 (non-refundable) must be made at time of application.