Jackson County Public Records

How to Find Public Records in Jackson County in 2026

JacksonMORecords.us provides access to publicly available information related to public records maintained by government agencies in Jackson County, Missouri. Members of the public may use this resource to locate data that may include court filings, property documents, vital records, and other government-generated materials. The availability and completeness of any particular record depends on the custodial agency, the nature of the record, and applicable state law.

Records that may be accessible through official channels include:

Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family court)
Property deeds, mortgages, and assessment records
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce)
Business licenses and fictitious name registrations
Property tax and assessment records
Arrest logs and incident reports (where permitted)
Land use, zoning, and plat records
County commission meeting minutes and agendas

Online Access: The Jackson County government maintains an online portal at jacksongov.org where members of the public may search property records, assessment data, and recorded documents. The Missouri State Highway Patrol provides a statewide criminal history background check service accessible online. No registration is required to conduct basic property searches through the county portal.

In-Person Requests: Members of the public may visit the Jackson County Recorder of Deeds or the Circuit Court Clerk's office to inspect records in person. The Jackson County Courthouse is located at 415 East 12th Street, Kansas City, MO 64106. Public access terminals are available during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Written/Mail Requests: Written requests must identify the record sought with sufficient specificity to allow the custodial agency to locate it. Under § 610.023 RSMo, the custodian must respond within three business days of receiving a request, either by providing access or by notifying the requester of the estimated time needed to fulfill the request.

Mailing Address: Jackson County Recorder of Deeds 415 East 12th Street Kansas City, MO 64106

Phone/Email: The Jackson County main line is (816) 881-3000. Departmental email contacts are listed on the official Jackson County government website.

What Are Public Records in Jackson County?

Public records in Jackson County are defined under Missouri's Sunshine Law, codified at § 610.010 RSMo, as records, documents, meetings, and votes of public governmental bodies. The statute broadly encompasses any document, record, or other communication prepared, owned, used, or retained by or of any public governmental body.

The following record types are maintained by specific offices within the county:

Record Type	Custodial Office
Civil and criminal court records	Circuit Court Clerk
Property deeds and mortgages	Recorder of Deeds
Property assessments	Jackson County Assessment Department
Vital records (birth, death)	Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
Marriage and divorce records	Circuit Court Clerk
Business licenses and permits	City of Kansas City or relevant municipality
Property tax records	Jackson County Collector of Revenue
Plat and land survey records	Missouri State Archives
Motor vehicle records	Missouri Department of Revenue
Criminal history records	Missouri State Highway Patrol

Meeting minutes, budget documents, and financial records of the Jackson County Legislature are maintained by the County Clerk and are available for public inspection at the courthouse.

Is Jackson County an Open Records County?

Jackson County fully complies with Missouri's open records framework. Under the Missouri Sunshine Law, all public governmental bodies in the state — including Jackson County — are required to make their records available for inspection and copying by members of the public. As the Missouri Attorney General's Office states, "The Sunshine Law requires that records of public governmental bodies be open to the public unless a specific exception applies."

The Sunshine Law, found at § 610.011 RSMo, establishes that the policy of the state is that meetings, records, votes, actions, and deliberations of public governmental bodies be open to the public unless otherwise provided by law. This provision applies to all county departments, boards, and commissions operating within Jackson County.

Jackson County does not maintain a separate county-level open records ordinance that supersedes state law. All requests are processed in accordance with the Missouri Sunshine Law, and the county's custodial offices are required to respond within the timeframes established by statute. The Missouri Attorney General's Office provides guidance and enforcement authority for Sunshine Law compliance statewide.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Jackson County?

The fee structure for public records in Jackson County is governed by state statute and individual office schedules. Members of the public are not charged a fee to inspect records in person; fees apply to copies and certified documents.

Standard Fee Schedule:

Service	Fee
Standard paper copies	$0.10 per page (black and white)
Certified copies of recorded documents	$1.00 per page + $2.00 certification fee
Certified copies of vital records	$15.00 per copy (DHSS schedule)
Electronic copies	Varies by office; some provided at no charge
Research/search fees	Permitted only when research is required beyond standard retrieval

Under Missouri law, fees for copies may not exceed the actual cost of document search, duplication, and document transmission. Custodians may charge for the staff time required to fulfill a request only when the request requires more than one hour of research. Accepted payment methods at the Jackson County Recorder's office include cash, check, and credit card. Fee waivers may be available for indigent requesters or for requests made in the public interest, at the discretion of the custodial office.

Does Jackson County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to all members of the public under Missouri's Sunshine Law. No fee is charged to view records in person at the custodial office. The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: while inspection carries no cost, obtaining physical or electronic copies is subject to the fee schedule described above.

The following resources provide free access to Jackson County records online:

Jackson County Property Search Portal at jacksongov.org — property assessment and ownership data available at no charge
Missouri State Archives — plat books and historical land records for Jackson County are accessible online without charge
Missouri Case.net at casenet.osca.courts.mo.gov — court case index information is available to the public at no cost
Missouri State Highway Patrol — the criminal record check portal provides name-based searches; fees apply for certified results

Personal records held by the Missouri Department of Social Services may be requested by the subject individual. As noted by the Missouri Division of Legal Services, certain agency records are not available to the general public and are not obtainable under the Missouri Sunshine Law, but individuals may request their own records through a separate process.

Who Can Request Public Records in Jackson County?

Any person may request public records in Jackson County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Missouri's Sunshine Law does not require requesters to be Missouri residents, to provide identification, or to explain the reason for their request when seeking records that are open to the public.

Specific provisions apply in the following circumstances:

Identification: Not required for inspection of open records; may be required for certified copies of vital records where the requester must demonstrate a qualifying relationship to the subject
Purpose: Not required for most public records; required for certain restricted records such as motor vehicle records under federal law
Non-residents: Possess the same rights as residents to inspect and copy public records under state law
Requesting your own records: Individuals requesting their own records from agencies such as the Missouri Department of Social Services must follow a separate process and may be required to provide proof of identity
Motor vehicle records: Access is governed by the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act; the Missouri Department of Revenue administers permissible use categories for these records

Attorneys, journalists, businesses, and members of the general public all hold equal standing to submit public records requests under current Missouri law.

What Records Are Confidential in Jackson County?

Not all government records in Jackson County are open to public inspection. Missouri's Sunshine Law enumerates specific categories of records that are closed or may be closed at the discretion of the custodial agency. The following records are exempt from disclosure under Missouri law:

Sealed court records — records sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the public
Juvenile records — records pertaining to persons under 17 years of age in delinquency proceedings
Ongoing criminal investigation records — investigative reports that, if disclosed, would impair a law enforcement action
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar data are redacted from disclosed records
Medical and mental health records — protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
Adoption records — closed under Missouri statute; accessible only to parties with a court order
Child welfare and protective services records — records held by the Missouri Department of Social Services relating to child abuse and neglect investigations
Personnel records — employee performance evaluations and certain disciplinary records, with exceptions for final disciplinary actions
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — submitted to government agencies under confidentiality agreements
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — records whose disclosure would jeopardize public safety

Missouri's Sunshine Law provides that when a record contains both open and closed information, the custodian must redact the exempt portions and provide the remainder. The Missouri Attorney General's Sunshine Law guidance outlines the balancing test applied when a custodian exercises discretion to close records that are not mandatorily exempt.

Jackson County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Office Name: Jackson County Recorder of Deeds

Physical Address: 415 East 12th Street Kansas City, MO 64106

Phone: (816) 881-3000 Website: Jackson County Recorder of Deeds

Office Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Closed on federal and state holidays

Additional Offices:

Jackson County Circuit Court Clerk 415 East 12th Street, Suite 100 Kansas City, MO 64106 (816) 881-3939 Jackson County Circuit Court

Jackson County Assessment Department 415 East 12th Street, Suite 1M Kansas City, MO 64106 (816) 881-3530 Jackson County Assessment

Jackson County Collector of Revenue 415 East 12th Street, Suite 57 Kansas City, MO 64106 (816) 881-3232 Jackson County Collector

Missouri State Highway Patrol – Criminal Records and Identification Division 1510 East Elm Street Jefferson City, MO 65102 (573) 526-6153 Missouri State Highway Patrol Criminal Records

Missouri Department of Revenue – Motor Vehicle Records 301 West High Street Jefferson City, MO 65101 (573) 526-3669 Missouri Department of Revenue Motor Vehicle Records