About the Greene County Recorder of Deeds
Cheryl Dawson-Spaulding is the elected Recorder of Deeds for Greene County. The Recorder of Deeds page says the office records and maintains real property records, issues marriage licenses, files state and federal tax liens, and keeps military discharge records.
The Recorder's Office is in Room 102 of the Historic Courthouse at 940 N. Boonville Avenue, Springfield, MO 65802. Hours run Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed on county holidays. Recorder records are separate from the Circuit Clerk's court case files at 1010 N. Boonville.
The image below shows the Greene County Recorder of Deeds landing page, which is the official source for office hours, fees, and contact information.
Use this page to confirm the current marriage license fee, certified copy fee, or recording fee before sending a payment.
Greene County Recorder of Deeds
Cheryl Dawson-Spaulding, Recorder
940 N. Boonville Avenue, Room 102
Springfield, MO 65802
Phone: 417-868-4068
Fax: 417-868-4807
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
What the Recorder of Deeds Records
The Recorder is the official custodian of land records and vital documents linked to property and marriage. Greene County recorder records are public unless a statute restricts them, and most can be searched in person or by mail.
- Deeds, deeds of trust, easements, and other real estate filings.
- Mortgages, releases, and assignments.
- Plats, surveys, and subdivision documents.
- Federal and state tax liens.
- Marriage license applications and returned marriage licenses.
- Military discharge records (DD Form 214).
- Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) filings allowed at the county level.
Real estate records are kept in chronological order and indexed by name. The Recorder's office can pull copies for a fee, but the staff cannot perform a full title search for the public.
Greene County Marriage License Application
Both parties must appear in person at the Recorder's Office to apply for a Greene County marriage license. The Recorder FAQ lists the steps and identification rules.
- Bring proper identification and Social Security numbers for both parties.
- Show proof of age. A valid driver's license is accepted for age 18 and over; a birth certificate may be required if age is in question.
- Confirm Missouri marriage rules: both parties must be at least 18 under RSMo 451.090; blood relatives down to and including first cousins may not marry.
- If a party has a legal guardian, the guardian must appear with ID and certified guardianship paperwork.
- Previously married applicants must give the date the last marriage ended. Applicants divorced less than 30 days must acknowledge in writing that the divorce can be set aside within 30 days.
- Pay the marriage license fee.
- Pick up the license before the ceremony; the officiant completes the left portion and the license must be returned to the Recorder within 15 days after the wedding.
Missouri does not recognize common-law marriage and does not allow proxy marriage. The license is valid for 30 days from issuance and may be used anywhere in Missouri.
Greene County Recorder Fees
The Recorder fee schedule covers marriage licenses, certified copies, and document recording. Fee distribution for the marriage license goes to several state and county funds.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Marriage license | $51 cash or card |
| License plus certified copy prepaid | $60 |
| Certified copy of marriage license | $9 |
| Card convenience fee for certified copy | $1 debit / $1.25 credit |
Marriage license fee distribution: Children's Trust Fund of Missouri $15, Shelter Fund for Abused Women $10, Greene County General Revenue $15, State and County User Fee $4, and County Employees Retirement System $7.
Certified Copy of a Greene County Marriage License
Certified copies of a Greene County marriage license can be ordered in four ways. The license must have been issued in Greene County. Copies for licenses issued in other Missouri counties have to be ordered from that county Recorder.
- Prepay $9 at application; the Recorder mails the certified copy after the license is returned.
- After the wedding and return, pick up the certified copy at the Recorder's Office for $9.
- Call the Recorder and pay by card; the office mails the copy.
- Send a written request with a cashier's check or money order for $9 payable to Recorder of Deeds, plus a SASE, to 940 N. Boonville Ave., Springfield, MO 65802.
Note: Personal checks are not accepted for certified copies. Include the names of both parties and the date the license was issued, if known.
Greene County Clerk and Sunshine Law Requests
Shane Schoeller is the Greene County Clerk. The County Clerk's Office is in Room 113 of the Historic Courthouse at 940 N. Boonville Avenue, Springfield, MO 65802. The County Clerk handles county administrative records, elections, voter registration, county commission meeting records, and Sunshine Law requests for non-court records.
Sunshine Law requests under Chapter 610 of the Missouri Revised Statutes use a dedicated form. The County Clerk Sunshine Law records request form covers what records you want, who you are, and how you would like to receive the copies. Fees follow the Sunshine Law and may include staff time and copy charges at $0.10 per page.
The image below shows the Greene County government homepage, which links to elected officials, county news, and public service offices.
The County Clerk handles records of the County Commission, election cycle, voter list, and similar county-level documents, not court files.
Greene County Clerk
Shane Schoeller, County Clerk
940 N. Boonville Avenue, Room 113
Springfield, MO 65802
County Clerk Sunshine Law Request Form Fields
The Sunshine Law request form is short but lists every field the County Clerk needs to respond on time. The table below pulls the fields from the County Clerk Sunshine Law form.
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Records Requested Description | Yes | Specific records by title, date, or topic |
| Alternative Subject-Matter Request | Optional | Used when records are not known by exact title |
| Copy / Mailing Address | Yes when mailing | For paper copies |
| Fee Waiver Public-Interest Use Statement | Optional | Used to claim fee reduction under Chapter 610 |
| Fee Threshold Amount | Optional | Cap on what requester will pay before approval |
| Segregate Closed Portions Request | Optional | Asks Clerk to redact and release the open part |
| Name, Email, Address, Phone, Fax | Yes | Requester contact information |
Land Records and Tax Liens
Land records in Greene County date back to the county's founding in 1833. The Recorder indexes deeds and related instruments by grantor and grantee name, with cross-references to plat books. Federal and state tax liens filed at the Recorder's Office become part of the public lien index.
Title companies and real estate attorneys regularly pull Greene County recorder records for title searches. Members of the public can also walk in to use the public terminals or order certified copies of any recorded document. The Recorder's office does not run searches by phone; basic name searches are done in person or through approved online subscription services.
Note: For old probate or court records before 1991, see the Greene County Archives page rather than the Recorder.
Other Greene County Elected Officials
Recorder records often overlap with the work of other Greene County offices. The Prosecuting Attorney bio page for Dan Patterson is one example: the Prosecutor's office handles criminal case charging, while the Recorder handles related land transfers from forfeiture cases.
Other elected county officials with public records include the Sheriff, Auditor, Treasurer, Collector, Assessor, and Public Administrator. Each office holds its own records and follows the Sunshine Law for requests.
Divorce and Family Records
Divorce records are not kept by the Recorder. Greene County divorce decrees are filed with the Circuit Clerk in the Domestic Division and searchable in Case.net unless sealed. The Recorder's Office can confirm a marriage took place, but the divorce judgment must come from the Circuit Clerk.
For a Greene County divorce records search, the Missouri Case.net portal returns divorce, paternity, custody, and modification cases for the 31st Judicial Circuit. Certified copies of divorce judgments are ordered from the Circuit Clerk through the standard records request form.