Clay County, Missouri Recording Fees
Recording a deed in Clay County costs about $31 and a mortgage about $101 (a 2-page deed ($26 + $5) and a 16-page deed of trust ($26 + 15 x $5)), per the Clay County Recorder of Deeds's fee schedule, effective 2026-08-28. Clay County Recorder of Deeds' fee was $24 for the first page and $3 for each additional page, then increased by a flat $2.00 effective 8/28/2026 (a statewide $2.00 recorder fee increase tied to a new state technology and records fund), bringing the current rate to $26.00 for the first page and $5.00 for each additional page. Missouri's general statutory floor for non-charter counties (RSMo 59.310) is lower ($5 first page, $3 each additional page). Clay County, like Jackson and St. Louis County, sets a higher fee by local ordinance. Confirm the current fee with the Clay County Recorder of Deeds.
Fee schedule
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Deed, first page | $26 |
| Deed, each additional page | $5 |
| Mortgage, first page | $26 |
| Mortgage, each additional page | $5 |
Clay County closing costs → Missouri transfer tax → Clay County home buyer guide →
County transfer tax
Missouri levies no real estate transfer tax at all, state or local. The Missouri Supreme Court (Hillside Enterprises v. State) has read the state constitution to prohibit any transfer or documentary tax on real estate conveyances, and a 2010 voter-approved constitutional amendment also bars it. Clay County therefore has no local transfer, recordation or documentary tax; recording fees above are the only county-set closing cost. Missouri transfer tax →
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to record a deed in Clay County?
$26 for the first page and $5 for each additional page, about $31 for a typical deed, per the Clay County Recorder of Deeds's fee schedule.
And the mortgage?
$26 for the first page and $5 per additional page, about $101 for a typical mortgage or deed of trust. The buyer pays this at closing.
Sources
Figures are computed from the documents above and rounded to the dollar. All sources.
Clay County closing costs → Clay County home buyer guide →
Fees as published by the recorder; e-recording and courier charges may apply. General information, not legal advice.
Clay County overview