Franklin County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Franklin County?

Public records in Franklin County, Missouri, are documents, files, and data created or maintained by government agencies in the course of official business and made available to the public under state law. Pursuant to Missouri Revised Statutes § 610.010, a "public record" includes any record retained by or of any public governmental body, regardless of its physical form or characteristics. Members of the public may inspect or obtain copies of these records upon request, subject to specific statutory exemptions.

The following categories of records are currently maintained by various Franklin County offices:

Court records — civil, criminal, probate, and family court case files are maintained by the Franklin County Circuit Court
Property records — deeds, mortgages, liens, and property assessments are held by the Franklin County Recorder of Deeds and the County Assessor
Vital records — birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates are available through the Franklin County Recorder of Deeds and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services; members of the public may order a copy of a vital record directly through the state
Business records — fictitious name registrations, business licenses, and permits are filed with the County Clerk or the Missouri Secretary of State
Tax records — property tax bills and assessment records are maintained by the Franklin County Collector and Assessor
Voting and election records — voter registration data and election results are held by the Franklin County Clerk
Meeting minutes and agendas — records of the County Commission and other public boards are available through the County Clerk's office
Budget and financial documents — annual budgets and expenditure reports are maintained by the County Auditor
Law enforcement records — arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law, are available through the Franklin County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records — zoning maps, permits, and planning documents are maintained by the Franklin County Planning and Zoning Department

The Franklin County Missouri government portal provides centralized access to many of these offices and their respective record-keeping functions.

Is Franklin County an Open Records County?

Franklin County fully complies with Missouri's open records framework, commonly known as the Sunshine Law. Under Missouri Revised Statutes § 610.011, it is the public policy of the state that meetings, records, votes, actions, and deliberations of public governmental bodies be open to the public unless otherwise provided by law. This statute establishes a presumption of openness, meaning that any record not specifically exempted must be disclosed upon request.

Key provisions of the Missouri Sunshine Law currently applicable to Franklin County include:

Public governmental bodies must respond to a records request within three business days, either by providing the records, denying the request with written explanation, or notifying the requester that additional time is needed
Custodians of records may not require a requester to state the purpose of the request as a condition of access
Any denial of access must cite the specific statutory exemption relied upon

Franklin County governmental bodies are required to maintain and make available their records in accordance with these provisions. The official Missouri state government website provides additional guidance on state-level open records obligations applicable to all county agencies.

How to Find Public Records in Franklin County

Members of the public may obtain Franklin County public records through several channels, depending on the record type and the office that maintains it. The following steps outline the standard process:

Identify the custodial office. Determine which county department holds the record sought — for example, the Recorder of Deeds for property and vital records, the Circuit Court Clerk for court filings, or the County Collector for tax records.
Submit a written request. Although oral requests are permitted under the Sunshine Law, submitting a written request creates a clear record of the transaction. Requests may be delivered in person, by mail, or by email to the appropriate office.
Include identifying information. Provide sufficient detail to allow staff to locate the record, such as full names, dates, parcel numbers, or case numbers.
Await acknowledgment. The custodial office must acknowledge the request within three business days and indicate when records will be available.
Pay applicable fees. Upon notification that records are ready, the requester must pay any assessed fees before copies are released.
Access records online where available. Several Franklin County offices currently offer online search portals for property records, court case information, and recorded documents. The Franklin County Missouri government portal serves as the primary starting point for locating these digital resources.

Historical county and municipal records, including land records and legislative documents, may also be researched through the Missouri State Archives, which maintains collections relevant to Franklin County's recorded history.

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

Franklin County assesses fees for public records in accordance with the cost limitations established under Missouri Revised Statutes § 610.026, which governs the fees that public governmental bodies may charge for providing access to records.

Current standard fees applicable to Franklin County public records requests include:

Paper copies: Fees may not exceed the actual cost of document search, duplication, and document preparation; standard copy fees are typically $0.10 per page for letter- or legal-size documents
Certified copies: Vital records and recorded documents carry higher certification fees set by statute; for example, certified copies of birth or death certificates are subject to fees established by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
Electronic records: Where records are provided in electronic format, fees are limited to the actual cost of the electronic medium used
Research and staff time: Fees for staff time spent searching and compiling records may be assessed at the actual cost of the personnel involved, provided the request requires more than a minimal amount of time

Accepted payment methods vary by office but generally include cash, check, and money order. Some offices currently accept credit or debit card payments. Fee waivers may be available for indigent requesters or for requests determined to be in the public interest, at the discretion of the custodial office.

Does Franklin County Have Free Public Records?

Members of the public are entitled to inspect public records at no charge under the Missouri Sunshine Law, provided that inspection does not require the production of copies. Any person may visit the appropriate Franklin County office during regular business hours and review records in person without incurring a fee.

Free access to Franklin County public records is currently available through the following government sources:

In-person inspection at the Recorder of Deeds, County Clerk, Circuit Court Clerk, and other custodial offices during posted public counter hours
Online property and assessment records accessible through the Franklin County Assessor's and Collector's online portals at no cost
Court case information available through the Missouri Case.net system, which provides free online access to circuit court case records statewide
Vital records research for historical records may be conducted at no cost through the Missouri State Archives research collections, which include county-level documents
Marriage and divorce information is available through the Missouri marriage and divorce records portal, which outlines how to locate these records at the county level

Who Can Request Public Records in Franklin County?

Under the Missouri Sunshine Law, any person may submit a public records request to a Franklin County governmental body. Requesters are not required to be Missouri residents, and residency status does not affect the right of access to non-exempt public records.

The following eligibility provisions currently apply:

No residency requirement: Non-residents of Franklin County and Missouri retain the same right of access as residents
No identification requirement: Custodial offices may not require a requester to provide identification as a condition of access to public records, except where the record itself is restricted to specific individuals (such as certain vital records)
No stated purpose required: Pursuant to § 610.011, a requester is not obligated to state the reason for the request as a condition of receiving non-exempt records
Requesting your own records: Individuals seeking records that contain their own personal information, such as vital records or court files, may be required to provide proof of identity and, in some cases, proof of relationship or legal interest
Requesting records about others: Access to records containing third-party personal information may be subject to redaction of exempt data, such as Social Security numbers or financial account information, prior to release

Certain record categories — including juvenile court records, sealed court files, and adoption records — are restricted by statute regardless of the requester's identity or purpose.

What Records Are Confidential in Franklin County?

Not all government-held documents in Franklin County are subject to public disclosure. Missouri law identifies specific categories of records that are exempt from the general presumption of openness. The following records are currently treated as confidential or restricted under Missouri statutes:

Sealed court records — records sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the general public
Juvenile records — records pertaining to persons under 17 years of age in delinquency or status offense proceedings are closed under Missouri law
Ongoing investigation records — law enforcement records related to active criminal investigations are exempt to the extent that disclosure would impede the investigation
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar data are redacted from disclosed records
Medical and health records — protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Adoption records — sealed by statute and accessible only under specific legal circumstances
Child welfare and protective services records — records of the Children's Division are confidential under Missouri law
Personnel records — employee performance evaluations and certain disciplinary records are exempt, with limited exceptions for final disciplinary actions
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — submitted to government agencies under assurances of confidentiality
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — exempt to protect public safety

Missouri Revised Statutes § 610.021 enumerates the specific categories of records that public governmental bodies may close to public inspection. When a custodial office denies a records request, it is required to cite the applicable subsection of § 610.021 in its written denial.

Franklin County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Franklin County Recorder of Deeds serves as the primary custodian of property records, recorded documents, and vital records at the county level. Members of the public may visit the office in person or submit requests by mail or telephone during regular business hours.

Franklin County Recorder of Deeds 400 East Locust Street, Suite 105, Union, MO 63084 (636) 583-6367 Franklin County Missouri Government

Public counter hours are currently Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding official county holidays. Members of the public seeking certified copies of birth, death, or marriage records may also access state-level vital records services through the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services — Bureau of Vital Records 930 Wildwood Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65109 (573) 751-6387 Missouri Vital Records

Franklin County Circuit Court Clerk 400 East Locust Street, Union, MO 63084 (636) 583-6355 Franklin County Missouri Government

Franklin County Clerk 400 East Locust Street, Suite 201, Union, MO 63084 (636) 583-6348 Franklin County Missouri Government

Public counter hours for the Circuit Court Clerk and County Clerk are currently Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.