Pulaski County Public Records

Pulaski County public records are managed at the courthouse in Waynesville. The county has roughly 53,000 residents, many of whom are connected to Fort Leonard Wood, the large Army installation within county lines. The Recorder of Deeds holds land and marriage records. The Circuit Clerk stores all court case filings. County Clerk David Ernst oversees election records and commission minutes. Pulaski County records date back to 1833 when the county was first organized. If you need deeds, court documents, tax records, or vital records from Pulaski County, you can search them at the courthouse or through state online tools.

Pulaski County Recorder of Deeds

Recorder Rachelle Beasley runs the Pulaski County Recorder of Deeds office. This office files deeds, trust deeds, liens, plats, and other land documents. Marriage licenses are also recorded here. You can call the Recorder at (573) 774-4760. The office is at the Pulaski County Courthouse in Waynesville.

Records in Pulaski County go back to 1833. The archive holds early land transfers, property grants, and marriage files from the county's first decades. Staff can search for records by name, legal description, or document number. Copies are available for a small fee. If you are doing title research or need to verify a lien on property in Pulaski County, this office is your primary source.

Because Fort Leonard Wood is in Pulaski County, the Recorder's office sees a steady flow of military-connected filings. Service members who buy homes near the base file deeds through this office. The military population also means the Recorder handles a higher-than-usual number of powers of attorney and other documents related to deployed personnel.

Court Records in Pulaski County

The 25th Judicial Circuit handles all court cases in Pulaski County. The Circuit Clerk files civil, criminal, family law, and probate matters. Case files, judgments, and court orders are public unless sealed. You can search records at the clerk's office in the Waynesville courthouse.

CaseNet at courts.mo.gov is the free statewide system for searching Missouri court records. It covers the 25th Circuit that serves Pulaski County. You can look up cases by name, case number, or filing date. The system shows case type, parties, charges, docket entries, and scheduled hearings. It runs around the clock and does not cost anything to use.

Missouri's Sunshine Law in Chapter 610 RSMo keeps most government records open. Pulaski County court records follow this law. Sealed cases, juvenile files, and some mental health records are closed. Everything else is available through the Circuit Clerk or CaseNet.

Note: Fort Leonard Wood has its own military court system separate from the Pulaski County civilian courts.

Pulaski County Tax Records

County Clerk David Ernst oversees election records, commission minutes, and other administrative files. You can reach the County Clerk at (573) 774-4701. The Collector handles property tax billing and collection. Tax bills, payment history, and delinquent tax records are all public. The Assessor maintains property valuations and ownership data.

Because of Fort Leonard Wood, a large amount of land in Pulaski County is federal property and not subject to local taxes. The taxable base is smaller than you might expect for a county of 53,000 people. This affects the volume of tax records on file compared to similarly sized counties. For privately held property, all the normal tax records are maintained and open to the public at the courthouse in Waynesville.

Pulaski County Vital Records

Birth and death certificates come from Missouri's Bureau of Vital Records. Pulaski County does not issue these directly. Certified copies cost $15 and can be ordered online, by mail, or in person. Marriage records are kept by the Pulaski County Recorder. Divorce records are court files held by the 25th Judicial Circuit Clerk.

Historical records in Pulaski County date to 1833. Older marriage files, court minutes, and probate records may be on microfilm at the Missouri State Archives. The Archives is a good backup when older Pulaski County records are not available at the courthouse.

Pulaski County Public Records Access

The Sunshine Law covers all Pulaski County offices. It is in Chapter 610 RSMo. Every office at the courthouse in Waynesville must respond to your request within three business days. You do not need to explain why you want the record. Copy fees for standard pages are about $0.10. Certified copies cost more depending on the office.

Pulaski County has a population of about 53,000, largely driven by Fort Leonard Wood. The military base brings a steady flow of personnel who need local records for various purposes. The Recorder at (573) 774-4755 handles land documents and marriage files. The Circuit Clerk at (573) 774-4751 manages court records for the 25th Judicial Circuit. The Missouri State Archives keeps historical Pulaski County records from 1833, including early marriage and land filings that are free to browse online.

If an office denies your request, the denial must be in writing. The Missouri Attorney General handles complaints about Sunshine Law violations and can pursue fines up to $5,000 for purposeful violations.

Cities in Pulaski County

Waynesville is the county seat. Other communities in Pulaski County include St. Robert, Richland, Dixon, and Crocker. St. Robert sits near the main gate of Fort Leonard Wood and is the county's commercial hub. All public records for these communities are filed at the Pulaski County offices in Waynesville.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Pulaski County in Missouri. Each one keeps its own public records at its own courthouse.