Find Genealogy Records in Andrew County

Andrew County genealogy records cover births, deaths, marriages, land transactions, probate estates, and court cases going back to 1841. The Recorder of Deeds and Circuit Clerk offices in Savannah are the primary custodians of these documents. The county's records have stayed intact since its founding, making it a reliable source for family history research in northwest Missouri. This page explains what each office holds, how to access records in person or online, and where to find additional research help in the area.

Andrew County Recorder of Deeds

Chanler M. Williams serves as Andrew County Recorder of Deeds. The office is at 411 Court Street, Savannah, MO 64485. Phone is (816) 324-4221, fax is (816) 324-5706, and email is recorder@andrewcountymo.gov. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Marriage records and land records go back to 1841. That is a deep collection for a county of this size, and it is one of the few northwest Missouri offices that has kept documents intact from its very first year.

The records held here include marriage licenses and certificates, warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, trustee deeds, mortgages, deeds of trust, subdivision plats, land surveys, military discharge records (DD-214s), state and federal tax liens, and Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) filings. For genealogists, marriage records and land deeds are the most useful. Marriage records identify both parties by name, and early licenses sometimes noted the ages or parents of the applicants. Land deeds show property transfers between family members and can confirm relationships when other records are missing.

To get a marriage license in Andrew County, both parties must appear in person with a valid photo ID and a Social Security number. The fee is $46.00, payable by cash or check. No credit cards are accepted. The license is issued the same day with no waiting period, and it is valid for 30 days anywhere in Missouri. Recording fees for documents are $24.00 for the first page and $3.00 for each additional page. Certified copies cost $1.00 per page.

Note: Some Andrew County records may be searchable online through Missouri Digital Heritage or the county website, so check those sources before visiting the office in Savannah.

Andrew County Court Records

The Andrew County Circuit Clerk office is located at the Andrew County Courthouse, 411 Court Street, Savannah, MO 64485. Phone is 816-324-3624, and fax is 816-324-6275. This office holds civil and criminal court records from 1841, divorce records, probate files, naturalization records, and a range of other case types. For genealogists, probate records are among the most detailed sources you will find at any county courthouse. They name heirs, describe assets, and sometimes reveal family members not mentioned anywhere else in the public record.

The probate records for Andrew County are especially well-documented. FamilySearch and the Missouri State Archives hold microfilmed copies of the index to probate records from 1841 to 1976, probate records from 1841 to 1887, administrator's and executor's letters and bonds from 1841 to 1902, settlement records from 1873 to 1890, and will records from 1841 to 1918. These older records are worth checking before you drive to Savannah, since many can be accessed remotely.

Naturalization records from 1869 to 1904 are another resource held by the Circuit Clerk. If you have an immigrant ancestor who settled in Andrew County and became a U.S. citizen during that period, those files could give you a date of arrival, a country of origin, and sometimes a port of entry. For cases filed on or after November 12, 2003, use Missouri Case.net to search online by party name or case number.

The MOGenWeb Andrew County page offers free transcribed records, family files, and links to research resources specific to Andrew County.

Volunteer-contributed databases like MOGenWeb can fill gaps in the official record and connect you with other researchers working on the same Andrew County family lines.

Birth and Death Records in Andrew County

The Andrew County Health Department at 411 Court Street, Savannah, MO 64485, phone 816-324-3491, issues certified copies of birth and death certificates for Andrew County residents. Birth certificates are available for events from 1920 onward. Death certificates are available from 1980 onward. The fee for a birth certificate is $15.00 per certified copy. Death certificates cost $14.00 for the first copy and $11.00 for each additional copy ordered at the same time.

Older vital records, and those not held locally, can be obtained from the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records at 930 Wildwood Dr., Jefferson City, MO. The phone number is (573) 751-6387, and the cost is $15.00 per certified copy. For death records between 1910 and 1969, the free online database at Missouri Digital Heritage is the fastest starting point. The site holds over 9 million Missouri records and is searchable by name at no cost. Limited birth and death records from 1883 to 1893 may also be available at the Missouri State Archives for that early period when statewide registration first began.

Andrew County Genealogy Research Help

The Northwest Missouri Genealogical Society serves Andrew County and the broader northwest Missouri region. Mailing address is P.O. Box 382, St. Joseph, MO 64502, phone 816-233-0524. The Society offers research assistance, published volumes of transcribed county records, a quarterly meeting schedule with educational programs, and a surname exchange program for connecting with other researchers. Their publications often include material specific to Andrew County that isn't available anywhere online.

The Andrew County Historical Society at 202 S. 4th St. in Savannah, phone 816-324-3566, holds local history archives, family history files, photograph collections, business records, and school records. If you are looking for context around a family name or need to confirm details about a specific location in the county, the Historical Society is a good place to start. They can also point you toward other resources if their own collection doesn't have what you need.

The Savannah Public Library at 105 W. Maple, Savannah, MO 64485, phone 816-324-4563, carries a local history collection, newspapers on microfilm, and census record access. The library is a FamilySearch Affiliate Library, which means researchers can access digitized records and work directly with FamilySearch staff resources on-site.

At the state level, the State Historical Society of Missouri holds extensive newspaper collections and manuscript materials for Andrew County, including maps and county records on microfilm. Their Columbia Research Center at 605 Elm St., Columbia, MO 65201 is accessible to the public and a strong secondary resource for Andrew County research.

Note: Andrew County has no major courthouse fires or record losses, so the collection from 1841 is largely complete.

Online Andrew County Genealogy Records

Free online tools cover a lot of ground for Andrew County. Missouri Digital Heritage holds death certificates from 1910 to 1969 for the entire state, including Andrew County residents. Pre-1910 birth and death records and military records are also available there. The Missouri State Archives provides a microfilm guide that lists what records exist for Andrew County and where to find them, either locally or through Archives lending services.

FamilySearch has indexed census records for Andrew County from 1850 through 1940, along with probate abstracts and some court records from the 1800s. The Missouri State Genealogical Association maintains contacts and publications for county-level research statewide. Their resources can help you identify which county societies have published surname indexes or cemetery surveys for the Andrew County area.

The Missouri Recorders Association website includes a directory of all county Recorder offices, with contact information and links to any online search portals each office provides. This is a quick way to confirm current hours and access options before visiting the Andrew County Recorder in Savannah.