Ralls County Genealogy Records

Ralls County genealogy records are held at the Recorder of Deeds and the Circuit Clerk in New London, Missouri. The county was organized in November 1820 from Pike County, making it one of the older counties in Missouri. Marriage and land records date from 1821, and court and probate files begin around the same time. Ralls County is located in northeast Missouri along the Mississippi River, and the Northeast Missouri Genealogical Society serves researchers in this region alongside local resources in New London.

Ralls County Recorder of Deeds

The Ralls County Recorder of Deeds at 311 S Main St. in New London, phone 573-985-5631, holds marriage records from 1821 and land records from the same year. That is over 200 years of recorded documents for this county. Marriage records from the 1820s and 1830s can be especially valuable because they sometimes include details like the names of parents or bondsmen, which helps you trace a family a generation further back.

Land records in Ralls County follow property ownership through generations. When land is transferred from a parent to multiple children, the deed names all of them. Those named heirs confirm family relationships. Military discharge records for veterans who filed them at this office are also available and can confirm service history for 20th-century ancestors.

Missouri recording fees are $24 for the first page and $3 per additional page. Copies cost $1.00 per page. Marriage licenses are $46.00 and valid anywhere in Missouri for 30 days. Call 573-985-5631 before visiting to confirm availability of older records.

Ralls County Court Records and Probate

The Ralls County Circuit Clerk has court records from 1821 and probate files from 1822. Probate records are a primary tool for genealogists because they list heirs by name, document estate distribution, and often reveal family members not named in any other official record. A probate file from Ralls County in the 1840s or 1850s can identify an ancestor's children, surviving spouse, and property holdings in a single file.

Civil and divorce case files, naturalization documents, and criminal records are also on file with the Circuit Clerk. Cases filed on or after November 12, 2003 are searchable free at Missouri Case.net. For earlier records, contact the courthouse in New London. Staff can search the index by name and provide document copies at standard rates.

The Ralls County MOGenWeb page provides free transcribed records, family histories, and links to local genealogy sources for this part of northeast Missouri.

The MOGenWeb network maintains free county genealogy pages across Missouri, and the Ralls County page is a practical starting point for researching families from this area.

Vital Records in Ralls County

The Ralls County Health Department holds local birth certificates from 1920 and death certificates from 1980. Certified copies require a valid photo ID and proof of eligibility. Birth certificates cost $15.00 per copy. For statewide vital records or older certificates, contact the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City at (573) 751-6387. The Bureau website provides mail-order forms for requests submitted from out of state.

The Ralls County Clerk kept some birth and death records from 1883 through 1888, though coverage was limited and not all events were recorded. Death records from 1910 through 1969 are free to search by name at Missouri Digital Heritage, which holds over 9 million records statewide. That database is the fastest free tool for finding a death in Ralls County during that period.

Note: Church records and cemetery transcriptions often fill in gaps for births and deaths before 1883, particularly in rural northeast Missouri counties like Ralls.

Ralls County Genealogy Societies and Libraries

The Ralls County Historical Society in New London holds local history materials and may have family files, cemetery records, and donated genealogy documents for county families. Reaching out to the Society by mail is an option for researchers who cannot visit New London in person.

The Northeast Missouri Genealogical Society serves a regional area that includes Ralls County and provides research support, indexes, and connections to records for families who settled along the Mississippi River in this part of the state. Regional societies often maintain collections that overlap county lines, which is useful when an ancestor moved between counties in the same area.

Federal census records are searchable free at FamilySearch for all Ralls County censuses from 1830 onward. The 1840 census is the first to include Ralls County under that name. The 1880 census added the relationship column for household members, making it especially useful for confirming family ties. The 1900 and 1910 censuses add details about years of marriage and children born and living, which further confirm genealogical connections.

The Missouri State Archives holds microfilm of Ralls County records. The State Historical Society of Missouri holds newspaper collections from northeast Missouri that include obituaries and local news useful for genealogy.

Online Ralls County Records

Missouri Digital Heritage and FamilySearch are the two main free platforms for Ralls County genealogy records online. Missouri Digital Heritage covers death certificates from 1910 to 1969, pre-1910 birth and death records, and land records. FamilySearch adds census records, some probate files, and church records for the county. Together they cover a broad range of record types without any subscription cost.

The Missouri State Genealogical Association and the MOGenWeb Ralls County page are additional free resources. The MOGenWeb page in particular may have obituary indexes, cemetery listings, and transcribed records contributed by local volunteers. For courthouse records before 2003, a written request or visit to the New London courthouse remains the most direct route to accessing the documents you need.