Find Scotland County Genealogy Records
Scotland County genealogy records date back to 1841, when the county was formed from Clark, Lewis, and Shelby Counties. The county seat is Memphis, Missouri. Researchers tracing family history in Scotland County can access marriage, land, probate, court, and vital records through the county offices in Memphis and through the Missouri State Archives in Jefferson City. Records are largely intact from the county's founding, giving genealogists solid coverage across nearly two centuries of Scotland County history.
Scotland County Quick Facts
Scotland County Recorder of Deeds
The Scotland County Recorder of Deeds office in Memphis holds marriage records from 1841 and land records from the same year. These documents are the backbone of Scotland County genealogy research. Marriage records show the names of both parties, their ages, and often witness names. Land records track property ownership over time and can show exactly when an ancestor bought or sold land in Scotland County, which helps date their presence in the area.
| Office | Scotland County Recorder of Deeds |
|---|---|
| Address | 117 S Market St, Memphis, MO 63555 |
| Phone | 660-465-7027 |
| Marriage Records | From 1841 |
| Land Records | From 1841 |
| Recording Fee | $24 first page, $3 each additional page |
Marriage licenses in Missouri require both applicants to appear in person and cost $46.00. There is no waiting period. To get a copy of a Scotland County marriage record, contact the Recorder's office in Memphis. For a statewide directory of recorder offices, see morecorders.com.
Scotland County Court and Probate Records
Court and divorce records for Scotland County begin in 1841. Probate records go back to 1842. Both are held by the Circuit Clerk at the courthouse in Memphis. Probate records are among the most informative documents for genealogists. They name heirs, list personal property, and often describe family relationships in detail. When a Scotland County ancestor died, the probate process created a paper trail that can tell you who their children were, where they lived, and what they left behind.
Civil court records can also be useful. Debt cases, land disputes, and guardianship hearings all appear in the court file and may name relatives, neighbors, and local witnesses. For cases filed after November 12, 2003, you can search Missouri Case.net for free from any computer. Older records require a visit to the Scotland County courthouse or a written records request sent to the Circuit Clerk in Memphis.
Note: Scotland County probate records start in 1842 and are well preserved, making them a reliable source for genealogy research in the Memphis area.
Vital Records in Scotland County
Early birth and death records for Scotland County are held by the County Clerk and cover the period from 1883 to 1893. These local records predate Missouri's statewide registration system and capture a decade of births and deaths that would otherwise be hard to find. If your ancestor was born or died in Scotland County during the 1880s, this is a source worth checking.
The Scotland County Health Department holds birth certificates from 1920 and death certificates from 1980. Certified copies cost $15 each. You will need to show valid ID and demonstrate a qualifying relationship to the person on record. For statewide vital records, contact the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records at (573) 751-6387. The state holds births from 1910 and deaths from the same year.
Death certificates from 1910 through 1969 are free to search and download through Missouri Digital Heritage. This is one of the best free tools for Scotland County death research. The site is searchable by name, year, and county, so you can pull up results without visiting Memphis or Jefferson City.
Scotland County Genealogy Research
The Scotland County Historical Society is located in Memphis at P.O. Box 151. The society maintains local collections that include photographs, family histories, church records, and newspaper clippings. These materials supplement the official record sets and often contain details not captured in government documents. Contacting the society before a research trip can help you understand what is available and what to request.
A local history titled "History of Scotland County, Missouri," published in 1887, covers the county's early families and settlers in detail. Biographical sketches in the book name family members and describe how people came to settle in the Memphis area. This book is available through the Missouri State Archives and has been digitized and made available online through various library collections. It is particularly useful for pushing research back before formal records began.
The State Historical Society of Missouri holds newspaper archives that cover Scotland County. Local papers ran marriage, death, and birth notices that supplement official records. Obituaries in small-town papers often list all surviving children, spouses, and grandchildren, which makes them valuable for building out a family tree.
The MOGenWeb Scotland County page is a free volunteer-run resource for genealogy in the Memphis area.
The MOGenWeb Scotland County site hosts transcribed records, obituaries, and family histories submitted by researchers with ties to the county.
Online Records for Scotland County
The Missouri State Archives offers free online access to a range of Scotland County records through Missouri Digital Heritage. Death certificates, land records, and military documents can be searched and downloaded at no cost. The Archives also hold county-level original documents that are not available anywhere else and can be accessed in person at 600 W. Main St. in Jefferson City, or requested by mail.
FamilySearch has indexed federal census records for Scotland County from 1850 through 1940. These records are free to search and can be accessed from home. The 1880 and 1900 censuses are especially important for bridging the gap left by the largely destroyed 1890 census. FamilySearch also holds microfilmed copies of some Scotland County records created by volunteers years ago.
The Missouri State Genealogical Association connects researchers with county-level societies and regional genealogists. If you need help finding records in Scotland County, reaching out to MOSGA is a good first step. They can point you toward researchers who know the local archives well.