Official deed copies should start with the Recorder

A deed-copy letter in the mail can look official enough to make a homeowner pause.

For Cole County property, the safer route is the Recorder’s Office. That is the county office tied to recorded deeds and copies of those records. A private mailing that offers to sell a deed copy is not the same as working through the office that records and maintains the document.

This is useful after a purchase, during a refinance, or when cleaning up old house papers. If the goal is simply to keep a copy of the deed, ask the Recorder how to get the official copy and what it costs.

For title work or legal questions, use the title company, lender, or attorney. A deed copy can show the record, but it does not replace professional title advice.