Standard Title Search Period in Missouri

• The standard search period is 50 years based on custom. This was likely the standard prior to the implementation of title plant requirements.
• The standard set by the MO Bar is a minimum of 45 years.
• Title plants must have a minimum depth of 45 years. The statute technically says that a plant must have a minimum depth of 27 years, but that was supposed to be as of 1992, so it could be argued that a new title plant need only go back 27 years from the present. Given the statute, it is likely that older plants go back to at least 1965 (1992 - 27 = 1965). The 45 year rule appears to be an amalgamation of the bar standard plus the title plant law standard.