Murray County Property Records

Murray County property records are kept at the County Recorder's office in Slayton, Minnesota. The Recorder maintains all legal documents tied to real property in the county, including deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and land transfers. You can search Murray County property records online through the Beacon system, or contact the office directly at 2500 28th Street in Slayton for copies of recorded documents. The County Assessor handles valuations and property classification for all parcels. Both offices are located at the same address in Slayton.

Murray County Recorder

The Murray County Recorder is the official custodian of all legal real estate records in the county. The office records deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, federal and state tax liens, easements, UCC filings, and other documents that affect ownership or use of real property in Murray County. All documents submitted for recording must meet Minnesota state standards. That means proper notary acknowledgment, original signatures, a clear legal description, and the preparer's name on the first page.

Murray County offers e-recording, which lets title companies and legal professionals submit documents electronically without mailing paper copies. For paper submissions, bring documents to 2500 28th Street in Slayton or mail them to the same address. The office accepts documents for recording until 4:15 PM each weekday and stays open until 4:30 PM. The office also handles Torrens title records and UCC filings along with the standard abstract document recording.

Staff can search Murray County property records by owner name, parcel number, or document type. Certified copies cost $10 as a base fee plus per-page charges. Plain copies are available for less. Call (507) 836-6148 to confirm current fees and payment methods before mailing a copy request.

The screenshot below is from the Murray County website, showing how to reach the Recorder and Assessor offices and access local property records.

The Murray County website at murraycountymn.gov lists department pages for the Recorder and Assessor offices and provides contact information for both.

Murray County Assessor

The Murray County Assessor values and classifies all real property in the county. Murray County has approximately 7,000 parcels, with a strong focus on agricultural land. Farm ground makes up the majority of what the assessor evaluates each year. Values are set as of January 2 each year using recent sales data and field inspection results. Valuation notices go out in March, and tax statements follow at the same time.

All parcels receive a physical inspection at least once every five years. The assessor classifies each parcel based on how it is currently used. Agricultural land is taxed differently than residential or commercial property, and classification affects which rates and exemptions apply. If you think your assessed value or classification is incorrect, you can appeal before the Board of Equalization, which meets in April. There is no fee to file an appeal at the local level. If you disagree after the local board rules, you can escalate to the County Board of Equalization and then to Minnesota Tax Court.

Homestead applications are accepted year-round. If you own and occupy your home in Murray County as your primary residence, homestead classification can reduce your taxable value. Ask the assessor's office about how to apply and what documents you need to submit.

Search Murray County Property Records Online

Murray County uses the Beacon WebGIS platform by Schneider Corp for free online property searches. The system requires no account for basic lookups. You can find parcels by street address, owner name, or parcel ID. Beacon's map view shows parcel boundaries across the county, and you can zoom in to examine any specific lot or land area in more detail.

Each parcel record in Beacon shows the current owner, mailing address, legal description, estimated market value, land and building values, sales history with dates and amounts, and property characteristics like lot size and year built. Tax information is also included. The system runs around the clock, every day of the week. For a small rural county, Beacon is a practical way to check ownership or look up a value without making a trip to Slayton.

Beacon displays assessment and parcel data but does not show document images. For certified copies of recorded deeds, mortgages, or other filed instruments, contact the Recorder's office at (507) 836-6148. The PRISM system run by the Minnesota Department of Revenue aggregates statewide property data and includes Murray County. The MN Revenue property tax page covers delinquency and forfeiture rules that apply to Murray County property owners.

Note: Beacon data is updated on a regular cycle but may not reflect recordings made in the past day or two. For the most current ownership information, contact the Recorder's office directly.

Murray County Property Record Types

The Murray County Recorder maintains all documents that affect an ownership interest in real property. Deeds are the most frequently recorded document type. Under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 507, a deed must be recorded to protect the new owner against claims from later buyers or creditors. Without that public notice, ownership can be challenged.

Mortgages and mortgage satisfactions are also a regular part of the Recorder's work. When a lender finances a purchase, they record a mortgage to establish their security interest. When the loan is paid off, the lender records a satisfaction or discharge. Other types of documents filed in Murray County include easements, declarations of covenants and restrictions, federal and state tax liens, mechanics liens, plats, and certificates of survey. Well disclosure certificates are required on most property transfers where a well is present.

Some Murray County parcels are registered under the Torrens system as authorized by Minnesota Statutes Chapter 508. Torrens properties use a court-issued Certificate of Title to confirm ownership rather than a chain of abstract documents. If you are unsure which system applies to a parcel you are researching, the Recorder's staff can tell you when you call.

Recording Fees and Transfer Taxes

Murray County follows the Minnesota statewide fee schedule for recording. The base fee is $46 for the first page of any document, plus $4 for each additional page. Plats cost $56. A well disclosure certificate submitted separately costs $50. No additional fee is charged when the certificate is attached to the deed at the time of recording.

State transfer taxes apply to most real estate transactions. The State Deed Tax under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 287 is 0.33% of the net consideration, with a minimum of $1.65. On a $130,000 sale, that is $429. The Mortgage Registry Tax is 0.23% of the principal loan amount. On a $100,000 mortgage, that comes to $230. Both must be paid when documents are submitted for recording.

Certified copies cost $10 as a base fee plus per-page charges. Plain copies are less. To get copies by mail, send your request with payment and a self-addressed return envelope to the Murray County Recorder at 2500 28th Street, Slayton, MN 56172.

Property Tax in Murray County

Murray County property taxes are due in two installments each year under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 279. The first half is due May 15. The second half is due October 15. Taxes not paid by May 15 become delinquent on January 1 of the next year and begin accruing interest at 9 to 10 percent per year.

Values are set as of January 2 each year under the rules in Chapter 273. The general tax framework under Chapter 272 governs how taxes are levied and collected across the county. Valuation notices and tax statements go out in March. Owners who disagree with their assessed value can raise the issue at the April Board of Equalization meeting. After three consecutive years of unpaid taxes, the county can begin tax forfeiture proceedings and may eventually sell the property at public auction. The Minnesota Department of Revenue's property tax page explains how those rules work statewide.

Well disclosure requirements apply to most residential property transfers in Minnesota. Full rules are posted at health.state.mn.us.

Communities in Murray County

Murray County has no cities that meet the population threshold for a dedicated page on this site. The county seat is Slayton. Other communities include Currie, Dovray, Iona, Jeffers, Lake Wilson, Murbay, and Chandler. All Murray County property records for land in any of these communities are filed at the Recorder's office at 2500 28th Street in Slayton.

Nearby Counties

Murray County is in southwestern Minnesota and borders several other counties. Property records for each are maintained by their respective county recorders.