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Foreclosure and tax sales in Missouri

What our research shows about Missouri's rules. General information with sources — not legal advice, and not a reading of your papers.

BasicThe essentials, each with its source. General deadlines only.Research last reviewed 2026-09-22

Your state

How foreclosure works

Usual process: Nonjudicial (out of court)
From a reputable summary[1][2]
Allowed processes: Judicial (through court) · Nonjudicial (out of court)
From a reputable summary[1]
Main statutes: Mo. Rev. Stat. § 443.320; Mo. Rev. Stat. § 443.325; Mo. Rev. Stat. § 443.410; Mo. Rev. Stat. § 443.420
From a reputable summary[1]
Typical length (estimate): Not researched yet for this state.

+At least 120 days
Federal rule: the servicer generally cannot make the first foreclosure notice or filing until you are more than 120 days behind
Applies to most home loans in every state. A complete loss-mitigation application sent more than 37 days before a sale also triggers federal protections.
Checked against the official text12 CFR § 1024.41(f)(1)
Notice of default or breach letter
No state-law cure notice; many deeds of trust require a breach letter.
From a reputable summary
Notice of sale — at least 20 days before the sale
The sale notice is mailed to you at least 20 days before the sale and published 20 times or for four successive weeks.
From a reputable summary
+At least 20 days
Foreclosure sale
From a reputable summary
+At least 365 days
Redemption window (at least 365 days in the shortest common case)
One year — but only if the lender bought at the sale, and only if you gave written notice of intent to redeem at or within 10 days before the sale and post a bond.
From a reputable summary

A general sequence built from the rules above. "At least" periods are the shortest we found; your case can take longer.

Notice before foreclosure: No state-law cure notice; many deeds of trust require a breach letter.
From a reputable summary[1]
Notice of sale: At least 20 daysThe sale notice is mailed to you at least 20 days before the sale and published 20 times or for four successive weeks.
Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 443.320, 443.325
From a reputable summary[1]
Publication: Newspaper 20 times or four successive weeks.
From a reputable summary[1]
When sales happen: Not researched yet for this state.

Catching up (reinstatement): No statutory right; many deeds of trust allow it.
From a reputable summary[1][2]
Buying the home back (redemption): LimitedOne year — but only if the lender bought at the sale, and only if you gave written notice of intent to redeem at or within 10 days before the sale and post a bond.
Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 443.410, 443.420
From a reputable summary[1][2]
Owing money after the sale (deficiency): YesAllowed; measured by the sale price, and a sale is set aside only if the price “shocks the conscience.”
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 443.240
From a reputable summary[1]
Mediation: Not researched yet for this state.

Tax sale system: Tax lien certificate sale
Collector’s tax sale; buyer receives a certificate of purchase, then a collector’s deed if not redeemed.
From a reputable summary[3]
How it works: Taxes are due Dec. 31. Delinquent land tax sales begin at 10:00 a.m. on the fourth Monday in August; notice is mailed and published three weeks before.
From a reputable summary[3]
Redeeming after a tax sale: One year after a first or second offering sale (and until the deed); 90 days after a third-offering sale; none after later sales.
Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 140.340, 140.250
From a reputable summary[3]
Relief programs: Missouri Property Tax Credit — Credit for eligible seniors and 100% disabled people; some areas offer senior tax freezes.
From a reputable summary[3]
Payment plans: Not researched yet for this state.
Surplus after a tax sale: Not researched yet for this state.

Federal exemption list: State list only (opted out)
This state has opted out: in bankruptcy you use the state exemption list (plus federal non-bankruptcy exemptions), not the federal § 522(d) list.
From a reputable summary[4]
Homestead exemption: $15,000 (rises to $40,000 on Jan. 1, 2027)$15,000; not doubled for co-owners; rises to $40,000 on January 1, 2027.(Mo. Rev. Stat. § 513.475)
From a reputable summary[5]

Free legal aid (LSC-funded): Legal Aid of Western Missouri
Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, Inc.
Legal Services of Southern Missouri
Mid-Missouri Legal Services Corporation
Checked against the official text[7]
Legal help website: Legal Services of Missouri
Checked against the official text[8]
State housing agency: Missouri Housing Development Commission
Checked against the official text[6]
Attorney general / consumer protection: Missouri Attorney General
Checked against the official text[9]
Court self-help: Missouri Courts — Self-Represented Litigants
The official site blocked our automated check on 2026-09-22; confirm the page before relying on it.
Not confirmed — check it[10]
HUD-approved housing counselors: HUD-approved housing counseling agencies — Free or low-cost, HUD-approved housing counselors in every state. Call or search by ZIP code.

Retrieved 2026-09-22. Official texts are marked “official”; summaries are marked “summary”.