Missouri ranks 45th out of 51 (the 50 states and D.C.) for how easy, fast and affordable it is to get certified birth, marriage, divorce and death records.
Cost#21of 51
Speed#38of 51
Ease of ordering#50of 51
Birth certificates #42 (tie) of 51
Cost
$15 first copy, $15 each extra copy
Processing time
Mail: about 4–8 weeks; in person: walk-in at local public health agencies; state office by appointment
Time until the copy is in hand
About 5–9 weeks by mail (estimate)
Where to order
State office or a local county office
Order online
Yes, through the state’s approved vendor, for an extra fee
Records available
State office; local public health agencies issue births from 1920
Marriage records #36 (tie) of 51
Cost
Varies by county
Processing time
Varies by county
Time until the copy is in hand
Varies by county
Where to order
County only: the Recorder of Deeds in the county where the license was issued (the state issues only a $15 marriage statement, not a certified copy)
Order online
No statewide online ordering of certified copies; the state statement can be ordered online
Records available
State marriage statements (not certified copies) from July 1948; certified copies from the county Recorder of Deeds
Divorce records #27 (tie) of 51
Cost
Varies by county
Processing time
Varies by county
Time until the copy is in hand
Varies by county
Where to order
County only: the Circuit Clerk’s office in the county where the divorce was granted (the state issues only a $15 divorce statement, not a certified copy)
Order online
No statewide online ordering of certified copies; the state statement can be ordered online
Records available
State divorce statements (not certified copies) from July 1948; certified copies from the county Circuit Clerk
Death certificates #40 of 51
Cost
$14 first copy, $11 each extra copy
Processing time
Mail: about 4–8 weeks; in person: walk-in at local public health agencies; state office by appointment
Time until the copy is in hand
About 5–9 weeks by mail (estimate)
Where to order
State office or a local county office
Order online
Yes, through the state’s approved vendor, for an extra fee
Records available
State office; local public health agencies issue deaths from 1980
Note: These rankings were done on . Prices, processing times and ordering rules may have changed since then, so check with the issuing office before you order. Times marked “estimate” add typical mail delivery to the office’s posted processing time. “Not published” means the office does not post that detail.
How to order Missouri birth, death, marriage and divorce records
How do I get a Missouri birth certificate?
A certified Missouri birth certificate costs $15 per copy. DHSS says the fastest way is usually to ask locally: Missouri’s 115 local public health agencies offer walk-in service for births from 1920 on. You can also order from the DHSS Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City online, by phone, by notarized mail request (about 4–8 weeks), or by appointment.
Missouri birth records: ordering details
Who can order
Missouri birth records aren’t open to the public. Certified copies go only to someone with a direct and tangible interest: the person named; immediate family (direct line of descent and in-laws, up to but not including cousins), who must identify at least one parent on the record; a parent or guardian; an official representative such as an attorney; or someone with a signed, notarized authorization from an eligible person.
Fee
$15 for each copy. The fee covers a five-year search and is non-refundable; if no record is found, you get a statement instead. Extras: VitalChek charges an additional fee for online and phone orders, with optional overnight delivery. Local fees may differ; check with the local public health agency.
How to order
Local: walk in to a local public health agency. In St. Louis City, birth records are at the Recorder of Deeds Office in City Hall. Online or by phone:VitalChek or 1-877-817-7363 (credit card). By mail: the notarized Application for Missouri Vital Record – Birth/Death, a legal-size self-addressed stamped envelope and a check or money order payable to “Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services” to Bureau of Vital Records, 930 Wildwood Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65109. In person (state): by appointment at the same address, Mon–Fri 9 a.m.–3 p.m. (call 573-751-6387).
ID needed
In person: one photo ID, such as a driver’s license, state ID, U.S. military ID, U.S. passport, or school or work photo ID, or two alternate documents from DHSS’s list. Mail: the application must be notarized. Online: VitalChek verifies identity electronically.
Processing time
Local public health agency: walk-in service. State appointment: same-day service isn’t guaranteed; some requests are mailed back or picked up later. Mail to Jefferson City: about 4–8 weeks. DHSS doesn’t post a time for VitalChek orders. Estimate: plan on about 5–9 weeks for a mail order to arrive.
Older and local records
The state has births from January 1, 1910 on, plus some delayed certificates for earlier births. Local public health agencies issue births from 1920 on, short form only. If you need the long form or a birth before 1920, order from the state.
Tip: Need the long-form birth certificate? Order from the state and check the long-form box on the application; local offices issue the short form only.
A certified Missouri death certificate costs $14 for the first copy and $11 for each extra copy ordered at the same time. Local public health agencies offer walk-in service for deaths from 1980 on. For earlier deaths or the long form, order from the DHSS Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City.
Missouri death records: ordering details
Who can order
Someone with a direct and tangible interest: family members (brother, sister, parent, child, grandparent, aunt or uncle, including in-law, step, great and cousin relationships), genealogists, the funeral director on the record, other official representatives, someone with a notarized authorization, or someone who documents a need to protect personal or property rights. Applicants must identify at least one parent on the record unless the record is over 50 years old.
Fee
$14 for the first copy, $11 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time. The fee covers a five-year search and is non-refundable. Extras: VitalChek adds a fee for online and phone orders; overnight delivery is available.
How to order
Local: a local public health agency (St. Louis City: Recorder of Deeds, City Hall). Online or by phone:VitalChek or 1-877-817-7363. By mail: the notarized Birth/Death application, a self-addressed stamped envelope and a check or money order to Bureau of Vital Records, 930 Wildwood Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65109. In person (state): by appointment, 573-751-6387.
ID needed
One photo ID or two alternate documents in person; a notarized application by mail; plus tangible interest documents if needed.
Processing time
Local: walk-in service. State appointment: same day not guaranteed. Mail to Jefferson City: about 4–8 weeks. Estimate: plan on about 5–9 weeks for a mail order to arrive.
Older and local records
The state has deaths from January 1, 1910 on, in short and long form. Local public health agencies issue deaths from 1980 on, short form only. Death records over 50 years old can also be searched on the Secretary of State’s Missouri Digital Heritage website.
Tip: Order all the copies you need at once. Extra copies ordered at the same time are $11 instead of $14.
A certified copy of a Missouri marriage certificate comes only from the Recorder of Deeds in the county where the license was issued. The state DHSS Bureau of Vital Records issues a $15 Certified Statement Relating to Marriage instead, which lists the spouses’ names, the date and the county.
Missouri marriage records: ordering details
Certified copy vs. verification
Marriage certificate (certified copy): from the county Recorder of Deeds. State marriage statement: shows both spouses’ names, the date of marriage and the county where it was recorded. Useful if you aren’t sure which county has the record.
Who can order
Certified copy: set by the Recorder of Deeds. State statement: someone with a direct and tangible interest, such as either spouse or a family member.
Fee
Certified copy: varies by county. State statement: $15 (VitalChek adds a fee online or by phone).
How to order
Certified copy: contact the Recorder of Deeds in the county where the license was issued. State statement: online or by phone through VitalChek (1-877-817-7363), in person, or by notarized mail request with the statement application to Bureau of Vital Records, 930 Wildwood Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65109.
ID needed
State statement: photo ID or two alternate documents in person; a notarized application by mail. County: contact the Recorder of Deeds.
Processing time
County: varies. State statement by mail: about 4–8 weeks.
Older records
Statewide reporting of marriages began July 1, 1948, so state statements cover marriages from then on. For earlier marriages, contact the county Recorder of Deeds.
Tip: If you need the marriage certificate itself, skip the state and go straight to the county Recorder of Deeds.
A certified copy of a Missouri divorce decree comes only from the Circuit Clerk in the county where the divorce was granted. The state DHSS Bureau of Vital Records issues a $15 Certified Statement Relating to Divorce, which lists the names, the date and the county.
Missouri divorce records: ordering details
Certificate vs. decree
Divorce decree (certified copy): from the county Circuit Clerk. State divorce statement: shows both spouses’ names, the date of divorce and the county where it was recorded.
Who can order
Decree: set by the Circuit Clerk. State statement: someone with a direct and tangible interest.
Fee
Decree: varies by county. State statement: $15 (VitalChek adds a fee).
How to order
Decree: contact the Circuit Clerk in the county where the divorce was granted. State statement:VitalChek (1-877-817-7363), in person, or by notarized mail with the statement application to Bureau of Vital Records, 930 Wildwood Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65109.
ID needed
State statement: photo ID or two alternate documents in person; a notarized application by mail. Decree: contact the Circuit Clerk.
Processing time
County: varies. State statement by mail: about 4–8 weeks.
Older records
Statewide reporting of divorces began July 1, 1948. For earlier divorces, contact the county Circuit Clerk.
Tip: Don’t know the county? The $15 state statement shows where the divorce was recorded.
Note: Fees, processing times and rules are set by the issuing offices and can change. Times are estimates. Check with the office before you order. PublicLibraries.com is not a government agency.
Other records
Other Missouri records people search for
Official Missouri sites for other common lookups. Some records are kept by counties or carry fees; the note on each line says so.
Official Missouri sites for other records
Court case lookup
Case.net Missouri Judiciary statewide case search.
Note: Links go to official state sites or services the state designates. Access rules, fees and coverage are set by each office and can change. PublicLibraries.com is not a government agency.
About Missouri public records
Certificate Information
Missouri vital records are maintained by the Bureau of Vital Records and by local county health agencies, recorder of deeds,
and Circuit Court Clerks. The state maintains birth and death records from Jan 1, 1910 to present with some records prior to 1910.
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
Bureau of Vital Records
P.O. Box 570
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Telephone: 573-751-6387
Marriage and divorce decrees are maintained from 1948 to present at the vital records office. Records earlier than that should be
obtained from the county records department or circuit court.
The Missouri Department of Social Services maintains a voluntary adoption information registry. Any adult age adoptee, biological
parent or sibling can register their information.
Missouri Children's Division
Adoption Information Registry
P.O. Box 88
Jefferson City, MO 65103
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