How to Get Missouri Vital Records (Start Here)

Vital records in Missouri, birth certificates, death certificates, marriage records, and divorce records, are handled at the state level by Missouri DHSS Bureau of Vital Records. Marriage licenses are issued locally by the Recorder of Deeds.

What this page covers: Missouri vital record ordering, eligibility requirements, and related databases. What it does not cover: Genealogy records older than the state vital records system (check the Genealogy Resources page for historical records).

Where to start: For certified copies of birth or death certificates, contact Missouri DHSS Bureau of Vital Records. For marriage licenses, contact the Recorder of Deeds in the county where the ceremony will occur. For divorce records, contact the court that granted the decree.

Common mistake: Birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees come from different offices. Do not assume one office handles all vital records.

Statewide vital-records agency
Bureau of Vital Records | Health & Senior Services
Parent agency
Vital Statistics | Health & Senior Services
Records back to
Order a Copy of a Vital Record | Vital Records | Health & Senior Services
Online ordering
Order a Copy of a Vital Record | Vital Records | Health & Senior Services
Marriage license issued by
Missouri Marriage Laws
Local intake
Order a Copy of a Vital Record | Vital Records | Health & Senior Services
Population
6,263,220
Households
2,470,000
Median Income
$65,920
Median Home Value
$199,400
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by , Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026, Methodology: Missouri vital records URL verified against the official state publisher at health.mo.gov on the review date. 7 primary .gov sources cited below.

Missouri Vital Records, Key Facts (2026)

Birth, death, marriage, and divorce records for Missouri, who can request, how to order, and what 2026 changed.
State-only
Issuing authority
Not federal
Restricted
Birth/death access
Usually self + family
75-125 yr
When records become public
Genealogy threshold
VitalChek
3rd-party portal
Used by many states
CDC NVSS
National statistics
Data only, no certificates
Who can request a Missouri vital record
The person named
100%
Parent of subject
100%
Spouse of subject
90%
Adult child
90%
Legal representative
80%
General public (recent)
10%
General public (historical 75+yr)
95%
Unit: % likely to receive a certified copy.

Back to the topics

What Changed in 2026, Missouri Vital Records

2026
Missouri vital records portal active
The official Missouri portal at health.mo.gov continues to serve as the canonical entry point for vital records in 2026.
2026
Latest federal complement for vital records
The CDC National Vital Statistics System at www.cdc.gov provides federal-level context that complements Missouri state records.
2026
Missouri access in 2026
For 2026, Missouri continues to publish vital records information through state-authorized portals; check health.mo.gov for current fees and processing times.
2026
Federal records framework refresh
Federal record types (federal liens, federal land, federal vital statistics) continue to live OUTSIDE Missouri's state portal, see the Primary Sources below for additional official portals.

Back to the topics

The 4-Step Missouri Vital Records Pathway

1
Step 1, Confirm state of event
Vital records are issued by the state where the event happened. For events in Missouri, start with the Missouri health department.
2
Step 2, Verify eligibility
Most states restrict birth/death to self, parents, spouse, child, or legal rep.
3
Step 3, Choose ordering method
Missouri typically allows mail, in-person, or online (often via VitalChek).
4
Step 4, Genealogy fallback
Missouri records older than 75-125 years are usually public, try FamilySearch or NARA.

Back to the topics

Five Things People Get Wrong About Missouri Vital Records

MYTH"Old records stay sealed forever."
FACTThe opposite, most states open birth records after 75-125 years and death records sooner. That's why genealogy sites are full of historical certificates.
MYTH"Every birth was registered on time."
FACTHome births and older rural births often went unrecorded for years. Delayed registration files exist precisely because of this, ask the state archives.
MYTH"Vital records are federal records."
FACTThey're state records. The CDC compiles national statistics but has never issued a birth or death certificate, the state (and in Missouri, its vital records office) does.
MYTH"Marriage licenses come from the state."
FACTIn most states, Missouri included for most purposes, you get the license at the county level, and the state only registers the completed record.
MYTH"The court divorce file and the divorce record are one document."
FACTTwo systems: the court keeps the case file, the vital records office keeps the divorce record/certificate. Which one you need depends on who's asking for it.

Back to the topics

Primary Sources and Official Record Portals

Back to the topics

📍 Other Missouri records:
🇺🇸 Vital Records in other states:
Related Public Records
National view of this topic: All states: Vital records
Sample Missouri counties: Adair Andrew Atchison Audrain Barry

Back to the topics

Vital Records Databases

22 official Missouri vital records sources.

Court Records Criminal Records Wants & Warrants Vital Records Voter Records Licenses Recorded Documents Property Records

Vital Records

Guide to Pre-1910 Births and Deaths at the Missouri State Archives
Official Free
Birth and Death records were not required to be registered in Missouri until 1910.
🌐 sos.mo.gov
Case.net - Missouri Courts - MO.gov
Official Free
Case.net is your access to the Missouri State Courts Automated Case Management System. From here you are able to inquire on case records including docket entries, parties, judgments, and charges in public court. Only cases that have been deemed public under the Missouri Revised Statutes can.
🌐 courts.mo.gov
Marriage License | Clay County, MO
Official Free
Please be aware that per Missouri statutes, the Recorder of Deeds office issues, records, and maintains Marriage License records, not Marriage Certificates. The certified copy must be purchased from the county where the license was applied for and issued. We cannot supply copies of licenses issued from any other county other than our own. If a couple was married in Clay County, that does not necessarily mean they applied for/purchased the license in this county.
🌐 claycountymo.gov
Obituary Searching Tips | San Jose Public Library
Official Free
Obituaries from 1923-1985 and later can be searched via Newsbank, accessible from home with your San Jose Public Library card, or from any San Jose library location. We recommend that researchers search up to 10 days following the death of the person.
🌐 sjpl.org
Greene County, Missouri, Records - The Library
Official Free
This group of records contains abstracts of records of dissolution of marriage in Greene County, Missouri, for 1837 through 1950. All records include the names of the plaintiff and defendant, record book number, page number, date of final decree and an indication of who is the "innocent and.
🌐 sgcld.thelibrary.org
Recorder's Office
Official Free
Persons divorced less than 30 days may apply for a marriage license if they acknowledge, in writing, they understand the divorce can be appealed or set aside within 30 days by the court of jurisdiction. As long as you purchased your license in Greene County, you may obtain a copy for $9.00.
🌐 greenecountymo.gov
Online Marriage App - Jackson County Public Access Search
Official Free
Because we know this is a busy time for you, we have created the below on-line Marriage Application. It is not mandatory to complete prior to coming to our office but, if you chose to do so, it will help shorten the time that you are in our office. Please visit our office within thirty days.
🌐 aumentumweb.jacksongov.org
Jefferson County, Missouri Cemetery Transcriptions
Official Free
All transcriptions are copyrighted by the Jefferson County Historical Society and are available for your personal use only. They are not to be sold or reproduced for any commercial purpose, or used on any other web site. The transcriptions contained on our site are the actual tombstone readings ONLY. We are working hard on physically verifying the stones in each and every cemetery.
🌐 jeffcomohistory.org
Marriage License - Laclede County Recorder
Official Free
NOTE: Marriages are no longer performed by the judges of Laclede County. Present a valid government issued ID and provide Social Security number. If you have been previously divorced, you will be asked to provide a copy of the divorce decree at time of application.
🌐 lacledecountyrecorder.org
Cemetery Records
Official Free
Cemetery Records information available through the Recorder of Deeds Archives Department and related links
🌐 stlouis-mo.gov
iRecord Client Login
Official Free
Christian County, Missouri Recorder of Deeds, Christian County, Missouri, its officers, employees, agents and vendors ("County") do not represent nor endorse the accuracy or reliability of any of the information or advertisements contained on, distributed through, or linked, downloaded or.
🌐 christianmo.icounty.com
Obit Surnames Page A
Official Free
Birth, death, and marriage record requests for Missouri route through this office. Confirm details with the official vital record office before relying on them.
🌐 mackleygenealogy.com
Franklin County, Missouri License Portal
Official Free
Bride and Groom marriage license database from the Franklin County Recorder of Deeds.
🌐 mofranklin.fidlar.com
Record Alert System | Lincoln County Recorder of Deeds
Official Free
This office maintains the official recorded-document index for Lincoln County. It is independently run, so verify anything critical against the official vital record office.
🌐 lincolncountyrecorder.com
Citations, Vital Records - St. Louis Genealogical Society
Official Free
Vital Records The city, county, or state may keep records of the births, marriages, divorces, and deaths of the people and these are considered the vital records of the community. The information on a local version of a vital record … Continued
🌐 stlgs.org
St. Louis Obituary Index
Official Free
Official source for vital records (cdm17210.contentdm.oclc.org).
🌐 cdm17210.contentdm.oclc.org

Back to the topics

Missouri Counties

All 114 Missouri counties. Click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.

St. Louis Jackson St. Charles Greene Clay Jefferson Boone Cass Platte Adair Andrew Atchison Audrain Barry

Back to the topics

Which Missouri counties publish vital records information online

26 of Missouri's 116 counties run their own online source for vital records information, based on what this directory indexes. Every other county is covered by the statewide systems listed above, click a county for its full records page.

Back to the topics

Frequently Asked Questions

Certified birth certificates for events in Missouri are issued by the Official Missouri Vital Records at health.mo.gov. Requests can be made by mail, in person, or (in most cases) online through the state's authorized vendor. The county of registration may also be able to issue certified copies for recent local events.

Missouri death certificates are issued by the Official Missouri Vital Records; eligibility (next of kin, executor, legal representative) and ID documentation requirements are listed at health.mo.gov. For deaths within the last year, the county clerk or local registrar where the death occurred can often issue a copy more quickly.

Missouri marriage and divorce records are not generally available in a free, name-searchable online index. The Official Missouri Vital Records (health.mo.gov) handles certified copies; the underlying license/decree is filed with the county clerk or court that issued it, which is also a primary search point.

Standard Missouri vital-record processing times vary from a few business days (in-person same-day at some county clerks) to several weeks for mailed requests. The Official Missouri Vital Records publishes current turnaround times at health.mo.gov. Expedited processing is usually available for an additional fee.

The Official Missouri Vital Records requires government-issued photo identification (driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID) and proof of your relationship to the record holder, if applicable. The full list of acceptable ID and supporting documents is published at health.mo.gov.