Free links to official Missouri state and county government records — courts, criminal histories, vital records, property, voter, business, and licenses across all 115 counties.
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.
Edited by Sam Rokni — 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.
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.
For 2026, Missouri continues to publish vital records information through state-authorized portals; check health.mo.gov for current fees and processing times.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Birth, death, and marriage record requests for Missouri route through this office. Confirm details with the official vital record office before relying on them.
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.
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
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.
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.
How do I get a Missouri death certificate?▼
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.
Can I look up a Missouri marriage or divorce record online?▼
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.
How long does it take to get a Missouri vital record?▼
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.
What ID do I need to order a Missouri certified vital record?▼
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.
