Are Missouri Vital Records Open to the Public?

It depends. Because vital records contain sensitive information, the Missouri Uniform Vital Statistics Law restricts access to vital records until a period of confidentiality elapses. For death records, this confidentiality period is fifty years and up to one hundred years for birth records.

Still, persons who can prove a "direct and tangible interest" in the requested vital record will receive a copy upon request. An example of tangible interest is when releasing for inspection protects the requester's personal or property rights. Other persons must turn to the state archives or obtain an informational list of the vital records that the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) releases every year.

What Information Do I Need to Search for Missouri Vital Records Online?

Generally, persons requesting to obtain vital records in Missouri must provide or submit a request containing the following information: 

• The full name of the person named on the record
• Date of the life event
• Location of the life event
• Father's name (if applicable)
• Mother's maiden name (if applicable)
• Relationship to the individual named on the record
• Purpose of request
• Daytime phone number and contact information (of the requester)

How Do I Obtain Missouri Vital Records?

Certified copies of vital records in Missouri can only be obtained on request by eligible persons, including the persons named on the document, immediate family members, legal representatives. Generally, the requester must complete the appropriate application form, especially if the request goes to the Missouri DHSS. Submissions can be made online, in person, or by sending a mail request. Note that all requesters must submit a valid state-issued photo ID as well as payment for applicable fees before the record custodian processes the request.

Publicly available vital records are also managed and disseminated by some third-party aggregate sites. These sites are generally not limited by geographical record availability and may serve as a reliable jump-off point when researching specific or multiple records. However, third-party sites are not government-sponsored. As such, record availability may differ from official channels. To find a record using the search engines on third party sites, the requesting party will be required to provide:

• The location of the record in question, including the city, county, or state where the case was filed.
• The name of someone involved providing it is not a juvenile.

What is the Difference Between a Certified Copy and an Informational Copy?

Certified copies of vital records are short-form (abstracts) or long-form documents issued on security paper and embossed with an official seal. They are issued by the DHSS and are valid for all identification and legal purposes. Informational copies may be issued by other parties, typically the state archives. However, these copies are unfit for legal purposes or identification.

Are Missouri Marriage Records Public Information?

Yes. Certified copies of Missouri marriage records are open to the persons named on the document as well as persons who provide evidence of eligibility. Meanwhile, more than 3 million indexed public marriage records, created from the territorial period through December 31, 1969, are available for free on the Missouri state archives.

How Do I Obtain Missouri Marriage Records?

Persons requesting certified marriage records in Missouri may submit a request to the Bureau of Vital Records. This agency maintains a central registry of marriages that have occured in Missouri since July 1948. Records of marriages before this date are only available at the Recorder of Deeds' office that issued the marriage license. For in-person and mail requests, interested persons must complete and send the application for marriage records to:

Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services
Bureau of Vital Records
930 Wildwood Drive
PO Box 570
Jefferson City, MO 65102-0570
Phone: (573) 751-6387

Each copy of a marriage certificate costs $15.00 per search, and this fee is non-refundable. Note that the record custodian only processes walk-in services during business hours: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. CST on Monday to Friday (except holidays). Same-day requests are possible if the requester submits the required documents before 3:00 p.m, including a valid photo ID. Mail-in requests go to the same address, only this time, the requester must complete an application for a vital record and enclose the form in a self-addressed legal-size envelope. Furthermore, requests sent by mail must be notarized by a notary public on the same date as the application.

Are Missouri Divorce Records Public Information?

Missouri divorce records are available to individuals named on the record and entities who can demonstrate tangible evidence of interest. This latter group of requesters must provide supporting documentation.

How Do I Obtain Missouri Divorce Records?

Eligible persons can obtain a Missouri divorce record from the circuit clerk's office in the county where the divorce decree was issued. The document obtained from this local record custodian is the actual certified copy of the original divorce decree.

Likewise, the Bureau of Vital Records has maintained a statewide registry of certified statements of divorce records in Missouri since July 1948. Interested persons may obtain either of these documents — that is, certified divorce record or statement of divorce — online, by mail, or in person. Note that the certified statement of divorce contains limited information about the divorce. Generally, divorce records cost $15 per copy.

Interested persons must complete the application for a marriage/divorce record form. Next, the requester must attach a check or money order for applicable fees as well as a copy of a valid photo ID. Enclose the application packet in a legal-size, self-addressed, stamped envelope and mail it to:

Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services
Bureau of Vital Records
930 Wildwood Drive
PO Box 570
Jefferson City, MO 65102-0570
Phone: (573) 751-6387

Note that an approved notary public must notarize all mail requests on the same date as the application. Furthermore, in-person requests for divorce records are processed during business hours: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. CST on Monday through Friday. Same-day processing is possible for applications received before 3:00 p.m CST.  

Are Missouri Birth Records Public Information?

Certified birth records are available to the persons named on the birth record and other persons as determined by statute. Also, interested members of the public may obtain an annual list of persons born in Missouri counties from the DHSS. This list generally contains the persons' names, dates of birth, and mothers' names.

How Do I Obtain Missouri Birth Records?

Persons who wish to order a birth certificate in Missouri must contact the Bureau of Vital Records, the state agency that maintains a statewide registry of births in Missouri. Note that birth records before 1909 are only available through the county clerk's office and via the state archives. Generally, persons who wish to obtain certified birth certificates or birth certificate replacements from the Bureau of Vital Records must complete an application for birth/death records. Each search costs a non-refundable $15.00 fee. Send mail requests in a self-addressed stamped envelope to:  

Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services
Bureau of Vital Records
930 Wildwood Drive
Jefferson City, MO 65102-0570
Phone: (573) 751-6387

Meanwhile, persons who wish to obtain public birth records may visit or send a written request to the state archives at:

Records Management & Archives Service
600 West Main Street
PO Box 778
Jefferson City, MO 65201
Phone: (573) 751-3280

All requesters must provide a valid, state-approved photo ID and pay the application fees before the record custodian processes the application. Furthermore, walk-in service is only between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (CST) Monday to Friday, except for state and federal holidays. Applications submitted before 3:00 p.m. are eligible for same-day processing. Also, written requests must describe the record of interest in detail with information such as the registrant's full name, birth date, and location of birth. The requester must get an approved notary public to notarize all mail requests on the same day of the application.

Are Missouri Death Records Open to the Public?

Missouri death records become open to the public fifty years after the death. In the meantime, certified death records in Missouri are restricted to the deceased's immediate family, legal representatives, and requesters who can demonstrate personal or property interests or affiliations with the deceased.

How Do I Obtain Missouri Death Records?

Certified death records in Missouri are available through the Bureau of Vital Records, which maintains a statewide registry of Missouri death records less than fifty years old. Public death records older than fifty years are maintained by the Missouri State Archives. Interested persons who wish to obtain copies of certified death records must submit an application for birth/death records. This application is possible online, by mail, or in person. Attach the completed form with a check or money order for the appropriate fees and a valid photo ID. Enclose this application form in a legal-size, self-addressed envelope and mail it to: 

Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services
Bureau of Vital Records
930 Wildwood Drive
PO Box 570
Jefferson City, MO 65102-0570
Phone: (573) 751-6387

How Do I Obtain Sealed Vital Records?

Persons who wish to obtain sealed vital records must obtain a court order allowing access to that vital record. This process involves petitioning the court with legitimate, tangible reasons for granting the court order. For example, providing a document showing the requester has a personal or property interest can only be protected by obtaining a copy of the sealed vital record. If successful, the court of competent jurisdiction shall unseal the vital record for the individual's access. The person may then apply for the vital record by attaching a certified court order with other application requirements.