Bureau of Vital Records | Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services

Types of Vital Records You Can Request

Many Missouri residents can quickly obtain their birth, death, marriage, and divorce records at the local level.^1,2 There are some types of vital records only available at the county level, and other types of records that are only available from the Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City.

In the State of Missouri, vital records are not open to the general public. Copies of vital records are provided to specifically defined individuals or entities. This helps protect identities, prevent fraud, and preserve the integrity of vital records. State law only allows a certified copy of a vital record to be issued to a person with a direct and tangible interest in the record. Learn more about who can obtain a copy of a vital record.

The following vital records are available for request:

Birth & Death

The State of Missouri began a central registry of Missouri births and deaths reported from Jan. 1, 1910 to the present. While vital record keeping began in 1910, some delayed certificates may be available before 1910. However, there is no guarantee of a record’s existence either before or after 1910.

To request a birth or death certificate locally, contact your nearest local public health agency.^1,3 To request a birth or death certificate from the Department of Health and Senior Services in Jefferson City, follow the steps outlined in How to Obtain a Copy of a Vital Record on this page.

Where are these records available?
Local level – Births: 1920-present. Death: 1980-present. (Short form [NEEDS LINK] versions)
State level – Births: 1910-present. Death: 1910-present. (Short form [NEEDS LINK] and long form [NEEDS LINK] versions)

How can I order a copy?
Local level – Varies. Contact local public health agency directly.
State level – In person, mail, and phone/online via VitalChek. See How to Obtain a Copy of a Vital Record on this page.

Delayed Birth

A delayed birth certificate is a certificate that is filed in lieu of a traditional birth certificate for a child that has reached his/her twelfth birthday and a Certificate of Live Birth has not yet been filed. To request a delayed birth certificate from the Department of Health and Senior Services in Jefferson City, follow the steps outlined in How to Obtain a Copy of a Vital Record on this page.

Where are these records available?
Local level – Not available.
State level – Delayed births: 1910-present. Delayed registration of persons born prior to 1910 began in 1931 and then only by request. (Only long form [NEEDS LINK] version available)

How can I order a copy?
Local level – Not available.
State level – In person and by mail. Ordered in the same manner as a regular birth. See How to Obtain a Copy of a Vital Record on this page.

Before a copy of a delayed birth certificate can be requested, a delayed birth must have been registered with the Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City by the completion of an Application to Record Birth After 12th Birthday. View information on how to register a delayed birth.

Original Pre-Adoptive Birth Certificate – Missouri Adoptee Rights Act

Under the Missouri Adoptee Rights Act (RSMo 193.125 and 193.128, RSMo), adoptees, adoptee’s attorneys, birth parents, and lineal descendants of deceased adoptees can request a copy of the adoptee’s original birth certificate. The copy will be non-certified and will be stamped with “For genealogical purposes only. Not to be used for establishing identity”. Both adoptees and birth parents have the option to complete a contact preference form stating whether they would like to be contacted.

Adoptee birth certificates cannot be ordered online. The requestor should allow additional processing time from the date of submitting their paper application to receive their original birth certificate due to the demand for these records and the research required to find and process these records. Vital Records processes these requests in a first in, first out manner.

If you are an adoptee, an attorney of an adoptee or birth parent requesting a copy of the adoptee’s original birth certificate, use Application for Non-Certified Copy of Original Birth Certificate by Adoptee, Adoptee’s Attorney or Birth Parent.

If you are a lineal descendant of a deceased adoptee requesting a copy of the adoptee’s original birth certificate, use Application for Non-Certified Copy of Original Birth Certificate by Lineal Descendant. A lineal descendant as defined in 19 CSR 10-10.130 is a person who is in direct line to an ancestor, such as child, grandchild, great-grandchild, and so on, either by blood or legal adoption. This does not include a step-child or collateral descendant. Collateral descendants are those from the line of a brother, sister, aunt, or uncle.

If you are an adoptee and would like to state your preference for contact, use Adoptee Contact Preference Form.

If you are a birth parent and would like to state your preference for contact, use Birth Parent Contact Preference Form.

If you are a birth parent and would like to provide medical information, use Birth Parent Medical History Form.

Follow all instructions on the forms and submit the forms along with applicable fees to:
Bureau of Vital Records
930 Wildwood Drive
Jefferson City, MO 65109

Where are these records available:
Local level - Not available.
State level - Available if criteria met and record on file.

How can I order a copy?
Local level - Not available.
State level - In person and by mail. See above and How to Obtain a Copy of a Vital Record on this page.

Marriage

In Missouri, two different marriage related documents are available for issuance. A marriage statement and a marriage certificate. The Certified Statement Relating to Marriage issued by the Department of Health and Senior Services in Jefferson City will only include the names of both spouses, date of marriage, and county where the marriage was recorded. Certified statements can be helpful if an individual is not certain of the county in which the marriage was recorded. An actual certified copy of the original marriage certificate may only be obtained by contacting the Recorder of Deeds in the county where the license was obtained.

Where are these records available?
Local level – Certified copy of the original marriage certificate. No statement available.
State level – Certified Statement Relating to Marriage. No certificate available. Reporting of marriages began in July 1, 1948.

How can I order a copy?
Local level – Varies. Contact county recorder of deeds directly.
State level – In person, mail, and phone/online via VitalChek. See How to Obtain a Copy of a Vital Record on this page.

Divorce

The Certified Statement Relating to Divorce issued by the Department of Health and Senior Services will only include the names of both spouses, date of divorce, and county where the divorce was recorded. Certified statements can be helpful if an individual is not certain of the county of record or other similar circumstances. An actual certified copy of the original divorce decree may only be obtained by contacting the Circuit Clerk in the county where the decree was granted.

Where are these records available?
Local level – Certified copy of the original divorce decree. No statement available.
State level – Certified Statement Relating to Divorce. No divorce decree available. Reporting of divorces began in July 1, 1948.

How can I order a copy?
Local level – Varies. Contact county circuit clerk directly.
State level – In person, mail, and phone/online via VitalChek. See How to Obtain a Copy of a Vital Record on this page.

Fetal Death/Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth

Each spontaneous fetal death of twenty (20) completed weeks gestation or more, calculated from the date of last normal menstrual period began to the date of delivery, or a weight of three hundred fifty (350) grams or more which occurs in Missouri shall be reported.

If a report of spontaneous fetal death is filed with the state, a copy of the report may be requested by filing an application with the Bureau of Vital Records. If desired, either parent, or if both parents are deceased, a sibling of the stillborn child, also have the right to file an application requesting a “Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth”, which is created from information in the report of spontaneous fetal death.

If a spontaneous fetal death occurs, neither a birth certificate nor a death certificate shall be filed or issued—only a report of spontaneous fetal death, and if desired, a certificate of birth resulting in stillbirth certificate are available.

Where are these records available?
Local level – Not available.
State level – Available if criteria met and report filed.

How can I order a copy?
Local level – Not available.
State level – In person and by mail. See How to Obtain a Copy of a Vital Record on this page.

Statement of Single Status

A Statement of Single Status (no impediment to marriage) is a document that verifies whether an individual has any recorded marriages on file in the State of Missouri. To request a Statement of Single Status, from the Department of Health and Senior Services in Jefferson City, follow the steps outlined in How to Obtain a Copy of a Vital Record on this page.

Where are these records available?
Local level – Not available.
State level – Reporting of marriages and divorces began in July 1, 1948.

How can I order a copy?
Local level – Not available.
State level – In person and by mail. See How to Obtain a Copy of a Vital Record on this page.

Putative Father Registry

The putative father registry allows a man to “officially” claim he is the father of a child. A man may want to do this before paternity is legally established if he cannot find the child’s mother or if the mother does not want to establish paternity for the child. The Putative Father Registry is used in adoption proceedings to identify the child’s father and promptly secure his consent to proceed with the adoption. View more on the Putative Father Registry.

Requesting Documents Related to Vital Records

Correction Affidavits

Copies of processed and applied correction affidavits may be provided, if available, upon written request to those eligible to receive a certified copy of the record that was corrected. The affidavits will not be certified and will be marked “COPY”. The written request must accompany a regular notarized application for the corresponding vital record, search fee, and any other documentation necessary to obtain a copy of a vital record.

Paternity Affidavits

Copies of processed and applied paternity affidavits may be provided upon written request by either parent, husband (if denial was filed), as well as their legal representative. The affidavits will not be certified and will be marked “COPY”. The written request must accompany a regular notarized application for the corresponding birth record, search fee, and any other documentation necessary to obtain a copy of a vital record.

Documents/Evidence

Copies of specific documents or evidence relating to a vital record, if available, may be provided upon written request to those eligible to receive a certified copy of the record. The documents/evidence will not be certified and will be marked “COPY”. The written request must accompany a regular notarized application for the corresponding vital record, search fee, and any other documentation necessary to obtain a copy of a vital record.

For additional information, call the Bureau of Vital Records at 573-751-6387, opt. 1.

Unsealing Records/Documents

Copies of sealed records/documents, such as legitimations, may be provided upon receipt of a certified court order from a court of competent jurisdiction or, in the case of adoption, as decreed by the court of adoption or pursuant to the Missouri Adoptee Rights Act. A $15 processing fee applies for processing a court order to unseal a record for the purposes of issuing a copy of the sealed record and/or related documents. The order should indicate to whom the record and/or related documents should be issued and provide a current mailing address. If a mailing address was not provided in the order, in-person pick-up or completion of an application may be utilized, in addition to the order, to obtain the record and/or related documents. In addition, the standard search fee to issue the record once unsealed is required. The record/documents will not be certified and will be stamped with “For Genealogical Purposes Only. Not to be Used For Establishing Identity”. The record will then be re-sealed after issuance.

How to Obtain a Copy of a Vital Record

Who Can Obtain a Vital Record and Tangible Interest Examples

Pursuant to 19 CSR 10-10, the registrant, a member of his/her family, his/her guardian, or one of their official representatives shall be considered to have a direct and tangible interest and may be issued a certified copy of a vital record such as a birth or death certificate. Applicants requesting records shall furnish adequate identifying information contained on the record to ensure the correct record is being released.

The information and examples below outline entitlement requirements to obtain a vital record. All additional requirements, such as an application and statutorily required search fee, are also still required to obtain a vital record.

For additional information regarding vital record access, see the Missouri Code of State Regulations or contact the Bureau of Vital Records at 573-751-6387.

Documents Required to Obtain Certified Copies of Vital Records

Requesting certified copies in person

Signed application and search fee.
One issued identity document that displays a name and photograph OR two alternate forms of identification. At least two alternate forms of identification documents must be used if applicant does not have a picture identification card. See Acceptable Documentation for Identification below.
If applicable, tangible interest documents or signed notarized statement authorizing release.
If a family member is requesting a record for another family member, additional documentation or information may be required if the applicant’s link to the requested record cannot be established.

Requesting certified copies by mail

Signed application which must be notarized by a notary public and search fee.
If applicable, tangible interest documents or signed notarized statement authorizing release.
If a family member is requesting a record for another family member, additional documentation or information may be required if the applicant’s link to the requested record cannot be established.

Requesting certified copies online/by phone

The Bureau of Vital Records contracts with VitalChek to process vital record requests online or over the phone. VitalChek can verify an identity electronically online through public record data powered by LexisNexis.

Acceptable Documentation for Identification

Primary Documents (One document is required. Documents should be current/valid.)

A state issued driver’s license that includes a photograph and date of birth
A state issued identification card that includes a photograph and date of birth
A U.S. military identification card that includes a photograph
A U.S. passport with photograph
A school identification card/document showing applicant’s name, photograph, and date of school year
Work identification card that includes the applicant’s name, photograph, and company name

Alternate forms of Identification Documents (At least two alternate forms of identification documents must be used if applicant does not have a picture identification card when applying in person) Alternate documents must display name of applicant, may display date of birth, date of issuance (or year), must display institution, company or organization/agency name. Documents should be as current/valid as possible based on the type of documents provided.

Letter from government or social agencies
School yearbook
A W-2 form issued within last year in addition to a signed Social Security card (social security numbers must match)
Social Security card or Social Security numident printout (print out of an applicant’s Social Security account of activities)
Court certified adoption papers that includes adopted parent(s) name
Official certified deeds or title to property
Certificate of vehicle title or registration documents
Proof of auto insurance
Insurance policy (health, home, life, etc.)
Medicaid/Medicare document or identification card
A payroll stub that includes a Social Security number of applicant (cannot be handwritten stubs)
Military discharge document (DD-214)
Cancelled duplicate check (must show name, address, signature, and name of institution)
Utility bills which shows name and address of applicant (water, gas, electric, telephone)
Shelter name band (including name of shelter)

Exemptions from Vital Records Requirements

The Revised Statutes of the State of Missouri (RSMo) and the Missouri Code of State Regulations (CSR) specifically outline how the statewide operation of the vital records system shall operate, the dollar amounts of the statutorily required search fees for a vital record and who must pay them, along with the requirement to submit a correctly completed application and, if applicable, tangible interest documentation. Unless Missouri state law specifically exempts you or your agency from the statutorily required search fee, a fee must be submitted with an application for a vital record—regardless of the reason or need for the vital record. State agencies may pay for vital records utilizing the PVQ process. All subpoenas, summonses, warrants, et al. [NEEDS LINK] must still comply with state law and cannot exempt requestors from statutory requirements and regulations. An application must always be submitted to obtain a copy of a vital record. The applicant’s relationship to the registrant and/or reason for the request will determine whether tangible interest documentation shall accompany the application. All mail-in applications must be notarized, pursuant to 19 CSR 10-10, regardless of the requestor or the reason or need for the vital record.

Phone and Online via VitalChek

Call VitalChek at 1-877-817-7363, toll free 24 hours a day, 7 days a week or order online now through VitalChek. Documents can be requested by phone or online and charged to a major credit card.⁴ An additional fee is charged by VitalChek for using this service. To further expedite the request, overnight delivery service is available.

Mail-In / In-Person

You may request copies of vital records directly from your local public health agency or from the Department of Health and Senior Services in Jefferson City. Follow the steps below to mail-in a request for a record, print out and take to your local public health agency, or schedule an appointment to visit the Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City.

Step 1 – Download and complete the appropriate application form.

Application for a Vital Record - Birth/Death/Fetal/Stillbirth
Application for a Vital Record - Statement Relating to Marriage/Divorce/Single Status

View all applications and forms [NEEDS LINK]

Step 2 – Determine search fee for record and necessary documents

Birth and Fetal Death Records Marriage and Divorce Records	Death Records
$15 per record	$14 per record
$15 for each additional copy	$11 for each additional copy
View more fee information

A search fee must accompany all requests for copies of vital records. A five (5) year search may be conducted per search fee. If an applicant wishes to have additional sets of five (5) years searches conducted, an additional search fee will be required.

For example: If an application for a birth record is submitted with the year of birth listed on the application as 2005, and no record is found in that year, the two years before the year of birth provided (2003-04) and the two years after the year of birth provided (2006-07) will also be searched. If no record is found, a statement will be issued.

Make check or money order payable to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Checks must be drawn on a United States bank. A money order must be drawn on a United States bank or issued by the United States Postal Service. Do not send cash or a blank check.

Requests received without the appropriate fee will be returned to the sender.

If applicable, tangible interest documents or signed notarized statement authorizing release of record should be included with the application and search fee.

If a family member is requesting a record for another family member, additional documentation or information may be required if the applicant’s link to the requested record cannot be established.

Step 3 – Take to local public health agency, schedule in-person appointment, or mail request to Jefferson City

Take to your local public health agency, schedule an appointment to visit the Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City, or mail request.

Take/mail to: Local Public Health Agency
Local Public Health Agency Directory

Take to: Bureau of Vital Records
Jefferson City Vital Record Lobby
930 Wildwood Drive
Jefferson City, MO 65109
573-751-6387

Call the Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City to schedule an in-person appointment at 573-751-6387. By appointment services offered from 9 AM – 3 PM with the last appointment slot scheduled at 2:30 PM. Same day turnaround service is not guaranteed for in-person requests. Some requests may be accepted, processed, and mailed back to requestor or picked up at a later date.

Mail to: Bureau of Vital Records
Include completed application form, necessary documents, a legal size, self-addressed stamped envelope, and check or money order for the search fee.

Mail to:
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
Bureau of Vital Records
930 Wildwood Drive
Jefferson City, MO 65109

Note: Usually, the fastest way to obtain a copy of a vital record is to request it locally. If necessary, requests may be mailed to the Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City. Mail-in requests to Jefferson City can be processed within approximately 4-8 weeks, depending on the volume of requests the bureau is experiencing at the time the request was made. Processing times could be extended if the request is submitted with errors or requires additional research time.

Checks are cashed/fees are deposited immediately upon receipt of the application by a separate division within the Department of Health and Senior Services. The application is then sent to the Bureau of Vital Records for processing. Therefore, a cashed check does not indicate an application has been processed.

Authentication and Apostilles

Certified copies of vital records ordered through VitalChek can be transferred to the Missouri Secretary of State’s office for apostille/authentication and then sent directly to the recipient. To accomplish this task, please select “Apostille/Authentication” reason when ordering your certificate through VitalChek so your order may be automatically sent to the Missouri Secretary of State for apostille/authentication. If this option is selected, you will need to coordinate with the Secretary of State’s office for final processing/mailing of certificate(s).

If you did not select the “Apostille/Authentication” option and your VitalChek order was just placed/has not yet been processed, follow the steps below to manually request an apostille/authentication:

Once a certified copy of a vital record is ordered (long form certificate [NEEDS LINK] recommended) and order confirmation via email is received, contact the Bureau of Vital Records (573-751-6387, opt. 1) the following business morning between 9 AM - 11 AM central time to:

verify order is in processing queue for that day, and (b) request that the resulting certificate be forwarded for authentication/apostille

If you plan to order or have already ordered a copy of a vital record through the Jefferson City office by mail, and wish to get the copy sent to the Missouri Secretary of State’s office for authentication/apostille, contact the Bureau of Vital Records at 573-751-6387.

Certificates are delivered to the Secretary of State once per week on average. The Secretary of State will then contact customer for specifics and payment for their service. Finished documents will then be sent directly to customer.

For more information about authentication/apostilles, visit: Certification, Authentication, & Apostilles

Foreign Notaries

The Bureau of Vital Records accepts documents containing notarization from notaries registered in the United States. According to the U.S. Department of State, documents can be notarized overseas through notarizing officers at any U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad. It is also possible to have a document notarized by a local foreign notary and then have the document authenticated for use in the United States. Visit the Department of State’s website for more information.

Using an Electronic or Remote Online Notary

In Missouri, traditional, electronic, and remote online notarization (RON) of applications/documents, including correction affidavits, are accepted by the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records. The electronically notarized document must be mailed, and if necessary, along with applicable fees and documentation to the Bureau of Vital Records at 930 Wildwood Dr., Jefferson City, MO 65109.

While electronic and remote notarization is acceptable, other standard requirements still apply in completing the application process and the correction affidavit [NEEDS LINK] process. For more information on submitting electronic or remote notarizations, email: VitalRecordsInfo@health.mo.gov or call 573-751-6387.

Verification of Vital Records

In Missouri, governmental and other authorized agencies should complete verifications and certifications of births and deaths by utilizing the Electronic Verification of Vital Events (EVVE) system. The EVVE system can either verify an identity quickly and powerfully by matching against United States birth certificate databases (a certification) or in cases where a birth certificate is in hand, EVVE allows for immediate confirmation of the document’s legitimacy (a verification). EVVE is the sole source for this capability. No other private or federal database contains this data. For more information, visit: Naphsis.

If an EVVE birth or death verification fails, a letter requesting a manual verification may be sent to the State Registrar/Custodian of Vital Records (Bureau of Vital Records, 930 Wildwood Dr., Jefferson City, MO 65109). The letter must explain the failed EVVE verification in detail, along with the applicable vital record information trying to be verified, along with any supporting documentation, and/or notarized authorization (Ex: the Social Security Administration may submit: Form SSA-L706-F3/Form SSA-562-U3). A manual verification payment is not necessary after a failed EVVE verification/certification.

Governmental agencies can complete confidential verifications of marriages and divorces upon submission of an application for a Certified Statement Relating to Marriage or Certified Statement Relating to Divorce along with tangible interest documents or signed notarized statement authorizing release and applicable search fee to the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records, 930 Wildwood Dr, Jefferson City, MO 65109.

Administrative and Research Requests

Vital Records Data

Policies and procedures for release of vital records information for legitimate research purposes can be found at Data, Surveillance Systems & Statistical Reports. Scroll to the heading Data Release Policies, Procedures and Guidelines.

Vital Records Certificates

The Revised Statutes of the State of Missouri (RSMo) and the Missouri Code of State Regulations (CSR) specifically outline how the statewide operation of the vital records system shall operate, the dollar amounts of the statutorily required search fees for a vital record and who must pay them, along with the requirement to submit a correctly completed application. A fee must be submitted with an application for a vital record, regardless of the reason or need for the vital record. The applicant’s relationship to the registrant and/or reason for the request will determine whether tangible interest documentation shall accompany the application. Requestors with a valid DHSS protocol do not need to submit additional tangible interest but should indicate the protocol tracking number on the application under the “purpose for certificate request”. All mail-in applications must be notarized, pursuant to 19 CSR 10-10, regardless of the requestor or the reason or need for the vital record.

Service of Process – Subpoenas, Summonses, Warrants, et al.

Personal Service for all Service of Process (subpoenas, summonses, warrants, et al.) can be served upon the Department at:
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
Office of General Counsel
912 Wildwood Drive
Jefferson City, MO 65109

Note: In the State of Missouri, vital records are not open to the general public. Copies of vital records are provided to specifically defined individuals or entities. State law only allows a certified copy of a vital record to be issued to a person with a direct and tangible interest in the record upon receipt of a notarized application, statutorily required search fee, and, if applicable, tangible interest documents or a signed notarized statement authorizing release.

Out-of-State Records

The Bureau of Vital Records only possess vital records that originally occurred within the State of Missouri. Births, deaths, marriages, and divorces occurring in states other than Missouri must be obtained from the state where the event took place. More information about out-of-state birth, death, marriage, or divorce certificates can be found on the National Center for Health Statistics web site, "Where to Write For Vital Records." U.S. citizens (or non-citizen nationals) who have a child overseas, should work with the U.S. Department of State to obtain a "Birth of U.S. Citizens and Non-Citizen Nationals Abroad" (CRBA).

Vital Records are not available at the St. Louis City Health Department. Missouri born citizens can obtain records in the St. Louis City area at the Recorder of Deeds office at: City Hall, 1200 Market Street, Room 126, St. Louis, MO 63103 (314) 613-3016.
Fees for copies of vital records will be collected by the local agency providing the document. Fees for birth and death records are the same as those charged by the Bureau of Vital Records. The fee for marriage and divorce records are set by the agency issuing the documents, so the cost may vary.
All birth and death certificate year ranges are not available at the local public health agency level. Births: 1920-present. Death: 1980-present.
VitalChek is an authorized resource for official, government-issued online vital records ordering powered by Lexis-Nexis. Once an order is placed through VitalChek, the order request is routed to the Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City or a regionally approved vital records office for fulfillment. VitalChek does not have access to vital records nor possess the ability to alter a vital record.

Order a Copy of a Vital Record