How to get a Missouri death certificate

Ways to order

What a Missouri death certificate costs

First certified copy

$14³

Each additional copy, same order

$11³

Each extra year searched

$14¹

If no record is found

The fee is kept as a search fee⁷

Types of copies

No-fee copies

• No fee for a death certificate requested by the children's division, the division of youth services, a guardian ad litem or a juvenile officer on behalf of a child or person under 21 under juvenile court jurisdiction (RSMo 193.265.1)¹⁰
• Certified copies needed to perfect a claim of a person on relief (or a dependant) against the state or United States are free on request (RSMo 193.265.1)¹⁰

How long it takes

These are the office's own published times. They do not include shipping. Mail and shipping time is extra unless the office says otherwise.

Who can order a Missouri death certificate

The state names these people and bodies as able to order a certified copy. Each line gives the official wording.

• The person named on the record: 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.¹
• Spouse, child, a parent named on the record, brother or sister, grandchild, grandparent and genealogist or family researcher: All family members , genealogists representing a family member, and professionally recognized genealogists are eligible to receive copies of death certificates .¹
  Proof: May need extra documentation if the link to the record cannot be established¹
• Funeral director: Funeral directors may act as an official representative to obtain copies of death records only.¹
  Proof: Funeral director listed on the record with matching ID, or a signed letter from that funeral director¹
• Attorney or legal representative: Official representatives shall include an attorney, physician, funeral director , or other authorized agent acting in behalf of the registrant or his/her family. Official representatives shall demonstrate a link between themselves and the registrant on the vital record or qualified family member.¹
  Proof: Signed contractual documentation/retainer showing representation of the family member¹
• An other authorized agent shall produce a signed and notarized statement by the registrant or a member of his/her qualified family authorizing the release of a record.¹
  Proof: Signed, notarized statement from the registrant or a qualified family member¹
• Example: An ex-wife (divorced from decedent) needs a death certificate of a former husband to obtain benefits from the time period they were married.¹
  Proof: Documentation of the benefit or property right¹
• Government agency: Specifically, copies of records or data from records are allowed for public agencies administering health, welfare, safety, law enforcement, education or public assistance programs , and to private agencies approved by the state registrar.¹

Records open to the public after

50 years⁹

ID you need

Photo ID

Required¹

Accepted ID

• 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 name¹

Without that ID

Count required: 2; Examples: 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, 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)¹

Notarization

Required¹

ID copy with a mail order

Not required by DHSS; mail-in applications must instead be notarized¹

What the application asks for

Have these details ready before you fill in the form or start an online order.⁷

• Full name on certificate
• Date of birth
• Sex
• Date of Missouri death
• Place of Missouri death (city, county)
• Full name of spouse
• Parent one and parent two full names and last names before first marriage
• Applicant's details
• Purpose
• Relationship
• Long form box (if needed)

Forms

• Application for Missouri Vital Record - Birth/Death (MO 580-0641 (VS-151BD)) revision 8-2020⁷

Years held and older records

Years the issuing office holds

1910 to today¹

Older records

Missouri State Archives holds death certificates more than 50 years old (cannot issue certified copies)⁹

Special situations

If no record is found

If no record is found, a statement will be issued; the search fee is not refunded⁷

Use abroad

Order through VitalChek and select the "Apostille/Authentication" reason, or call BVR (573-751-6387 opt. 1) to have the certificate forwarded to the Missouri Secretary of State; long form recommended¹

Fetal death

A spontaneous fetal death of 20 or more completed weeks or 350 grams or more is reported; no birth or death certificate is issued, only a report of spontaneous fetal death and, if desired, a Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth¹

Warnings from the office

• Missouri BVR is not connected to any other online or phone service; unapproved sites may overcharge and mishandle data⁵
• Unauthorized services often overcharge by misrepresenting official prices⁵
• A cashed check does not mean the application has been processed¹
• Requests received without the correct fee are returned¹

The state office

Office

Bureau of Vital Records¹

Phone

573-751-6387¹

Email

[email protected]¹

Mailing address

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

¹

Walk-in address

Jefferson City Vital Record Lobby, 930 Wildwood Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65109

¹

Hours

Monday-Friday 9 AM-3 PM Central (front window/lobby), excluding state and federal holidays¹

Website

Official website¹¹

Questions people ask