How to get Missouri divorce records

Ways to order

What Missouri divorce records cost

First certified copy

$15²

Each additional copy

$15⁵

Each extra year searched

$15¹

If no record is found

The fee is kept as a search fee⁵

Types of copies

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 Missouri divorce records

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
• Child, grandchild and a parent named on the record: Immediate family members shall include those family members and in-laws in the direct line of descent up to, but not including, cousins. This qualification of entitlement also applies to Statements of Marriage, Divorce, and Single Status .¹
  Proof: May need extra documentation if the link to the record cannot be established¹
• 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
• Government agency¹

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.⁵

• Party A and Party B names (first, middle, last before any marriage, last after this marriage)
• Date of divorce
• Where decree was issued (city, county)
• Applicant's details
• Purpose
• Relationship

Decree or certificate

The decree, the court's judgment with the terms of the divorce, comes from the clerk of the court that granted it. Divorce certificate vs decree explains which one an agency usually wants.

Asking the court clerk

The CDC's National Center for Health Statistics lists what a request for a divorce record should include:⁶

• Full names of husband and wife
• Date of divorce or annulment
• Place of divorce or annulment
• Type of final decree
• Purpose for which copy is needed
• Relationship to persons whose record is requested
• Day time telephone number with area code

Clerks charge their own copy and certification fees, and some offer an exemplified copy, a more formal certification used for out-of-state and foreign purposes.

Forms

• Application for Missouri Vital Record - Marriage/Divorce/Single Status (MO 580-2995 (VS-151MD)) revision 3-2021⁵

Years held and older records

Years the issuing office holds

July 1, 1948 to today⁵

Older records

Circuit Clerk in the county where the decree was granted¹

Special situations

Use abroad

For apostille, the divorce decree must be a certified copy from the circuit clerk⁷

If no record is found

If no record is found, a statement will be issued; the search fee is not refunded⁸

Warnings from the office

• Missouri BVR is not connected to any other online or phone service; unapproved sites may overcharge and mishandle data⁴
• Unauthorized services often overcharge by misrepresenting official prices⁴
• A cashed check does not mean the application has been processed¹
• Requests received without the correct fee are returned¹

Questions people ask