How to Find a Cause of Death in Missouri (2026)

To find someone's cause of death in Missouri, you usually need the death certificate, where a physician, medical examiner, or coroner certifies the cause. Missouri is a closed-record state, so the cause of death on a recent certificate is restricted to eligible requesters. Records over 50 years old are public.

How Do You Find Someone's Cause of Death in Missouri?

You find a cause of death in Missouri through the death certificate, which lists the cause in its medical certification section. If you qualify as an eligible requester, you can order a certified copy from the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records.

For sudden, violent, or unexplained deaths, the cause may also appear in a medical examiner or coroner report, which can include autopsy findings. For deaths more than 50 years old, you can view the certificate, including the cause, for free online.

Common practical routes include the published obituary, a newspaper account, the death certificate through the eligible-requester process, an autopsy or coroner report, and older genealogy records once the certificate becomes public. Each route shows a different level of detail.

Is the Cause of Death Public in Missouri?

No, the cause of death on a recent Missouri death certificate is not public. The cause appears on the standard certified copy, and that copy is released only to eligible requesters under the state's closed-record rule.

RSMo 193.245 makes it unlawful to disclose information from a vital record except as authorized by law. A public listing may show only the name and date of death, not the cause.

That changes with age. The statute states that copies of death records more than 50 years old may be disclosed upon request, so the cause of death becomes public once the certificate passes the 50-year mark. For the full access rule, see our parent page on Missouri Death Records. For a broader overview, see Are Cause of Death Records Public?.

Where the Cause of Death Is Recorded

The cause of death is recorded in two main places: the death certificate and, in investigated deaths, the medical examiner or coroner report. The death certificate is the primary, official source.

On the certificate, the cause of death sits in the medical certification section. Missouri allows a physician (MD or DO), assistant physician, advanced practice registered nurse, physician assistant, or a medical examiner or coroner to complete this section. According to the state's medical certifier guidance, a properly completed section explains the order, type, and association of events resulting in death.

The autopsy or coroner report is the second source. It is created when a medical examiner or coroner investigates the death and orders an examination, and it often contains far more detail than the certificate line.

The Medical Examiner and Coroner Role

A medical examiner or coroner investigates deaths that are sudden, violent, suspicious, or occur without a physician in attendance. Which official handles the case depends on the county. In counties with a coroner, RSMo 58.451 lets the coroner order an autopsy when a further inquiry and examination is necessary in the public interest. In counties with a medical examiner, RSMo 58.725 provides that an autopsy is performed when the medical examiner considers one necessary.

When the cause of death is established, the coroner or medical examiner must file a copy of the findings in their office within 30 days (RSMo 58.720). These reports are held by the county office, and access depends on local policy and whether the death is part of an open investigation.

How to Request Records That Show the Cause of Death

To request a record that shows the cause of death, order a certified death certificate from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Bureau of Vital Records, if you are an eligible requester. The cause of death is included on that standard copy.

You can apply by mail, in person, or through a participating local public health agency, following the steps on the Bureau of Vital Records website. Mail requests must be notarized. For an in-person request, you must present one issued identity document that displays your name and photograph, such as a driver's license, state ID card, passport, or military, school, or work ID, or two alternate forms of identification if you do not have a photo ID.

For an investigated death, you can also contact the county medical examiner or coroner office that handled the case to ask about the report. Whether they release it, and how much, depends on local policy and the status of any investigation.

Finding the Cause of Death for Older or Historical Deaths

For older deaths, the easiest route is the Missouri Digital Heritage database, which holds death certificates that are more than 50 years old. These public certificates include the cause of death, and you can search and view them for free.

The Missouri State Archives birth and death records collection lets you search by name, county, and date, then view a scanned image of the original certificate. Because these records have passed the 50-year window, anyone can access them.

For genealogy or family history that predates available certificates, you can also use the Social Security Death Index, which is drawn from the Social Security Administration Death Master File. It confirms the fact and date of death but never lists a cause, so it points you toward, rather than replaces, the certificate.

Missouri Cause of Death Records at a Glance

Disclaimer: This page is general information, not legal advice. Access rules, fees, and procedures change. Verify the current requirements with the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records or the relevant county office before you rely on this information.

Sources

This page cites the Missouri Revised Statutes, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Bureau of Vital Records, and the Missouri Secretary of State Digital Heritage archives.

Related: Missouri Death Records | Death Records by State | Are Cause of Death Records Public?