How to Get a Missouri Death Certificate (2026)

Missouri death certificates are issued by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City, and by many local public health agencies. A certified copy costs $14 for the first copy and $11 for each additional copy ordered at the same time, and is available only to people with a direct and tangible interest in the record.

How Do You Get a Death Certificate in Missouri?

You get a Missouri death certificate from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), Bureau of Vital Records, located at 930 Wildwood Drive in Jefferson City. Many local public health agencies across the state also issue certified copies for deaths that occurred in Missouri.

The state keeps death records for events that occurred in Missouri since January 1, 1910. You have four main ways to request a copy.

Order Online

You can order a certified death certificate online through VitalChek, the state-authorized third-party service. VitalChek charges an additional service fee on top of the state copy fee. Online orders usually ship in about 5 to 7 business days.

Order by Mail

You can mail a completed application to the Bureau of Vital Records, 930 Wildwood Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65109. Include payment by check or money order and a copy of your acceptable identification. Mail requests generally take about 4 to 8 weeks depending on volume.

Order in Person

You can visit the Bureau of Vital Records office in Jefferson City. Appointments are recommended, and you can call 573-751-6387 to schedule. Bring acceptable identification and payment.

Order Through a Local Public Health Agency

Many of Missouri's local public health agencies can issue certified copies of death records statewide. Walk-in service at a local agency is often the fastest option, sometimes same day. Contact your local agency to confirm availability and hours.

Who Is Eligible to Request a Missouri Death Certificate?

Only a person with a direct and tangible interest in the record may obtain a certified copy of a Missouri death certificate. Missouri vital records are not open to the general public, which helps protect identities and prevent fraud.

Eligible requesters generally include the following:

• Immediate and extended family members, including spouse, parent, child, grandparent, sibling, aunt, uncle, cousin, and in-laws
• The estate representative, executor, or administrator handling the deceased person's affairs
• Attorneys, physicians, and funeral directors acting on behalf of the family or estate
• Genealogists representing a family member, and professionally recognized genealogists
• Authorized agents with a signed, notarized statement from an eligible family member
• Others who can show a direct and tangible interest, such as a property or inheritance claim

When applying, you must usually identify at least one parent named on the record. Death records more than 50 years old are exempt from that requirement and are also searchable through the Missouri Secretary of State's Missouri Digital Heritage archive.

Missouri Death Certificate Cost and Processing Time

A certified Missouri death certificate costs $14.00 for the first copy and $11.00 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time. The first copy fee includes a 5-year search, and one certified copy is issued if the record is found.

If you order through VitalChek, you pay the state fee plus VitalChek's separate service charge. There is no extra administrative fee charged by the Bureau itself.

Processing time depends on how you order. Mail requests typically take about 4 to 8 weeks. VitalChek online orders usually ship in about 5 to 7 business days. Local public health agencies often provide same-day walk-in service.

To order, you must show acceptable identification. This is generally one government-issued photo ID showing your name and photograph, or two alternate documents that show your name.

Short Form vs Long Form Certified Copy in Missouri

Missouri issues only certified copies of a death record. There is no separate informational or uncertified version. The state does offer the certified copy in two formats: a short form and a long form.

The short form, titled Certification of Death, is the default. The long form, titled Certificate of Death, reproduces the full recorded detail. Either form is an official document issued by the Bureau of Vital Records or a local agency.

You use a certified copy for legal and administrative tasks such as settling an estate, claiming life insurance or benefits, closing financial accounts, and transferring property or title. Both forms are restricted to eligible requesters with a direct and tangible interest and are not available to the general public.

How to Get Additional or Replacement Copies

You can get additional copies at the same time you place your order for $11.00 each, which is cheaper than ordering them separately later. Settling an estate often requires several certified copies, so it helps to order enough at once.

If you need a replacement copy later, you place a new request through any of the same methods: online via VitalChek, by mail, in person, or through a local public health agency. Each new request is treated as a fresh order, so the first copy is $14.00 and additional copies on that order are $11.00 each. You must still meet the eligibility and identification requirements each time you order.

Disclaimer: This page provides general information, not legal advice. Vital-records fees, eligibility rules, and processing times can change. Always confirm current requirements with the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records or your local public health agency before you order.

Sources

This page is based on the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Bureau of Vital Records, including its order page, fee notice, and frequently asked questions.

For the parent overview, see Missouri Death Records, and to compare other states, visit Death Records by State.