How to Get a Death Certificate in Missouri
From Everendium · Last reviewed October 15, 2026
This guide covers Missouri. For the general overview, see Getting Death Certificates: How Many You'll Need and Why.
Quick answer
In Missouri, certified death certificates are issued by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services' Bureau of Vital Records, which began recording deaths on January 1, 1910, and the local public health agencies. A certified copy costs $14, which includes a five-year search, and each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time costs $11. The Bureau charges no extra administrative fee, but VitalChek adds an approved processing fee (one county lists $27 total for an online order of one copy).
Getting a death certificate is one of the first practical steps after a death in Missouri, and the details of who issues it and what it costs are specific to Missouri.
Who issues death certificates in Missouri?
Certified copies come from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services’ Bureau of Vital Records, which began recording deaths on January 1, 1910, and the local public health agencies. In practice, the funeral home usually files the certificate and orders an initial batch of certified copies for you.
How much does a certified copy cost in Missouri?
A certified copy costs $14, which includes a five-year search, and each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time costs $11. The Bureau charges no extra administrative fee, but VitalChek adds an approved processing fee (one county lists $27 total for an online order of one copy).
Who can order a copy in Missouri?
In Missouri, vital records are not open to the general public. Copies go to specifically defined individuals, and identification is required.
How do I order more copies in Missouri?
- At a local public health agency: Missouri has 115 local vital records offices that offer walk-in service, and many records are also available there.
- At the state office: 930 Wildwood Drive, Jefferson City; an appointment is recommended (573-751-6387).
- Online or by phone: through VitalChek, the only service the state endorses; the Bureau is not connected to other online sellers.
- By mail: with the state application and fee.
What else should I know before I order?
The state warns that other websites may misstate prices and cause overpayment, so use the Bureau, a local public health agency, or VitalChek.
What should I do next?
Confirm with the funeral home how many copies it is ordering for you, then decide how many more you need; see how many death certificates you need in Missouri and our general guide to death certificates.
Add this to your Final Day Plan: your Social Security number, birthplace, and parents’ full names - the death certificate application asks for these, and they’re often surprisingly hard for a family to track down under pressure.
Fees and rules change - confirm current details with the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records or a local public health agency before you send payment.
Sources
- Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services - Vital Records Fee Information (death $14; additional copies $11; access limited to defined individuals)(Government)
- Missouri Bureau of Vital Records - Consumer Alert: Ordering a Vital Record Online (VitalChek only; local offices; state office hours)(Government)
About this review
Everendium Editorial Team · last reviewed October 15, 2026.
Fees, eligibility rules, and ordering options were checked on October 15, 2026 against the state's own published fee information, application forms, and county government pages listed in the sources. Death certificate fees change often, and some official pages were read only as search extracts, so the current fee should be confirmed on the agency's page before paying. Recommended for periodic re-verification. This is general information, not legal advice
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