Access Missouri County Public Records

The Missouri county records are the collected from the inventory databases operated by the local government. These databases hold the documents of actions taken by the governments operating at county and municipal levels, local courts and all the interactions that have been taken place between them and the citizen of the counties.

To search the local database of Missouri county public records, you can visit the site at http://www.sos.mo.gov/CountyInventory/. This is the website of Secretary of State for Missouri. A keyword is used to search for a particular record. You can combine the name of the county to narrow down the search.

Local Board for Missouri County Records Search

The titles differ from a county to another. Measures of standardizing are in process of implementation. Electronic inventories have been developed in all counties except for nine. These nine counties are Atchison, Montgomery, Butler, Bollinger, Dunklin, Warren, Pemiscot, Oregon and Vernon. Every county in Missouri can access microfilms of the records.

There is a Local Record Board which takes care of the retention schedules and other necessary aspects. The Business and Public Records Law has entitled the Board to exercise this authority. Since 1986, all the records generated at local level have been stored here under Local Records Preservation Program. To preserve the records that have permanent value, they are microfilmed.

The state archives house those records that are not required by the government while Records Management is for state operated agencies and in many cases, are applicable within the city limits of Jefferson City. County agencies or municipal offices need to contact Local Records Program for the records. The contact number of the department is 573 751 9047.

County Based Search

You can also search for county public records Missouri by visiting websites of each county. You can access vital records, incarceration records, documents of trade licenses, sex offender information and many more.

For example, if you are a resident of St Louis County and want to apply for birth or death certificate, go to Department of Health of your county. To order online, visit the page of online form at https://www.stlouisco.com/doh/vitals/vitalrecords/default.aspx. You can also call the toll free number 1 866 225 2072 to place the order over phone.

It takes three to five working days to process the request. You can collect the certificates in person by mailing your request application to Saint Louis County Vital Records, 111 South Meramec Avenue, 1st Floor, Clayton, MO 63105-1711. Enclose a check of $15 for the first copy and $10 for each additional copy of the birth certificate. For the death certificate, the amounts for first and additional copies are $13 and $10 respectively.

The marriage license is obtained from the office of the Recorder of Deeds. The address of this office in St Louis County is Recorder of Deeds, 41 South Central Avenue, Clayton, MO 63105-1799. The application fee is $45 and the payment has to be made in cash only.

Similarly, for the Jackson County residents, the address to apply for birth and death certificates or marriage or divorce deeds records is 313 S. Liberty, Independence, MO 64050 or you can call 816.404-6416. Birth certificates since 1920 and death certificates since 1980 are available from this department. For information on office hours and service fees can be obtained from http://www.jacohd.org/.