Where to Request a Death Certificate in Missouri

In Missouri, you request a death certificate from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Bureau of Vital Records. This is the only state office that issues certified copies. You cannot get one from a funeral home, county clerk, or hospital — they do not have the authority to issue official certificates, though funeral homes can sometimes direct you to the right process.

The Bureau of Vital Records is located in Jefferson City. You can reach them by mail, phone, fax, or in person. If the death occurred in Missouri, the certificate is filed with the state. If the death occurred outside Missouri, you will need to contact the vital records office in the state where the death happened.

The office processes requests during business hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time. Phone requests are accepted at 573-751-6387. Mailing address: Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Bureau of Vital Records, 930 Wildwood Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65102.

Key Takeaways

  • Missouri death certificates come only from the Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City, not from funeral homes or county offices.
  • You need the full name of the deceased, the date of death, and the county where the death occurred to place an order.
  • Certified copies cost $15 each by mail and $20 in person; processing takes 5 to 10 business days by mail.
  • You can order by mail, phone, fax, or in person, but phone orders still require a signed form and payment by check or money order.
  • If you need the certificate urgently, in-person pickup at the Jefferson City office is the fastest option.

What Information You Need Before You Order

Before you contact the Bureau of Vital Records, gather the details about the person who died. You will need the full legal name (first, middle, and last), the date of death, and the county where the death occurred. If you do not know the exact date, the month and year are usually enough to search.

You should also know your relationship to the deceased — the office asks this on the request form. You do not need to prove the relationship with a document, but you do need to state it. The office uses this information to determine whether you are an authorized requester.

If the death certificate has been amended or corrected since it was first filed, tell the office that when you order. They will send you the most current version unless you specifically ask for an earlier one.

How to Order by Mail

To order by mail, read the process for Certified Copy of Birth, Death, or Fetal Death Certificate from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services website, or call 573-751-6387 and ask them to mail you the form. Fill in the deceased person's full name, date of death, and county of death. Write your name, address, and phone number, and state your relationship to the deceased.

Include payment of $15 per certificate. Missouri accepts checks or money orders only — no credit cards by mail. Write the check or money order to "Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services." Do not send cash.

Mail the completed form and payment to: Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Bureau of Vital Records, 930 Wildwood Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65102. Processing takes 5 to 10 business days after the office receives your request. You can expect the certificate to arrive 2 to 3 weeks after you mail it, depending on postal delivery time.

How to Order by Phone or Fax

You can call 573-751-6387 to place a phone order, but the office still requires a signed process form and payment. When you call, the staff will take your information and mail you the form. You sign it, include payment, and mail it back. This does not save time — it straightforward allows you to start the process by phone.

Alternatively, you can fax a completed, signed process form to 573-751-6359. Include a copy of a check or money order (front and back) as proof of payment, or provide a credit card number. Fax orders are processed in the same 5 to 10 business days as mail orders.

The fax option is useful if you have already filled out the form and want to send it quickly, but it does not speed up the actual processing time at the office.

How to Order in Person in Jefferson City

If you can travel to Jefferson City, you can request a death certificate in person at the Bureau of Vital Records office, 930 Wildwood Drive. Bring the completed process form (or fill one out there), the deceased person's full name, date of death, and county of death. Bring a photo ID.

Payment is $20 per certificate in person, compared to $15 by mail. You can pay with cash, check, money order, or credit card. If you order in person and the certificate is in stock, you may receive it the same day or within a few hours. If the record needs to be pulled from storage, you may need to wait or return later.

The office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time. It is closed on state holidays. Call ahead if you are traveling from out of state to confirm the office will be open and to ask whether the record is readily available.

How Long It Takes and What It Costs

Processing time depends on how you order. By mail or fax, expect 5 to 10 business days from the date the office receives your request, plus postal delivery time — usually 2 to 3 weeks total. By phone, the office takes your information but still mails you a form to sign and return, so there is no time savings. In person at the Jefferson City office, you may receive the certificate the same day if it is readily available, or within a few hours if it needs to be retrieved.

Cost is $15 per certified copy by mail and $20 per copy in person. You can order multiple copies at once. Some people order 5 to 10 copies because they may be needed for probate, insurance claims, or other purposes, and ordering extras now is cheaper than ordering again later.

Rush processing is not available through the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records. If you need a certificate urgently, in-person pickup is your only faster option.

Who Can Request a Death Certificate

Missouri law allows certain people to request a death certificate. These include the spouse, parent, child, or sibling of the deceased; the executor or administrator of the estate; an attorney representing the estate; a funeral director; or someone with a documented legal interest in the death record.

You do not need to provide proof of your relationship — you straightforward state it on the form. The office does not verify it before sending the certificate. However, if you are not a close relative or the executor, the office may ask you to explain your reason for requesting the certificate.

If you are requesting a certificate for a minor child or on behalf of someone else, include a brief explanation on the form. The office uses this to determine whether the request is legitimate.

What to Do If the Death Was Not in Missouri

If the person died outside Missouri, you cannot order from the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records. You must contact the vital records office in the state where the death occurred. Each state has its own office, fees, and processing times.

To find the right office, search online for "[state name] vital records" or "[state name] death certificate." Most states have a website that lists the address, phone number, and fees. You can also call the National Center for Health Statistics at 1-800-232-4636 for a referral to the correct state office.

If you do not know which state the person died in, start with the state where they lived. If that does not work, try the state where they were born or where they had family. Funeral homes sometimes keep records of where deaths occurred and can point you in the right direction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I order a death certificate for someone I am not related to?

Yes, but you need a documented legal interest. This includes being an attorney, executor, creditor, or someone with a court order. The office will ask you to explain why you need the certificate. Funeral directors and medical examiners can also request certificates.

How many copies should I order?

Order at least 3 to 5 copies. You will likely need one for probate, one for insurance claims, one for Social Security, and one for your records. Ordering extras now costs less than ordering again later, and some institutions require certified originals that you cannot photocopy.

What if I do not know the exact date of death?

The month and year are usually enough. The office can search by name, date range, and county. If the search returns multiple results, the staff will contact you to clarify which record you need.

Can I get a death certificate if the death was very recent?

Yes, but there may be a delay. Deaths must be filed with the state before a certificate can be issued, which usually happens within a few days of the death. If you order when ready after a death, the office may tell you the record is not yet in the system and ask you to resubmit in a few days.

What if the name on the death certificate is spelled wrong or needs to be corrected?

Contact the Bureau of Vital Records to request an amendment. You will need to provide proof of the correct information, such as a birth certificate or court order. Amendments take longer than regular orders and may require additional documentation.