How to Find Missouri Death Records
Statewide registration of deaths began in January 1, 1910 in Missouri. Counties have copies of these records.
Next Step: When did the death occur?[edit | edit source] |
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Deaths before 1910[edit | edit source]
Before 1883, no deaths were recorded by the county or state, exceptions being the cities of St. Louis (beginning in 1850) and Kansas City (beginning in 1874). In most cases, you must search substitute records to locate your ancestor’s death date and place. In 1883, Missouri law required counties to record deaths, although records are incomplete. The practice continued for ten years and stopped in 1893. Deaths were not recorded for most places in Missouri between 1893 and 1910.
| Records that give death information: | ||
| Missouri Deaths Databases - Includes Index Only | ||||
| Pre-1910 - At Missouri Digital Heritage | Free; dates vary by county | |||
| 1867-1976 - At FamilySearch.org | Free; Index only; microfilm copies of these records are available at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries. Find your local FamilySearch Center. | |||
| Ancestry Databases | ||||
| 1834-1910 - use at FamilySearch Centers/Libraries | Free at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Find your local FamilySearch Center. Includes cities of St. Louis and Kansas City | |||
| 1834-1910 - use your Ancestry subscription | $, To obtain a subscription to Ancestry; Ancestry is often available through your local public library for free. Includes cities of St. Louis and Kansas City | |||
| Can't find your ancestor in the index? | Tips for searching indexes | |||
| No death record for your ancestor? | Other records with death information | |||
Deaths from 1910 thru the present[edit | edit source]
The state of Missouri began recording deaths in 1910.
STEP ONE: Find Death Information[edit | edit source]
For deaths that exist during this time period, try the following databases. Try each link.
| Missouri Deaths Databases - Includes Index and Digital Images | ||||
| 1910-1967 - At Missouri Digital Heritage | Free | |||
| Includes Index Only | ||||
| 1867-1976 - At FamilySearch.org | Free; dates vary by county; incomplete; list of county coverage | |||
| 1873-1976 - At Ancestry | $, Use Ancestry Institution at FamilySearch Centers/Libraries | |||
| Images Only | ||||
| *Missouri, Deaths, 1883-1930 - At FamilySearch.org | Free; dates vary by county; counties incomplete | |||
| Social Security Death Index | ||||
| Can't find your ancestor in the online index? | Tips for searching online indexes | |||
| No death record for your ancestor? | Other records with death information | |||
| Can't search the index listed above? | Go to Step Two listed below and order a search for your ancestor from the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services State Office. | ||
| Can't find your ancestor in the index? | Tips for searching indexes | ||
| No death record for your ancestor? | Other records with death information | ||
STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate[edit | edit source]
If the image was not included in the index entry above, you can order a copy of the death record for a fee from the following locations:
| To Order Death Certificates | |||
| From County of Death | From MO Dept. of Health State office | ||
| Pros | Cons | Pros | Cons |
| May be less expensive and faster than ordering from the state | County websites can be more difficult to use | Offers a search of the state index for an additional fee | May be more expensive than ordering from the county |
If you do not know the exact date or place of death:
For a fee, the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services State office will do a 5-year search.
Restrictions for persons who died within the last 50 years:
To obtain a copy of the death certificate for those who died within the last 50 years, you must be:
- The guardian of the person on the certificate
- Anyone who has legal interest in the certificate
- NOTE: A copy of the death record cannot be obtained by anyone except those listed above until 50 years have passed from the date of the death.
If you do not want to order the death record, there are other records with death information you can search.
