Search Missouri Genealogy Records
Missouri genealogy records are held across dozens of state agencies, county offices, and research centers. The Missouri State Archives, Bureau of Vital Records, and county Circuit Clerks each maintain different types of documents. Birth, death, marriage, land, military, and probate records are open to the public at no cost or for a small fee. This guide covers where to find Missouri genealogy records online and in person, what each source holds, and how to get certified copies of vital documents.
Missouri Genealogy Records Quick Facts
Missouri State Archives Genealogy Collections
The Missouri State Archives is the primary public repository for records of permanent and historical value in the state. It sits at 600 W. Main St. in Jefferson City and is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Researchers can visit the reading room in person or submit requests by email to archref@sos.mo.gov. Free access to Ancestry.com is available on site. All six State Historical Society of Missouri research centers serve as FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries, giving in-person visitors access to otherwise restricted digital collections.
Military genealogy records are among the strongest holdings at the Missouri State Archives. The collection includes more than 9 million pages related to Civil War service in Missouri, covering Union and Confederate service cards, Provost Marshal documents, and pension applications. Military records reach from the War of 1812 through World War I. Specific holdings include muster rolls from the Mexican War, service card records from the Indian Wars of 1832 to 1838, Missouri Militia enrollment lists for 89 of 114 counties from 1865 to 1900, Missouri National Guard files from 1877 to 1960, and alphabetical World War I discharge cards. Federal census schedules for Missouri covering 1830 through 1920 are also in the collection.
County records on microfilm total over 55,000 reels. These include deeds, marriage records, circuit court filings, and probate materials from each county. The Archives holds land patents from 1831 to 1969, naturalization records from 1816 to 1955, and a Coroner's Inquest Database covering historical deaths across Missouri. Death certificates from 1910 to 1975 are available online through Missouri Digital Heritage. The Archives cannot issue certified copies of vital records. For certified copies of birth or death records filed after 1909, contact the Bureau of Vital Records at (573) 751-6387.
Missouri Genealogy Records Online
Missouri Digital Heritage at sos.mo.gov/mdh provides free access to more than 9 million records from the Missouri State Archives, the Missouri State Library, and partner institutions across the state. No login or subscription is required. A Quick Links tab points directly to the most used databases, including vital records, county histories, plat books, and city directories. Users can also browse by topic, institution, or media type.
The Missouri Death Certificates database holds more than 2.5 million records for deaths from 1910 through 1969. Search by name, county, year, and month. Digitized images of the original certificates link directly to search results. Each certificate may include the date of birth of the deceased, names of parents and spouse, cause of death, occupation, funeral home, and burial location. For records from 1954 to 1969, you can also search by spouse name and parents' names.
Pre-1910 birth and death records are available as a separate collection on the same platform. Coverage is incomplete because statewide reporting was not required before 1910. Other databases accessible through Missouri Digital Heritage include land patents, military records, naturalization filings, county plat books, and historical photographs. The site grows as organizations across Missouri digitize new collections.
Missouri Birth, Death, and Marriage Records
The Missouri Bureau of Vital Records has maintained the state's central registry for births, deaths, and vital events since 1910. The office is at 930 Wildwood Drive in Jefferson City. General hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. Phone support runs from 9 AM to 4 PM at (573) 751-6387. Email requests go to VitalRecordsInfo@health.mo.gov. Birth and death records run from January 1, 1910 to the present. Some delayed certificates exist for births before 1910, available starting in 1931. The Bureau also maintains a central registry of Missouri marriages and divorces dating back to July 1948. Certified copies cost $15.00 for the first copy. Mail requests should go to the Bureau of Vital Records, P.O. Box 570, Jefferson City, MO 65102. Online ordering is available through VitalChek, the Bureau's authorized vendor.
The Bureau's page at health.mo.gov/data/vitalrecords/ shows current forms and ordering options.
Missouri has 115 Local Public Health Agencies that can issue certified birth certificates from 1920 onward and death certificates from 1980 forward. Visiting a local office can save time compared to mailing requests to Jefferson City. Under RSMo 193.125 and RSMo 193.128, adoptees and their lineal descendants may request a copy of the original pre-adoptive birth certificate for genealogy purposes. The copy is non-certified and stamped for genealogical use only. Access to vital records under RSMo Chapter 193 is limited to the registrant, parents, legal guardians, and authorized representatives, though older records are generally more accessible.
State Historical Society of Missouri
The State Historical Society of Missouri (SHSMO) runs six research centers around the state. The main center is at 605 Elm St. in Columbia, phone (573) 882-7083. The other five locations are at the Thomas Jefferson Library at UMSL in St. Louis, Newcomb Hall at UMKC in Kansas City, the Duane G. Meyer Library at Missouri State University in Springfield, Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, and Curtis Laws Wilson Library at Missouri S&T in Rolla. All six centers are FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries. Family Tree Magazine has named SHSMO one of the 75 Best Websites for U.S. State Genealogy Research. On-site access to AncestryLibrary.com is available at the Columbia center at no charge.
The newspaper collection at SHSMO is the largest state newspaper repository in the nation. It spans from 1808 to the present with more than 56,000 rolls of microfilm and over 4,000 distinct titles. Every Missouri county is represented. Current papers from every county arrive weekly and are microfilmed on an ongoing basis. The reference shelves hold more than 250,000 volumes on state, local, and family history. Other holdings include 9,000 manuscript collections, 8,000 maps, 4,800 oral history interviews, cemetery transcriptions, church records, and genealogy society journals. The Missouri Surname Index provides citations to biographies in early Missouri county histories, which can help you quickly locate family information without reading through full volumes.
Visit shsmo.org to browse digital collections, locate your nearest research center, and access online finding aids for manuscript collections and newspaper indexes.
A directory of local historical and genealogical societies in Missouri is maintained at shsmo.org/local-societies/directory. County-level societies often hold materials not found at state repositories, including donated family files, cemetery surveys, and local business records.
Missouri Genealogical Societies
The Missouri State Genealogical Association (MoSGA) is the primary statewide organization for family history research in Missouri. Members receive four issues per year of the MoSGA Journal, which includes transcribed records, research strategies, and book reviews. The association maintains a 4-generation pedigree index with over 26,000 names and a surname database covering families beyond Missouri borders. The association also publishes a research guide listing dozens of Missouri and national resources. Current members can download it free through the member portal. MoSGA's mailing address is P.O. Box 833, Columbia, MO 65205-0833.
Visit mosga.org to see the full list of journals, membership benefits, and research resources available to members and the public.
MoSGA's Missouri First Families program honors descendants of early settlers. Categories include Territorial, War of 1812, Pioneer, and Civil War families. Documentation standards are strict, but an accepted application creates a permanent record of early Missouri ancestry. Local genealogical societies operate in most counties and may hold materials not found anywhere else. Check the SHSMO directory at shsmo.org/local-societies/directory for the society nearest to the county you are researching.
County Recorders and Missouri Land Records
Every Missouri county has a Recorder of Deeds who maintains land records and marriage licenses. Most counties hold records going back to the year they were organized, with some dating to the 1820s and 1830s. Marriage licenses, warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, mortgages, subdivision plats, and military discharge records (DD-214 forms) are all kept in the Recorder's office. Copies of recorded documents typically cost $1.00 per page. Standard recording fees are $24.00 for the first page and $3.00 for each additional page. Marriage license fees run $46.00 in most counties and require both parties to appear in person with a valid photo ID and Social Security number. No waiting period applies, and the license is valid for 30 days anywhere in Missouri.
The Missouri Recorders Association provides a directory of all 114 county Recorders of Deeds with current contact information. The county details page at morecorders.com/county-information lists office hours, fee schedules, and links to individual county websites. Several counties have online record search systems for land records and marriage indexes through portals like Fidlar Laredo and iCounty.
The Recorders Association site is the fastest way to locate the right county office and confirm current hours before a visit or mail request.
Note: Some counties accept online record searches through third-party platforms, but certified copies must still be requested directly from the county Recorder's office.
Missouri Court Records and Probate Files
Missouri's 45 judicial circuits cover all 114 counties and the independent City of St. Louis. Each circuit has a Circuit Court with a Circuit Clerk who stores case records at the local courthouse. Probate records, civil cases, naturalization filings, and guardianship files are all held there. Many of these records are valuable for genealogy research because they document family relationships, property ownership, and legal status across generations. Wills name heirs and list assets. Guardianship files identify minor children. Naturalization records show immigrants who became citizens. Estate inventories reveal what an ancestor owned at the time of death.
FamilySearch has digitized many Missouri county probate records. Adair, Audrain, Andrew, and Buchanan County probate files from the 1800s are searchable online through FamilySearch at no cost. Coverage varies by county, so check the FamilySearch catalog before visiting a courthouse for older records.
Missouri Case.net is the free statewide court portal operated by the Office of State Courts Administrator. It covers cases filed on or after November 12, 2003. Search by party name, case number, or filing date to find civil, criminal, family, and probate cases. Under Chapter 610 RSMo, Missouri court records are presumed open to the public. For older records that predate Case.net, contact the Circuit Clerk in the county where the case was filed. Most clerks charge a per-page fee for copies.
Major Missouri Genealogy Research Centers
The Midwest Genealogy Center in Independence is the largest free-standing public genealogy facility in the United States. It is operated by Mid-Continent Public Library and located at 3440 S. Lee's Summit Rd., Independence, MO 64055, phone (816) 252-7228. The center holds more than 750,000 on-site research materials. All federal censuses are available on site. Civil War service records for every Missouri Union and Confederate unit are in the collection. Over 5,000 genealogy and local history books are available for interlibrary loan. The center is a FamilySearch Affiliate Library, and access to all databases is free of charge. The Midwest Genealogy Center also holds the combined collections of AFRA (American Family Research Association) and MoSGA.
The National Archives at Kansas City maintains permanent federal records for Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas. Often-requested materials include federal census microfilm, military service records, naturalization documents, passenger arrival lists, bankruptcy filings, and land entry case files. Ancestry.com and Fold3 are available free on site. Appointments are recommended. Federal records at Kansas City are separate from Missouri state records, so checking both sources is worthwhile for any family research project.
The National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis holds military personnel files for veterans discharged after World War I. The Missouri History Museum Research Center in St. Louis offers manuscript collections, photographs, maps, and materials covering greater St. Louis area and broader Missouri history. The St. Louis Public Library genealogy department at slpl.org/genealogy also holds strong local and regional collections for researchers tracing St. Louis area families.
Browse Missouri Genealogy Records by County
Each of Missouri's 114 counties maintains its own genealogy records through the Circuit Clerk, Recorder of Deeds, and local health offices. Select a county below for local contact details and resources.
View All 114 Missouri Counties
Missouri City Genealogy Records
Residents in Missouri cities file genealogy-related records at the county courthouse serving their area. Select a city to find local resources and the county office that handles records for that location.