Find Genealogy Records in St. Peters

St. Peters genealogy records are held at the St. Charles County government offices, which are actually located in St. Peters itself. St. Peters is part of St. Charles County, and all official birth, death, marriage, land, court, and probate records for city residents are maintained at the county level, with the Recorder of Deeds office at 397 Turner Blvd right in town.

Records Are Kept at St. Charles County

St. Peters residents' genealogy records are held at St. Charles County. The St. Charles County Recorder of Deeds at 397 Turner Blvd, St. Peters, MO 63376, phone 636-949-7550, handles marriage licenses and land records going back to 1804 for marriage records and to 1800 for land records. These are among the oldest surviving county records in Missouri. St. Charles County was organized in 1812 as one of Missouri's five original districts, and the Recorder's office is conveniently located in St. Peters for residents doing in-person research.

The Circuit Clerk for St. Charles County holds court, divorce, and probate records from 1804 onward. Probate files are particularly useful for genealogists because they name heirs, document property distribution, and often reveal family relationships not captured in other record types. For researchers tracing St. Peters families, the courthouse records going back over two centuries provide a deep well of family data. The county's rapid growth as a St. Louis suburb in the late 20th century means many current residents have ancestors who arrived more recently, but the county records go back to a time before Missouri statehood.

The County Clerk maintained birth and death records from 1883 to 1894. The County Health Department holds birth certificates from 1920 onward and death certificates from 1980 onward. For records from 1895 to 1909, the Missouri State Archives holds what survives from that period. Marriage license fees in Missouri are $46.00, and both parties must appear in person with a valid photo ID and Social Security number.

Note: The St. Charles County Recorder of Deeds is in St. Peters, but the Circuit Clerk and probate records are in the city of St. Charles, about 10 miles away. Researchers may need both offices for a complete search.

Vital Records in St. Peters

For certified copies of birth and death certificates, contact the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records at 930 Wildwood Dr., Jefferson City, MO, phone (573) 751-6387. Certified copies cost $15.00 each. State-level birth and death records are available from 1910 onward. For records before 1910, the Missouri State Archives holds St. Charles County vital records on microfilm. The county clerk's early registration records from 1883 to 1894 may also have relevant data for ancestors from that period.

Death certificates from 1910 through 1969 are free to search at Missouri Digital Heritage. The database covers St. Charles County and all other Missouri counties. With over 9 million statewide records, this is typically the fastest free option for finding a death date for a St. Peters ancestor from the first half of the 20th century. The Missouri State Archives at 600 W. Main St., Jefferson City, phone (573) 751-3280, holds older St. Charles County records on microfilm.

St. Peters City Resources

The City of St. Peters at stpetersmo.net provides local government information, but official genealogy records such as birth, death, marriage, land, and court documents are maintained at the St. Charles County level. The city's website can be a useful starting point for understanding current city services and contact information, but for actual family history research, the county offices and state archives are the correct destinations. The city does not maintain its own historical records archive separate from the county system.

The St. Charles City-County Library at 1185 S. Scott Ave., St. Charles, MO 63303, phone 636-441-2300, serves residents throughout the county including St. Peters. The library provides in-library access to Ancestry Library Edition and HeritageQuest Online. Local history materials, newspapers on microfilm, and a genealogy reference collection are available at the main branch. For St. Peters residents who want to research without traveling to the main library, the library system has branch locations that may be closer.

St. Charles County Historical Resources

The St. Charles County Historical Society at 101 S. Main St., St. Charles, MO 63301, phone 636-946-9828, holds archives covering the county's long history from French colonial times through the present. The collection includes photographs, family files, church records, and local histories that predate the official courthouse system. St. Charles County's early settlement history includes French, Spanish, and American period records, and the Historical Society's collections reflect that depth. For St. Peters residents tracing families in the area back to the 1800s or earlier, the Society is worth a visit or contact.

The St. Charles County MOGenWeb site is a free volunteer resource with transcribed records, cemetery lists, obituaries, and family histories for the county. FamilySearch at familysearch.org has indexed St. Charles County census records from 1850 through 1940 and some earlier territorial records. Both are free to use and a good complement to the official courthouse records for St. Peters family research.

Online Records for St. Peters Residents

Missouri Digital Heritage holds St. Charles County death certificates from 1910 to 1969 and other records at no charge. FamilySearch at familysearch.org has indexed St. Charles County records across multiple centuries, including French colonial land grants and early American period documents. Missouri Case.net at courts.mo.gov/casenet covers court cases filed from November 2003 onward. For older records, contact the St. Charles County Circuit Clerk.

The Missouri State Archives has finding aids online and can assist with research requests by mail or in person at the Jefferson City office. The Missouri State Genealogical Association at mosga.org connects researchers with county-level societies across the state. For St. Peters residents, the St. Charles County Historical Society is the most direct local connection to genealogical expertise in the area.

The City of St. Peters website provides local government information, while official genealogy records for residents are found at the St. Charles County level.

St. Charles County holds marriage records from 1804 and land records from 1800, making it one of the deepest county record sets in Missouri for family research.