Search for Death Records in Missouri

Free Missouri Death Records Lookup

Our comprehensive guide to the death records in the state of Missouri will help you in finding death records as well as provide you with relevant information about the deceased and the life they lived.

Death Records in Missouri -
The Ultimate Guide 2024

Missouri Death Databases

In Missouri, death records registration on a statewide level started in 1910, with counties having copies of such records.

Before 1910

Before the year 1883, there were no filed death records in Missouri both on a state and county level. However, there were some exceptions such as St. Louis city (starting 1850) and Kansas City (starting 1874). In 1883, the law in the state required that counties file death records, a practice which went on for a decade. Between 1883 and 1910, there were no death records in most parts of the state of Missouri. If you cannot locate your ancestor’s death details, be sure to use alternative sources including bible records, church records, tax records, census data or probates.

1910 to Date

You can get a copy of your ancestor’s death records from the Missouri Department of Health State Office or from the county of death. Getting it from the county of death is a faster and cheaper option, with the only downside being that county websites are not so easy to use. Upon payment of the required fee, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services State Office will conduct a five year search for you in case the exact date of death is not known.

Death Certificates in Missouri

In the state of Missouri, death records start off as private records then they become publicly available 50 years after the record file date. There are restrictions to obtaining death certificates for individuals who passed on within the last 50 years. Below is a list of people who are eligible to request for a death certificate:

How to Find Missouri Death Records

Obtaining Missouri death records from Archives.com is the most dependable method of doing so. Following your registration for an account, you will have complete access to the death records for the state of Missouri as soon as you log in to the platform. The following are a few simple steps to get you started:

Step 1: Go to Archives.com and sign in using your email address and password.

Step 2: Use the buttons at the very top of the user page to navigate through the options. When you click on the “Search” button, the Missouri state death records page is loaded.

Step 3: Check the box next to “Vital Records,” then click on the “Death” button just below it. Thus, the site eliminates all other records and only displays death records, which you can then download.

Step 4: Key in as much information about the deceased as you can remember about them.

Step 5: The state of Missouri should be entered in the ‘Location’ box. As soon as you begin typing, you will notice that the website will provide a match for you.

Step 6: You will be presented with a list of records; you will need to scroll through the list until you find the person whose records you are interested in viewing.

Step 7: Click on the name of the deceased to view the death record that is currently available online. In most cases, you will be able to obtain their full name as well as their maiden name if they were previously married. You can also find out about their burial arrangements, such as whether they were cremated or buried, and whether a biographical sketch is available.

Alternative Sources for Missouri Death Information

Missouri Death Records FAQs

What is an Official Death Certificate?

An official death certificate refers to a death certificate that is issued directly by the Missouri state government or any similar organization. This document contains information such as the individual’s name, physical address, date of birth, and date of death.

What are death records?

Death records are official files that give any useful information about a deceased individual. If you’re doing genealogical research, these records come in handy as they contain most of the information you’d need to learn more about your ancestry. Most death records are held by the state the deceased lived or died in, but they lack the burial state of the deceased. Both cemeteries and churches hold death records, as with state governments. Information you can obtain from death records includes the full name, date of birth, date of death, and place of death.

Are Missouri Death Records Open to the Public?

According to the Missouri Revised Statutes, vital records such as birth records, divorce records, marriage records, adoption records, death records, and other life records are available to all eligible parties with a direct relationship to the person named on the record.

What Information Do I Need to Search for Missouri Death Records Online?

Requesters who wish to get a hold of a death record must be well acquainted with basic facts associated with it including:

Conclusion

The state of Missouri is extremely particular about the accuracy of its tax and voting records, and this is reflected in its state records. As a result, they strive to keep a comprehensive death record up to date. Following the death of a person, tax collectors contact family members or next of kin to collect any unpaid state taxes that may be owed to the state. In the event of a probate proceeding, these death records will be extremely useful because your family members or next of kin will not have any difficulties in obtaining any legal information. With our comprehensive guide to Missouri death record searches, you’ll be able to locate any type of record that you might require in a matter of minutes.

Disclaimer: OurPublicRecords mission is to give people easy and affordable access to public record information, but OurPublicRecords does not provide private investigator services or consumer reports, and is not a consumer reporting agency per the Fair Credit Reporting Act. You may not use our site or service or the information provided to make decisions about employment, admission, consumer credit, insurance, tenant screening, or any other purpose that would require FCRA compliance.