Search Kansas City Death Index Records

Kansas City death index records are available through the Kansas City Health Department for deaths that occurred from 1980 to the present, and through the Missouri State Archives for deaths recorded between 1910 and 1975. Knowing which office to contact and what to bring can save you time, whether you need a certified copy for legal use or are searching historical records for family history research.

Kansas City Health Department Vital Records

The Kansas City Health Department is the primary local office for death certificates covering deaths that occurred within the Kansas City city limits from 1980 to the present. The office is located at 2400 Troost Avenue, Suite 1000/1200, Kansas City, MO 64108. You can reach them by phone at (816) 513-6309 or by email at births@kcmo.org. Hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The fee is $14 for the first certified copy and $10 for each additional copy of the same record requested at the same time, consistent with the fee schedule under RSMo 193.265.

In-person requests can be handled same-day. Bring a completed application and a valid photo ID. If you do not have a photo ID, two alternate forms of identification are accepted in its place. Mail requests must include a notarized application, meaning your signature on the form must be witnessed and stamped by a notary public. Notarization is not required for walk-in requests. Mail a check or money order payable to the Kansas City Health Department along with the notarized form and a self-addressed stamped envelope. The death must have occurred within Missouri for the Kansas City Health Department to issue the record.

The Kansas City Health Department website provides current information on vital records services, hours, and the application process for obtaining certified death certificates locally.

VitalChek serves as the authorized online ordering vendor for Missouri death certificates when an in-person or mail request is not convenient.

Jackson County Public Health and Kansas City Death Records

Jackson County Public Health (JACPHP) is a separate office that also handles death index records for deaths occurring in Jackson County, including many Kansas City addresses that fall within the county's jurisdiction. The JACPHP office is located at 313 S. Liberty Street, Independence, MO 64050. Phone is (816) 404-6415. This office serves residents of unincorporated Jackson County and some municipalities within the county. If you are not sure whether to contact the Kansas City Health Department or JACPHP, check which jurisdiction the death occurred in. The JACPHP vital records page explains which areas the county health department covers and how to submit a request. The fee at JACPHP is $14 for the first copy and $11 for each additional copy.

Both the Kansas City Health Department and JACPHP hold records from 1980 forward. For deaths that occurred before 1980, neither local office is the right starting point. Those records are held by the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City or, for deaths between 1910 and 1975, are searchable for free in the Missouri State Archives online database. Knowing the year of death will help you choose the right office from the start.

Missouri Bureau of Vital Records and Kansas City Deaths

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City holds death records for Kansas City from January 1, 1910, through the present. The Bureau is located at 930 Wildwood Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65109. Phone is 573-751-6387. Lobby hours run Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Appointments are recommended for in-person visits. Fees match the state schedule: $14 for the first certified copy and $11 for each additional copy under RSMo 193.265.

Under RSMo 193.255, only those with a direct and tangible interest may get certified copies of records within the 50-year confidentiality window. Eligible requestors include a spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, legal representatives, funeral directors, and people with documented property or estate interests. Once a record passes the 50-year mark, it transfers from the Bureau to the State Archives under RSMo 193.225, where it becomes a public record with no eligibility restrictions.

VitalChek is the authorized online vendor for Missouri death certificates. Ordering through VitalChek takes 3 to 5 business days and removes the notarization requirement. You can call VitalChek at 1-877-817-7363. This service accepts all major credit cards and is available around the clock. The Missouri Bureau of Vital Records ordering page provides the downloadable application form and full instructions for submitting a mail or online request.

Kansas City Death Index in the Missouri State Archives

The Missouri State Archives holds over 2.5 million digitized death certificates from 1910 through 1975, including all Kansas City deaths registered during that period. The Archives Death Certificates portal is free to use and lets you search by first name, last name, county, and year or month of death. For deaths from 1954 through 1975, the database also allows searching by the name of a surviving spouse, father, or mother. Each digitized certificate includes the full name of the deceased, date and place of death, date and state of birth, parents' names, spouse's name, occupation, cause of death, attending physician, funeral home details, and burial location.

Jackson County, where Kansas City is primarily located, has strong records coverage in the Archives database for the 1910 to 1975 window. The FamilySearch Jackson County genealogy page lists additional resources for the area, including microfilmed records, probate files, and cemetery transcriptions that supplement what the Archives holds. For deaths before 1910, the Missouri Birth and Death Records Database, Pre-1910 indexes microfilmed records from the 1883 to 1893 period and is also free to search.

Under RSMo 193.145, all modern Missouri death certificates are filed electronically through the MoEVR system. Records created in recent years flow through this centralized process before becoming accessible through local or state offices. Historical records from the Archives database are available to anyone at no cost with no proof of relationship required.

What Kansas City Death Records Contain

A certified Kansas City death certificate includes the decedent's full legal name, date and place of death, date and state of birth, sex, race, and occupation. The certificate also lists both parents' full names (including the mother's maiden name), the surviving spouse's name, the cause of death and contributing conditions, the attending physician, funeral home details, and burial location. The informant who provided the data at the time of registration is named on the form as well.

Long form certificates, which include extended medical certification language, are available only from the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City. If you need the long form for legal or insurance purposes, mark that option on the application when you submit your request to the state office. Short form certificates, which omit the extended medical detail, are available from local offices including the Kansas City Health Department. Both forms carry the same legal weight for most purposes.

Death records more than 50 years old are available without restriction. Records within the confidentiality window require proof of eligibility under RSMo 193.255 before the office will release a certified copy.

Nearby Cities

Other qualifying Missouri cities near Kansas City where death index records may also be relevant are listed below.