Find Death Certificates in St. Louis

St. Louis death index records are managed by the St. Louis City Recorder of Deeds, which functions as the local vital records registrar. St. Louis is an independent city, not part of any county, so death certificates for events that occurred within city limits are held here rather than at a county health department. This guide covers how to get certified copies, what it costs, and where to find older St. Louis death records at no charge.

St. Louis City Recorder of Deeds Vital Records

The St. Louis City Recorder of Deeds serves as the official vital records registrar for the city. The office is located at City Hall, Rooms 126, 127, and 128, 1200 Market Street, St. Louis, MO 63103. For death record inquiries, call (314) 613-3031. For birth records, the number is (314) 613-3016. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The fee is $14 for the first certified copy and $11 for each additional copy of the same record, in line with RSMo 193.265. Records available at this office cover deaths from 1980 to the present in short form format.

When requesting a St. Louis death certificate, you will need to provide the date and place of death, your relationship to the person named on the record, the mother's maiden name, and the father's name. Photo ID is required. In-person requests are processed at the counter. You can also order online at stlouiscityrecorder.org or submit a mail request with a notarized application. The office does not provide notary services on site, so notarize your form before mailing. Detailed instructions are on the St. Louis vital records page.

Because St. Louis is an independent city, it operates entirely outside St. Louis County's jurisdiction. If you need records for a death that occurred in St. Louis County rather than the city, contact the St. Louis County Office of Vital Records in Berkeley instead. The two jurisdictions are completely separate and do not share records.

Missouri History Museum and Historical St. Louis Death Records

The Missouri History Museum holds an extensive collection of historical St. Louis death records, obituaries, and cemetery records that complement what the State Archives provides for the 1910 to 1975 period. The museum's library and research center at mohistory.org includes newspaper archives, funeral home records, city directories, and other primary sources that can help fill gaps in the official death certificate record.

The museum's collections are particularly useful for St. Louis deaths before formal statewide registration began, and for locating obituaries and burial records that extend beyond what appears on a death certificate.

For researchers working on St. Louis family history, the museum's archives cover Catholic parish records, German immigrant records, African American community records, and other specialized collections that reflect the city's diverse population over time. The museum also holds maps, photographs, and ephemera that provide context for deaths tied to specific neighborhoods or events. Staff researchers can assist with queries by appointment. Check the museum's website for current research hours and appointment procedures.

Missouri Bureau of Vital Records and St. Louis Deaths

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City also holds St. Louis death records. The Bureau is at 930 Wildwood Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65109. Phone is 573-751-6387. Lobby hours run Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The Bureau holds records from January 1, 1910, through the present. Appointments are recommended for in-person visits.

Under RSMo 193.255, only those with a direct and tangible interest may receive 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 individuals 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, becoming a public record open to anyone without restriction.

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. The Missouri Bureau of Vital Records ordering page provides the application form and complete instructions for mail or online requests.

VitalChek accepts all major credit cards and is available around the clock for ordering certified St. Louis death certificates online.

St. Louis Death Index in the Missouri State Archives

The Missouri State Archives holds over 2.5 million digitized death certificates from 1910 through 1975, and St. Louis City records from this period are well-represented. The Archives Death Certificates portal is free to use and allows searching by first name, last name, county or city, and year or month of death. For deaths from 1954 through 1975, the database also supports searching by the name of a surviving spouse, father, or mother. Each record shows 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, and burial location.

For deaths before 1910, the Missouri Birth and Death Records Database, Pre-1910 indexes records from the 1883 to 1893 period and is also free to search. The FamilySearch St. Louis City genealogy page lists additional resources including church records, probate files, city directories, and cemetery transcriptions held at various archives and libraries in the area.

Under RSMo 193.145, all modern Missouri death certificates are filed electronically through the MoEVR system. Historical records in the Archives database are open to the public at no cost and require no proof of relationship.

What St. Louis Death Records Contain

A certified St. Louis 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 parents' full names including the mother's maiden name, the surviving spouse's name, cause of death and contributing conditions, the attending physician, funeral home details, and burial location.

Short form certificates are available from the City Recorder's office. Long form certificates, which include extended medical certification language, are available from the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City. Both carry the same legal weight for most purposes. Mark the form type on your application when you submit. If you are unsure which form you need, the Bureau can advise before you pay the fee.

Access to records within the 50-year confidentiality period requires proof of eligibility. Records more than 50 years old are open to the public without restriction through the State Archives portal.

Nearby Cities

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