Find Death Records in Andrew County

Andrew County death index records go back to 1841 when the county was organized, and formal statewide registration began in 1910. The Andrew County Health Department in Savannah handles certified death certificate requests for recent deaths, while the Missouri State Archives provides free online access to Andrew County death records from 1910 through 1975. This page covers both sources along with the contact details, fees, and identity requirements you need to request a copy.

Andrew County Health Department Vital Records

The Andrew County Health Department handles local death certificate requests in Savannah. The office is at 502 1/2 S. 71 Highway, Savannah, MO 64485. Call ahead at (816) 324-3139 to confirm current hours, payment options, and any documentation requirements before your visit. The department operates Monday through Friday. The fee is $13 per copy. In-person requests are typically handled the same day.

The andrewcounty.org website provides county contact information and local office details.

Check this page for up-to-date contact information for county offices including the health department that handles death records in Savannah.

When you visit in person, bring a completed Application for Missouri Vital Record and a valid photo ID. Accepted primary IDs include a state driver's license, state ID, U.S. military ID, U.S. passport, school ID, or work ID. If you lack a photo ID, two alternate forms like a Social Security card, W-2, utility bill, or payroll stub can substitute. The application must show your relationship to the deceased so the office can verify you meet the access requirements under RSMo 193.255, which limits certified copies to those with a direct and tangible interest in the record.

The Missouri Bureau of Vital Records page explains the statewide application process, which mirrors what Andrew County follows for its local office requests.

Use this state page to download the Application for Missouri Vital Record form before you visit the Andrew County Health Department.

Andrew County Death Index Before 1910

Andrew County stands out among Missouri's 114 counties for its early death record compliance. During the 1883 to 1893 period, when Missouri passed its first vital records law requiring county clerks to collect registration forms, Andrew County was among the better counties in the state for actual compliance. Many rural Missouri counties have sparse or no records from that decade, but Andrew County maintained relatively complete early death registrations. The Missouri State Archives holds microfilm from this 1883 to 1893 period, and you can search an index through the Missouri Birth and Death Records Database, Pre-1910. This free online tool lets you look up records by name, county, and year range before ordering copies of the originals.

After the state repealed its early vital records law in 1893, a gap in formal death registration exists from 1894 through 1909 for Andrew County as with every other county in Missouri. Researchers who need information from those years should turn to church records, cemetery transcriptions, family Bibles, newspaper obituaries, and probate court records held at the Andrew County Courthouse in Savannah. The Andrew County Historical Society maintains collections that include obituaries and funeral home records, which can fill gaps left by incomplete official registration. The courthouse also holds probate case files, which almost always mention the death of a person as part of the estate process.

For the Archives vital records history, the State Archives published a county-by-county guide explaining exactly which years of early records survive for each county and where the originals or microfilm copies are stored.

Note: The Andrew County Historical Society is a useful contact for death-related research, particularly for deaths before 1910 and for locating older funeral home records and obituary collections.

Andrew County Deaths in the State Archives Database

The free Missouri State Archives Death Certificates portal contains Andrew County death records from 1910 through 1975. The database holds over 2.5 million digitized certificates statewide and is fully searchable by name, county, and year. For deaths from 1954 through 1975, you can also search by the name of the surviving spouse, father, or mother. Each certificate in the database shows the full name of the deceased, date and place of death, date and state of birth, both parents' full names, spouse's name, occupation, cause of death, attending physician, funeral home, and burial location.

Under RSMo 193.225, death certificates more than 50 years old transfer from the Bureau of Vital Records to the State Archives, where they become public records. This means Andrew County death certificates from 1975 and earlier are now fully public and available online for free. No proof of relationship is needed to view or download these records. Certificates from 1976 through the present remain restricted under the 50-year rule and require showing a direct interest.

VitalChek at vitalchek.com processes online orders for certified copies of more recent Andrew County death certificates. Orders typically arrive in 3 to 5 business days, and no notarization is required. This makes it faster than mailing a request directly to the state or local office. Call 1-877-817-7363 to order by phone if preferred.

The FamilySearch Andrew County genealogy page lists research resources specific to Andrew County including digitized probate records and microfilm collections that supplement the State Archives certificate database.

Nearby Counties

Andrew County sits in northwest Missouri and shares borders with several counties. If a death occurred near a county line, you may need to check the adjacent offices below.