Search Montgomery County Death Index Records

Montgomery County death index records are held by the Montgomery County Health Department in Montgomery City and by the Missouri State Archives for historical certificates from 1910 through 1975. This page covers the offices, fees, and steps for getting a certified death certificate or searching the free historical archive for one of Missouri's oldest counties, organized in 1818.

Montgomery County Health Department Death Records

The Montgomery County Health Department is the local office for death certificates covering deaths that occurred in the county. The office is at 400 N. Salisbury, Montgomery City, MO 63361. Phone is (573) 564-2495. In-person and mail requests are both accepted. The fee is $13 per certified copy, set under RSMo 193.265. More information about vital records services is at montgomerycountyhealth.org.

The Montgomery County Health Department website covers the services available for death records requests, including how to apply in person or by mail from the Montgomery City office.

Check this page before visiting to confirm current hours and any updated requirements at the Montgomery City location.

To get a certificate in person, bring a completed Application for Missouri Vital Record and a valid photo ID. A driver's license, state ID, military ID, passport, school ID, or work ID all work as primary identification. If no photo ID is available, two alternate documents can substitute. Accepted alternates include government letters, W-2 forms, Social Security cards, insurance policies, Medicare or Medicaid cards, payroll stubs, cancelled checks, and utility bills. Mail requests require a notarized application, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a check or money order payable to the Montgomery County Health Department. Notarization is only required for mail submissions, not for walk-in visits.

Montgomery County was organized in 1818, making it one of Missouri's oldest counties. The county seat shares its name with the county itself: Montgomery City. The long history means the county accumulated many decades of records before Missouri began statewide death registration in 1910. For deaths before 1980, the state Bureau of Vital Records or the State Archives database is the better starting point, since the local office holds records from 1980 onward.

Note: The local office in Montgomery City is the right first stop for certified copies of recent death certificates. For older records, contact the state Bureau or use the free Archives database.

Missouri Bureau of Vital Records and Montgomery County Deaths

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City holds Montgomery County death records dating back to January 1, 1910. The Bureau is at 930 Wildwood Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65109 (mailing address P.O. Box 570). Phone is 573-751-6387. Lobby hours run Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The state office is the right source for Montgomery County deaths from 1910 through 1979, since the local health department holds records only from 1980 forward. Appointments are recommended for in-person visits to Jefferson City.

The Missouri Bureau of Vital Records ordering page explains how to request a certified Montgomery County death certificate by mail or through the state's authorized online vendor.

This page shows exactly what to include when you mail a request to Jefferson City for a Montgomery County record from any year going back to 1910.

Under RSMo 193.255, certified copies of recent death certificates go only to those with a direct and tangible interest in the record. Eligible requestors include the spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, and other close relatives, as well as legal representatives, funeral directors, and those with documented estate or property interests. Under RSMo 193.225, records more than 50 years old transfer to the State Archives and become free public records open to anyone.

VitalChek is the authorized online vendor for Missouri death certificates. Ordering through VitalChek takes 3 to 5 business days and removes the notarization requirement. Call toll-free at 1-877-817-7363 or order online at any time. VitalChek accepts all major credit cards.

Montgomery County Death Index in the Missouri State Archives

The Missouri State Archives holds over 2.5 million digitized death certificates from 1910 through 1975. Montgomery County records from this period are freely searchable through the Archives Death Certificates portal. You can search by first name, last name, county, and year or month of death. For deaths from 1954 through 1975, the database also lets you search by the name of a surviving spouse, father, or mother. Each digitized certificate shows the full name of the deceased, date and place of death, date and state of birth, both parents' names, spouse's name, occupation, cause of death, attending physician, funeral home details, and burial location.

Montgomery County was organized in 1818. That gives the county nearly 200 years of recorded history, and the span between 1818 and 1910 represents a significant period before statewide death registration began. For deaths from 1883 to 1893, check the Missouri Birth and Death Records Database, Pre-1910, which indexes some microfilmed records from that window. Probate court records at the Montgomery County Courthouse and church registers from local congregations are the best sources for deaths before 1883.

For deaths after 1975, the Archives does not have free online access. Those records are held at the Bureau of Vital Records and are subject to the 50-year confidentiality restriction. Once a record crosses the 50-year threshold, it transfers to the Archives and becomes publicly available. Under RSMo 193.145, all current Missouri death certificates are filed electronically through the MoEVR system before becoming accessible through county and state channels.

The FamilySearch Montgomery County genealogy page lists resources for the county, including church records, cemetery transcriptions, and microfilm collections. FamilySearch provides free access to many digitized Montgomery County records and can be a useful supplement to the State Archives holdings for the pre-1910 period.

Note: Missouri Digital Heritage at sos.mo.gov provides free access to Montgomery County death certificates from 1910 through 1975 through the Archives portal linked above.

What Montgomery County Death Records Contain

A certified Montgomery County death certificate lists the decedent's full legal name, date and place of death, date and state of birth, sex, race, and occupation. The form also names both parents including the mother's maiden name, the surviving spouse if applicable, cause of death and contributing conditions, the attending physician, funeral home details, and burial location. The informant who provided data at registration is also listed on the certificate.

Long form certificates are only available from the Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City. If you need the extended medical certification version, mark that option on the application before submitting it to the state office. The short form issued by the local health department is accepted for most legal purposes including estate settlements, insurance claims, and Social Security matters.

Records from the 1910 to 1975 period in the Archives database have the same core fields, though earlier forms from the early 1900s may have fewer details. Medical terminology on old certificates can be difficult to read. The State Archives provides a medical terminology guide and a supporting conditions database to help researchers work through historical cause-of-death language that differs from modern medical terminology in use today.

Certified copies of Montgomery County death certificates within the 50-year window are restricted to those who meet the direct and tangible interest standard under RSMo 193.255. For genealogical research on deaths more than 50 years old, records are freely available online through the State Archives portal and no proof of relationship is required to access them.

Nearby Counties

Montgomery County is in east-central Missouri and borders several counties. Check adjacent county offices for death records near the county line.