Search St. Louis County Death Index Records

St. Louis County death index records are held by St. Louis County Vital Records in Clayton and by the Missouri State Archives for deaths from 1910 through 1975. St. Louis County and St. Louis City are separate jurisdictions with separate record systems. This guide covers the county office specifically, what records it holds, fees, and how to search older St. Louis County death records online for free.

St. Louis County and St. Louis City: Two Separate Jurisdictions

St. Louis County and the City of St. Louis are completely separate jurisdictions. They do not share a record system. St. Louis City separated from St. Louis County in 1876 and has operated as an independent city since then. If the person you are researching died within the city limits of St. Louis, records from before 1876 are at St. Louis City Hall, not at the county offices in Clayton. For deaths in the city after 1876, contact St. Louis City vital records directly. This page covers St. Louis County only, with its county seat in Clayton.

This distinction matters most for genealogical research covering the 19th century. Families that lived in what is now the county but also had ties to the city may have records split between the two separate systems. When in doubt about which jurisdiction handled a specific address, check a historical map or ask the clerk at whichever office you contact first. Both systems can usually tell you quickly whether the address falls in their jurisdiction.

Note: Records prior to 1876 that predate the city-county separation are held at St. Louis City Hall, not at the St. Louis County offices in Clayton.

St. Louis County Vital Records Office

St. Louis County Vital Records is the local source for certified death certificates for deaths that occurred within St. Louis County. The office is at 111 S. Meramec Ave, 1st Floor, Clayton, MO 63105-1711. Phone is (314) 615-0376. A recorded information line is available at (314) 615-1720. The fee is $13 per certified copy, consistent with RSMo 193.265. Full department information is available at stlouiscountymo.gov.

The St. Louis County office holds death records from 1883 to 1920 and from 1980 to the present. The gap between 1921 and 1979 means that for deaths in those years, the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City is the correct source. This is an unusual record gap for a Missouri county and is worth knowing before you make the trip to Clayton. If the death you are looking for falls between 1921 and 1979, go to the state Bureau in Jefferson City rather than the local Clayton office.

For in-person visits, bring a completed Application for Missouri Vital Record and a valid photo ID. Primary photo IDs include a state driver's license, state ID card, U.S. military ID, U.S. passport, school ID, or work ID. Two alternate forms substitute if no photo ID is available. Alternates may include letters from government agencies, W-2 forms, Social Security cards, insurance policies, Medicare or Medicaid cards, payroll stubs, cancelled checks, and utility bills. For mail requests, include a notarized application, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and payment by check or money order.

Marriage records for St. Louis County are held separately by the Recorder of Deeds Office at 7900 Carondelet, Clayton, MO 63105, reachable at (314) 615-5000. Death and marriage records are maintained by different offices in this county.

The St. Louis County Department of Health oversees vital records services along with other public health programs in the county.

Missouri Bureau of Vital Records for St. Louis County Deaths

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City holds St. Louis County death index records from January 1, 1910, to the present. The Bureau is the correct source for deaths that occurred between 1921 and 1979 in St. Louis County, since the local Clayton office does not hold records from that period. The Bureau is 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. Long form certificates with extended medical certification are also only available through the state Bureau.

The Missouri Bureau of Vital Records ordering page covers each step for requesting a certified St. Louis County death certificate by mail, with the downloadable application and mailing instructions.

This state page is the starting point for ordering St. Louis County death certificates by mail for any year within the state Bureau's holdings.

Under RSMo 193.255, certified copies within the 50-year window are issued only to those with a direct and tangible interest. Eligible parties include the spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews of the deceased, plus 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 public records available to anyone.

VitalChek is Missouri's authorized online vendor. Orders through VitalChek arrive in 3 to 5 business days and don't require notarization. Call 1-877-817-7363 for phone orders. All major credit cards are accepted.

VitalChek handles online and phone orders for certified St. Louis County death certificates, delivering in 3 to 5 business days without requiring a notarized application.

St. Louis County Death Index in the Missouri State Archives

The Missouri State Archives holds more than 2.5 million digitized death certificates from 1910 through 1975. St. Louis County records from this period are free to search through the Archives Death Certificates portal. Search by first name, last name, county, and year or month of death. For records from 1954 through 1975, the database supports searching by the name of a surviving spouse, father, or mother. Each digitized certificate shows the full legal name, date and place of death, birth details, parents' names including the mother's maiden name, spouse, occupation, cause of death, attending physician, funeral home details, and burial location.

St. Louis County was organized in 1812 and is the most populous county in Missouri. The Archives database for St. Louis County contains a large number of records reflecting the county's role as the suburban core of the St. Louis metro area throughout the 20th century. Searching by county and a specific year range is the most efficient approach given the high volume of records.

For deaths before 1910, the Missouri Birth and Death Records Database, Pre-1910 covers microfilmed records from roughly 1883 to 1893. For St. Louis County, the local office also holds some records from 1883 onward. Pre-1910 sources for the county include probate records at the St. Louis County Courthouse in Clayton, cemetery transcriptions, and church registers from early parishes in the area. Given that the local office holds records back to 1883, it may also be worth contacting them directly for deaths in the late 19th century.

The FamilySearch St. Louis County genealogy page lists available record collections for the county, including census data, probate filings, and early vital records indexes. FamilySearch offers free access to many digitized St. Louis County records that complement the State Archives database.

Under RSMo 193.145, all current Missouri death certificates are filed electronically through the MoEVR system. Every recent St. Louis County death is registered centrally and accessible through both the state Bureau and the local Clayton office once the record is complete.

What St. Louis County Death Records Contain

A certified St. Louis County death certificate lists the decedent's full legal name, date and place of death, date and state of birth, sex, race, and occupation. Both parents are named, including the mother's maiden name. The certificate shows the surviving spouse, cause of death and contributing conditions, the attending physician, funeral home details, and burial location. The informant who supplied data at registration is identified as well. Long form certificates carry extended medical certification detail and are only available from the Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City. Indicate long form on the application if you need it from the state office.

Short form certificates from the local Clayton office are accepted for most legal and administrative purposes. Estate proceedings, insurance claims, and most government agencies accept the short form. The state Bureau is the source for both long form certificates and for death records that fall outside the local office's holdings (deaths from 1921 through 1979).

Records in the State Archives from 1910 through 1975 carry the same core fields, though earlier forms may have fewer details. The Archives medical terminology guide helps researchers interpret historical cause-of-death language on older certificates. St. Louis County's broad economic base through the 20th century means occupations on older records reflect a wide range of industries and professions.

Access to recent St. Louis County death certificates is restricted under RSMo 193.255. Only those with a direct and tangible interest may receive certified copies within the 50-year window. For deaths more than 50 years ago, records are public and searchable at no cost through the State Archives portal.

Nearby Counties

St. Louis County borders several counties in the eastern Missouri metro region. If you need records for someone who lived near a county boundary, check these neighboring offices.