In Missouri, certified death certificates are issued by Bureau of Vital Records, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. The state fee is $14 for the first certified copy and $11 for each additional copy.
Here is who can order a certified copy, how to order it, and how long it takes, taken from the office’s own pages. Fees and times change, so check the office’s page before you pay.
How much a death certificate costs in Missouri
| Item | State fee |
|---|---|
| First certified copy | $14 |
| Each additional copy | $11 |
$14 includes a 5-year search and one certified copy; $11 each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time. VitalChek charges an approved processing fee. Mail requests must be notarized.
Who can order a certified copy
People with a direct and tangible interest (19 CSR 10-10): the registrant's family members (including in-laws, cousins, and great- and step- relations of siblings, parents, children, grandparents, aunts and uncles), genealogists representing a family member or professionally recognized, a guardian, and official representatives (attorney, physician, funeral director or other authorized agent). Others may qualify with proof of a personal or property right.
How to order
- Online (official vendor: VitalChek)
- In person
- County/local office
115 local public health agencies offer walk-in service; locally issued death certificates cover 1980-present (short form only).
How long it takes
DHSS application: "Mail-in requests to Jefferson City can be processed within approximately 4-8 weeks"; DHSS says requesting locally is usually fastest.
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The funeral home’s role
A funeral director may act as an official representative to obtain copies of death records (DHSS application).
State death records from 1910. Death records over 50 years old can be searched through the Missouri State Archives.
How many copies to order
Most banks, insurers, pension plans and government agencies each want their own certified copy. Count the accounts and policies before you order, because ordering more later means another application and fee. How many death certificates you need has a worksheet.
Who decides the funeral in Missouri
State law sets who has the right to make funeral arrangements. See who has the right to make funeral decisions in Missouri.
Related guides
- What to do when someone dies: the first 24 hours
- Who to call when someone dies, and in what order
- How much a funeral costs, line by line
- Help paying for a funeral: Social Security, VA and FEMA
- Official funeral resources for every state
Sources
- Bureau of Vital Records, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
- CDC: Where to Write for Vital Records (Missouri)
- Bureau of Vital Records, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
- Bureau of Vital Records, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (PDF)
Checked 2026-09-24. General information, not legal advice.