Find Missouri Marriage License Records
Missouri marriage license records are kept by county Recorders of Deeds and the state Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City. The state has 114 counties plus the independent City of St. Louis, and each Recorder of Deeds issues marriage licenses and stores the signed documents after the ceremony. You can search Missouri marriage license records through county offices, the Missouri State Archives online database, and the state vital records bureau. Both online and in-person options let you find and get copies of these records across the state.
Missouri Marriage License Quick Facts
Where to Find a Missouri Marriage License
Missouri has two main sources for Missouri marriage license records. The Missouri Recorder of Deeds in each county issues new marriage licenses and keeps the signed originals on file. After a Missouri couple picks up their marriage license and the marriage ceremony takes place, the officiant returns the completed marriage license to the Recorder. That Missouri office then records the marriage license and stores it as a public document. You can visit the county office or, in many cases, search Missouri marriage license records online through the county's portal. The Missouri Recorders Association keeps a full list of every county Recorder with contact details, addresses, and links to local websites.
The Missouri Bureau of Vital Records in the Department of Health and Senior Services is the state-level source. The Bureau holds a central registry of Missouri marriage license records from July 1, 1948 to the present. It can issue a Certified Statement Relating to Marriage for any Missouri marriage license on file. This statement only shows the names of both spouses, the date of the marriage, and the county where it was recorded. It does not include the full details found on the original Missouri marriage license. For a certified copy of the actual marriage certificate, you must contact the Missouri Recorder of Deeds in the county where the marriage license was obtained. The Bureau is at 930 Wildwood Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65109 and can be reached at 573-751-6387.
The Bureau of Vital Records website shows how to order Missouri marriage statements and lists office hours, contact info, and fees for all vital records services in Missouri.
For marriages before July 1, 1948, the state has no record. You must go to the county Recorder where the license was issued. Some of these old records are also on file at the Missouri State Archives.
How to Get a Marriage License in Missouri
Getting a Missouri marriage license starts at the Recorder of Deeds. Both people must show up in person for the Missouri marriage license application. You need valid photo ID with your date of birth and a Social Security card. Under RSMo 451.040, a Missouri marriage license must be obtained before any marriage in Missouri. The marriage license application must be filed at least three days before the license can be issued. A Missouri circuit court judge can waive this marriage license wait for good cause. After the three-day period, you pick up the Missouri marriage license and it stays valid for 30 days anywhere in the state.
Missouri does not require a blood test for a marriage license. Missouri marriage license fees vary by county but generally run between $46 and $56. Most offices accept cash, and some take credit cards with a small processing fee. The Missouri Recorder may offer an online marriage license application to fill out before your visit, but both parties still need to appear together at the office for the marriage license.
Under RSMo 451.040, online applications may only be processed if both applicants are at least 18 and at least one lives in the county. Common law marriages are not valid in Missouri. You must have a Missouri marriage license.
Note: Missouri marriage license fees and accepted payment methods change from county to county, so call the Missouri Recorder of Deeds before your visit to confirm current marriage license costs.
Missouri Marriage License Ceremony Rules
Once you have a Missouri marriage license, the marriage ceremony must happen within 30 days. Under RSMo 451.100, marriages in Missouri may be solemnized by any clergyman, active or retired, in good standing with a church or synagogue in the state. Missouri judges, including municipal judges, can also perform the marriage ceremony at no cost. A religious society or institution may solemnize marriages under its own rules if one party is a member.
After the Missouri marriage ceremony, the person who performed it must return the completed marriage license to the Missouri Recorder of Deeds. Under RSMo 451.120, the officiant has a set window to file the Missouri marriage license paperwork. Once the Missouri Recorder gets it back, the marriage license is officially recorded and becomes part of the permanent Missouri marriage record. If the Missouri marriage license is not returned in time, the marriage may still be valid, but getting a certified marriage license copy later can be harder.
Marriage License Age Rules in Missouri
Missouri law sets clear age limits for marriage license applications. Under RSMo 451.090, anyone 18 or older can apply for a Missouri marriage license without parental consent. Those aged 15 to 17 need consent from a parent or legal guardian for the marriage license. No Missouri marriage license may be issued to anyone under 15. Some counties are shifting the minimum age to 18 with no exceptions, effective August 28, 2025.
Certain marriages are not allowed. Under RSMo 451.020, Missouri prohibits marriages between parents and children, siblings (half or full blood), uncles and nieces, aunts and nephews, and first cousins. Marriages between people who lack the legal capacity to enter a contract are also void.
Search Missouri Marriage License Records Online
Several online tools let you search for Missouri marriage license records without visiting a courthouse. The Missouri State Archives Marriage Records Database covers records from 1805 to 2002. You can search by bride and groom names, marriage date, and county. The Archives hold more than 336 million pages of documents, 850,000 photos, and 72,000 reels of microfilm. If you want to view records in person, the Archives Research Room in Jefferson City is open by appointment. Email archives@sos.mo.gov or call (573) 751-3280 to set one up.
Many Missouri counties also have their own online portals for Missouri marriage license searches. Some use the iCounty Technologies system, others use Fidlar Technologies (Tapestry and Laredo platforms), and a few have custom search tools on their own websites. Registration is usually free for basic searches, but viewing document images may require a paid subscription. The Missouri Recorders Association website links to each county's available online tools.
The Missouri Bureau of Vital Records does not offer a public search tool for marriage license records. You must submit a Missouri marriage license request with names, an approximate date, and payment. Mail requests go to the Bureau of Vital Records, 930 Wildwood Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65109. You can also order through VitalChek, an authorized online vendor. VitalChek orders typically take 5 to 7 business days. Mail-in requests take 4 to 8 weeks.
Missouri Marriage License Fees and Costs
Missouri marriage license fees are set by each county. Most Missouri marriage license fees fall between $46 and $56. For example, Dade County charges $51 and requires exact cash, check, or money order. Franklin County charges $56 cash or $57.55 by credit card. Howell County charges $46 in exact change or by check. Jackson County charges $50 and offers extended hours on Wednesdays until 6:30 PM.
Certified copies of a recorded Missouri marriage license cost around $9 at most county offices. Boone County charges $9 per certified copy, with a $1.55 fee for debit or credit card payments. St. Louis City charges $12 for a certified copy. The state Bureau of Vital Records charges $15 for a Certified Statement Relating to Marriage, which is a shorter document that only confirms the names, date, and county. Each additional copy from the state costs $15 as well. A five-year search is included with the fee. If you need a broader search, an additional fee applies for each five-year block.
The Missouri State Archives charges separate fees for copies of historical marriage records. Digital copy requests start at $3 for the first five pages with $0.25 per additional page. Photocopies start at $1 for two microfilm copies or ten paper copies.
Who Can Access Missouri Marriage License Records
Missouri marriage license records are not fully open to the public. Under RSMo 193.255, certified copies of vital records can only be issued to someone with a direct and tangible interest. This includes the people named on the record, their immediate family members (up to but not including cousins, plus in-laws in direct line of descent), legal guardians, and authorized agents like attorneys or physicians.
At the Missouri county level, marriage licenses are recorded documents and generally accessible to the public through the Missouri Recorder of Deeds. You can view indexes and in many cases get uncertified copies without proving a relationship. Certified copies may have stricter requirements depending on the county.
Under RSMo 193.245, it is illegal to copy or reproduce a certified vital record. Such copies are stamped "void" because their authenticity cannot be verified. Only documents issued directly by a vital records office are considered valid.
Note: County Recorder offices and the Bureau of Vital Records may have different access rules, so check with the specific office about what you need to bring.
Missouri Marriage License Laws
A Missouri marriage is a civil contract under RSMo 451.010. The state treats it as a legal agreement between two people, separate from any religious meaning. This is why a government-issued Missouri marriage license is required before the marriage ceremony can take place.
The Missouri marriage license fee structure is governed by RSMo 451.151. Missouri county Recorders collect the marriage license fee and distribute portions to various state and county funds as the statute directs. These Missouri marriage license fees fund the operations of the Recorder's office and contribute to domestic violence prevention programs and other services.
The Missouri Governor's Portal at mo.gov provides a quick overview of Missouri marriage license rules and links to key resources. The Missouri Courts website has standardized family law forms approved by the Supreme Court, which can be helpful for related legal matters.
Historical Missouri Marriage License Records
Missouri marriage license records go back to the early 1800s. The State Archives database covers 1805 through 2002 and includes bride and groom names, races, birth dates or ages, parents' names, marriage date, and marriage place. Many Missouri county Recorders have marriage license records stretching back to their county's formation date. For instance, Boone County has records from 1821, Franklin County from 1819, and Howard County from 1816.
The Missouri Digital Heritage website run by the Secretary of State provides free access to other historical vital records. While it focuses on birth and death records, it connects to the broader Archives system for Missouri marriage license research. The Archives also partners with FamilySearch and Ancestry to make many county marriage records available online for genealogical purposes.
If you need to research old Missouri marriage license records in person, the Archives Research Room in Jefferson City holds marriage record microfilm from Missouri counties across the state. Staff can do limited research at no cost for people who cannot visit. Submit requests by email at archref@sos.mo.gov or through the online form. You can send up to two requests at a time.
Browse Missouri Marriage License Records by County
Each Missouri county has its own Recorder of Deeds who issues Missouri marriage licenses and keeps the recorded marriage license copies on file. Pick a Missouri county below to find contact details and local resources for marriage license records.
Marriage License Records in Major Missouri Cities
Missouri residents of larger cities get their marriage license from the county Recorder of Deeds that serves their area. Pick a Missouri city below to find out which county handles marriage licenses and where to go for a Missouri marriage license.