Crawford County Marriage License Search

Crawford County marriage license records are managed by Recorder of Deeds Kim Cook in Steelville. Located in east-central Missouri, Crawford County has marriage and land records stretching back to 1829. The Crawford County Recorder's office handles new marriage license applications and provides access to older marriage license records for research purposes. This page walks through how to apply for a Crawford County marriage license, the documents you need, fees, and where to search for existing marriage records.

Crawford County Marriage License Office

Recorder of Deeds Kim Cook issues all marriage licenses in Crawford County. The Crawford County office is at PO Box 236, Steelville, MO 65565. You can reach the Crawford County Recorder by phone at (573) 775-5048 or by email at crawfordrecorder@gmail.com. Both applicants must appear in person to apply. Bring a valid photo ID for your marriage license and your Social Security number.

Crawford County follows the standard Missouri three-day marriage license waiting period set by RSMo 451.040. You apply on one day and come back three days later to pick up the Crawford County marriage license. A circuit court judge can waive this marriage license waiting period for good cause. No blood test is required. The license is valid for 30 days and allows your ceremony to take place anywhere in Missouri.

The office maintains marriage and land records dating back to 1829, when Crawford County was created from Gasconade County. Certified copies of recorded documents are available. Call the Crawford County office ahead to confirm office hours since smaller county offices sometimes have adjusted schedules.

How to Get a Crawford County Marriage License

Both people visit the Steelville office together. Bring photo ID and Social Security info. Complete the application. Pay the fee. Wait three days. Pick up the license.

You must be 18 to apply without consent. Between 15 and 17, parental consent is needed per RSMo 451.090. If either person was previously married, bring proof that the prior marriage ended. No residency requirement applies, so anyone can apply in Crawford County regardless of where they live.

after the marriage ceremony, the officiant signs the Crawford County marriage license and returns it to Kim Cook's office per RSMo 451.120. The officiant has 15 days to file the signed marriage license. Without this step, the marriage may not appear in the official Crawford County records. Check back with the Crawford County Recorder's office a few weeks after the wedding to confirm it was filed.

Search Crawford County Marriage Records

Crawford County has marriage records from 1829 to the present. The Recorder's office in Steelville keeps the originals. You can visit in person, call at (573) 775-5048, or write to request a marriage license search. certified marriage license copies are available for a fee.

The Missouri State Archives includes Crawford County marriage records in its statewide database (1805 to 2002). Search by name online for free. The County and Municipal Records database at the Archives has additional Crawford County records on microfilm. The Archives Research Room in Jefferson City is open by appointment. Reach staff at (573) 751-3280.

The Bureau of Vital Records issues a Certified Statement Relating to Marriage for $15. This covers records from July 1948 forward. For the full original Crawford County marriage license, contact the Crawford County Recorder's office. The FamilySearch wiki for Crawford County notes marriage and land records from 1829 and birth/death records from 1883 to 1889.

Missouri Marriage Resources

The Missouri Recorders Association lists Kim Cook as the Crawford County Recorder with full contact details. The Missouri Governor's Portal covers statewide marriage rules.

Under RSMo 451.100, weddings can be performed by clergy in good standing, judges, or religious organizations. For international use, order through VitalChek and request an apostille.

Common law marriages are not valid in Missouri. You must get a Crawford County marriage license for the marriage to be legal. Under RSMo 193.255, certified copies of vital records are only available to people with a direct and tangible interest. That includes the people on the license, family members, and authorized representatives.

Crawford County was created in 1829 from Gasconade County and named after William H. Crawford. Crawford County has no known courthouse disasters, so records are well preserved going back to the beginning. This makes Crawford County a good resource for genealogical work in east-central Missouri. The County Clerk has birth and death records from 1883 to 1889. The Crawford County Historical Society maintains additional family history resources.

If you are planning a wedding, apply for the Crawford County marriage license early in the week. You apply on Monday and can pick it up on Thursday. That gives you the weekend for a ceremony. The Steelville area is a nice spot for a rural Missouri wedding. Just remember that the license must be used within 30 days and the ceremony must happen in Missouri.

Note: Crawford County marriage license fees may change. Call (573) 775-5048 to confirm before your visit.

Crawford County Vital Records Tips

For a certified copy of a Crawford County marriage license, contact Kim Cook at (573) 775-5048. Provide both full names and the date of marriage. Walk-in requests happen during regular hours. Mail requests should include a check or money order and a self-addressed stamped envelope. The Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City issues Certified Statements for $15 covering records from July 1948 forward. VitalChek orders at 1-877-817-7363 take 5 to 7 business days. Mail requests to the Bureau take 4 to 8 weeks.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Crawford County. Each has its own Recorder that issues marriage licenses.