Ralls County Marriage License Records

Ralls County marriage license records are managed by the Ralls County Recorder of Deeds in New London. This small county along the Mississippi River in northeast Missouri has been keeping marriage records since 1820. The Ralls County Recorder's office handles new marriage license applications and also maintains the historical archive. If you need a marriage license from Ralls County or want to look up an older record, this page walks you through the process. State databases also hold Ralls County marriage license records you can search from home.

Ralls County Marriage License Office

The Ralls County Recorder of Deeds is at the Ralls County courthouse in New London. This office issues all marriage licenses in Ralls County. It is open Monday through Friday during regular hours. Both applicants must come in at the same time. The Missouri Recorders Association has the Ralls County Recorder listed in their directory.

Bring a valid photo ID for your marriage license and your Social Security card. The Ralls County Recorder's staff will process your application and explain the steps. The fee for a Ralls County marriage license is around $50. Call the New London office to confirm before you go. Once the application is filed, the three-day marriage license waiting period starts. You return to pick up the marriage license after the wait ends.

Ralls County is one of the oldest counties in Missouri. Marriage records go back to 1820. If you need a certified copy of a marriage license from any year, the Ralls County Recorder can pull it from the archive. These copies serve many purposes, from name changes to legal filings. The copy fee is separate from the application fee.

How to Get a Ralls County Marriage License

There is a three-day marriage license waiting period in Missouri between applying for a marriage license and picking it up. This comes from RSMo 451.040. You file at the Ralls County Recorder and return after the wait. A judge can waive it for good cause. No blood test is required.

You need to be at least 18 to apply without consent. Under RSMo 451.090, anyone aged 15 to 17 must have a parent or guardian present to sign. No one under 15 can get a marriage license. The Ralls County Recorder checks all documents and verifies ages before processing the application. Each person needs a valid photo ID.

A Ralls County marriage license stays valid for 30 days. The marriage ceremony can take place anywhere in Missouri. After the wedding, the officiant signs the license and sends it back to the Ralls County Recorder per RSMo 451.120. Under RSMo 451.100, clergy in good standing, judges, and qualifying religious organizations may perform the marriage.

Search Ralls County Marriage Records

The Missouri State Archives Marriage Database includes Ralls County records from 1805 to 2002. You can search by name for free. This tool covers all Missouri counties and is run by the Secretary of State. It is a great way to find an older Ralls County marriage license record from home.

The Ralls County Recorder has a local index of all marriages filed since 1820. You can search at the Ralls County courthouse in New London during office hours. Staff will help you find records and order copies. For very old records, the state archives in Jefferson City may have microfilm copies that are easier to access than the original documents.

Divorce records for Ralls County are on Missouri Case.net. This is a free public system for non-confidential case data. Marriage licenses are not available there. They go through the Recorder, not the courts.

Note: Ralls County's oldest marriage records from the 1820s may only be available through the state archives on microfilm.

Missouri Marriage License Resources

The Missouri Bureau of Vital Records issues a Certified Statement Relating to Marriage for $15. This brief document lists names, date, and county. It is not the same as a full copy from the Ralls County Recorder. The Bureau has records from July 1948 onward. For marriages before that in Ralls County, contact the Recorder in New London or check the state archives.

The Missouri Governor's Portal has a summary of marriage rules in the state. It covers age limits, what ID you need, and who can officiate. Access to Ralls County marriage license records is governed by RSMo 193.255, which limits vital records to people with direct interest. Most marriage records in Missouri are public and available to anyone who pays the copy fee.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Ralls County. Each has a Recorder of Deeds that issues marriage licenses.