Bureau of Vital Records
Welcome
Since 1910, the Bureau of Vital Records has served as Missouri’s central repository for critical life events, meticulously maintaining official records of births, deaths, and fetal deaths and maintaining a central registry of marriages and divorces since 1948. Our dedicated team also operates and maintains the Putative Father Registry and ensures accurate record-keeping, provides certified copies of certificates, performs amendments, and conducts stakeholder and data provider training.
The Bureau of Vital Records, within the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, provides services including:
- Maintaining a central registry of Missouri births, deaths, and fetal deaths reported from Jan. 1, 1910 to the present 1
- Preparing new certificates for adoptions and legitimations
- Maintaining a central registry of Missouri marriages and divorces (since July 1, 1948)
- Correcting or amending vital records as authorized by state law
- Issuing certified copies of vital records
- Maintaining the Putative Father Registry
More About Vital Records:
- While vital record keeping began in 1910, some delayed certificates may be available before 1910. However, there is no guarantee of a record’s existence either before or after 1910. You may also consider visiting the Secretary of State’s Missouri Digital Heritage website.