General information: Certified copies of Missouri birth and death certificates are provided by the Vital Records department at our office in West Plains, Monday-Friday, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
A Notary Public is available to notarize vital records related documents, including:
- Affidavits for corrections
- Paternity affidavits
- Out-of-state birth and death certificate applications
Notary Fee: $5.00 per notarized signature
For more information, or to request a birth or death certificate, please see the information / applications below or call (417)256-7078.
Requesting Birth & Death Certificates
We can print Missouri birth certificates going back to 1920 and Missouri death certificates going back to 1980.
To request a certificate in person, you must:
- Complete a one-page request for information
- Providing a valid picture ID.
Fees:
- Birth Certificate: $15.00 (each additional copy is $15.00)
- Death Certificate: $14.00 for the first copy, $11.00 for each additional copy (for the same person at the same time)
Accepted Payment Methods:
- Cash
- Check
- Money order
- Debit / Credit Card (subject to a small processing fee). Note: The cardholder must be present or named on the request
Processing Time: Certificates are usually available within 10 minutes of completing the request. However, NOT all birth certificates will be available for printing from the local health center due to various reasons.
If necessary, you can request these documents from the Department of Health and Senior Services in Jefferson City.
In the State of Missouri, vital records are not open to the general public. Copies of vital records are provided to specifically defined individuals or entities. This helps protect identities, prevent fraud, and preserve the integrity of vital records. State law only allows a certified copy of a vital record to be issued to a person with a direct and tangible interest in the record.
Who Can Receive a Birth Certificate
- Registrant (the person whose certificate is filed)
- A member of your immediate family, which includes those family members and in-laws in the direct line of descent up to, but not including, cousins
- Spouse (wife or husband)
- Parent (mother or father)
- Child (son or daughter)
- Sibling (brother or sister)
- Grandparent (grandmother or grandfather)
- Grandchild
- Aunt or Uncle
- Niece or Nephew
- A stepparent (w/marriage certificate)
- An attorney acting on behalf of the person/family
- Authorized agent acting on behalf of person or family
- A guardian may receive a copy of a birth certificate of a child who is under direct care and custody, with appropriate guardianship papers
- Foster Parents with appropriate custody papers
- Others as demonstrated by a direct and tangible interest when information is needed for determination or protection of personal or property rights
Who Cannot Receive a Birth Certificate
- Cousins
- An alleged father
- Genealogists
- Friends
Who Can Receive a Death Certificate:
- Immediate family members:
This includes spouses, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and their in-laws. - Legal guardians:
Those who have been granted guardianship of the deceased and can provide legal documentation of their guardianship. - Legal representatives:
Attorneys acting on behalf of the deceased or their family, or funeral home directors listed on the death record or with a signed authorization from the funeral home director. - Persons with a valid interest in the estate:
May be able to obtain a death certificate if they can demonstrate a valid reason, like for property transfer or sale. - Professionally recognized genealogists
Who Cannot Receive a Death Certificate
- Great, great relationships
- Friends
*Applicant must identify at least one (1) parent on the record. Death records over fifty (50) years old are exempt from this requirement.*
Note: death records over fifty (50) years old may be searched for using the secretary of State’s Missouri Digital Heritage website. https://www.sos.mo.gov/mdh/
For more information, please call 417-256-7078 or email Deputy Registrar Sheila Roberts at sheila.roberts@lpha.mo.gov