General Information
Certified copies of Missouri birth and death certificates are provided at the following locations:
Vital Records in the Harold K. Bengsch Building
227 East Chestnut Expressway
Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
To find out how to request a birth or death certificate, please see the information below. For additional questions related to vital records including birth and death certificates, please call (417) 864-1411.
Birth Certificates
The Vital Records Office can provide certified copies of Missouri birth certificates for $15.00 each with a cash, check, credit card (authorized signature required), or money order payment. Birth certificates are available for most births of 1920 to present. The birth certificate copy will be printed while you wait.
Birth certificates can also be requested through the mail by submitting the birth certificate application with a check or money order (please do not send cash through the mail) to:
Vital Records
Springfield-Greene County Health Department
227 East Chestnut Expressway
Springfield, MO 65802
In the State of Missouri, vital records are not open to the general public and can only be obtained by:
- Person listed on certificate
- Parent if listed on certificate
- Grandparent if listed on certificate
- Siblings
- Uncle or Aunt if relative is listed as parent on certificate
- Step-parent if marriage certificate is shown
- Legal guardian accompanied by guardianship papers
Please provide the individual's full name and date of birth, as well as the mother's full maiden name. You will be required to show identification
- Government issued photo identification
- Driver's License
- Passport or Visa
- Military ID
- Booking Sheet
If you don't have a government issued photo ID, you must bring any TWO of the following documents:
- Social security card
- Medicaid/Medicare document or identification card
- Car registration or title with current address
- Utility bill
- Pay stub
- View full list of acceptable documents
Death Certificates
Certified copies of Missouri death certificates will also be provided to qualified individuals for $14.00 for the first copy and $11.00 for each subsequent copy for the same person in the same visit. Death Certificate Application
Death certificates may be issued to relatives or to third parties with a legal need. Please provide the deceased person's full name and date of death.
Death certificates are available for deaths occurring from 1980 to the present. For certified copies of death certificates for deaths occurring before 1980, send a written request to:
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
Bureau of Vital Records
P.O. Box 570
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Certificates for births, deaths, marriages and divorces that took place outside the state of Missouri can be obtained by visiting the National Center for Health Statistics website. Fees and delivery times may vary by state and by document.
Death Certificate Application for Funeral Homes Only
Online Orders
This office does not accept online orders. However, for your convenience, documents can be requested by phone or online through an independent company that we have partnered with to provide this service -- VitalChek Network, Inc. An additional $9.50 fee is charged by VitalChek for using this service, and all major credit cards are accepted, including American Express®, Discover®, MasterCard® or Visa®. To further expedite the request, overnight services are offered. Applications can be placed on-line at www.vitalchek.com or by phone, toll-free at 1-877-817-7363.
Additional Information
For births or deaths that occurred outside Missouri, see Where to Write for Vital Records, CDC. See also the State of Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Information on Birth, Death, Marriage and Divorce Information.
Birth certificates are only one page long, which can make them easily misplaced or destroyed. If you need one urgently, you might be wondering: how long does it take to get a new birth certificate? The length of time between applying for a new birth certificate and receiving it can vary depending on whether you apply in person or online, and where you live. Those that live in a state other than where they were born may not have easy access to a vital records office in the state they were born, and, therefore, it may be easiest to apply online.
If you’re looking for the quickest option to submit your application, applying online will be the best since you may not receive your birth certificate on the same day you physically go to the vital records office.
Birth certificates are essential documents. They are often required when applying for identification, such as a passport, and should be protected carefully especially if lost, stolen or misplaced. Birth certificates are most commonly initiated at the hospital following a birth, where the parents fill out the information, such as the baby’s legal name. This provides proof of citizenship and is the first form of identification and legal recognition a child is given. Even the original birth certificate may take a few weeks to be generated, so it’s understandable why a replacement may take even longer.
Where you were born will greatly impact whether you choose to apply online or in person. You must apply for your birth certificate at the same state vital records office where the birth was originally recorded. State processing times vary and it’s best to research your specific state’s time in order to gain an accurate picture of when your birth certificate may arrive.
In order to request a birth certificate, you must either be the individual in need of the new documentation or have close relations with them, such as their parents. You will also need to have personal information available and other forms of identification, such as a driver’s license and other documents to prove your identity. Addresses will also need to be noted, as well as any and all names which you’ve ever used. Family questions, such as names, may need to be answered, as well as information about the birth place given. Through all of this gathering, the vital records office keeps your private information safe.
When Ordering in-Person
Many may assume that applying for a birth certificate online is easier, but that isn’t always the case. Birth certificates are important pieces of legal documentation and should not be taken lightly. Applying in person is the fastest choice, but you’ll need to consider a few factors and have legal proof in order to qualify for a new birth certificate.
You must first physically travel to the vital records office where the birth was registered, which means you’ll most likely need to live in or near the state in which you were born. Applying in person gives you the peace-of-mind that working with a professional brings, though you will need to take into account how busy or understaffed the office is and how wait times. Waiting lines may take a few minutes or a few hours, so it’s recommended to block out a large portion of your day. If you’re able to travel to the place where you were born, it may be rewarding, as you can possibly get your birth certificate on the same day.
When Ordering Online
The simplest way to get an official birth certificate is to order it online. This way, you can skip any lines and place your order from anywhere in the world. It only takes 10 minutes to file online. Different states may have varying request procedures and processing times, but the majority will have a form available on the vital records website. Once the form is filled out, you can request to receive the birth certificate in the mail. It’s always best to submit your application quickly and allow for 2-3 extra days to ensure you’re meeting any deadlines and will receive a response as soon as possible.
There are some private companies which can provide birth certificates, but they are not allowed in every state. VitalRecordsOnline.com is a reliable option which will assist in gathering the required documents, and provides a rush package option to send your application to the necessary state within one business day. The cost for a new birth certificate varies, depending on if you were born within the US, adopted or born abroad. It can cost between $20-$55, but will most likely be on the cheaper end of that spectrum.
Once the vital records office has received your request, the wait time varies depending on their availability and volume of requests. You can visit our Processing Times page to find the average wait times for your state. It will most likely be between 4-8 weeks from when you request the new birth certificate and you receive it. However, some vital records offices may take up to six months depending on the circumstances.
Birth Certificate Processing Times by State:
- Alabama (2-3 weeks)
- Alaska (4-6 weeks, or Rush Order: 3-7 days)
- Arizona (1-2 weeks)
- Arkansas (10-17 days)
- California (5-6 weeks)
- Colorado (6-8 weeks)
- Connecticut (6-8 weeks)
- Delaware (2-5 weeks)
- District of Columbia (10-20 days)
- Florida (5-10 days, or Rush Order: 2-3 days)
- Georgia (8-10 weeks)
- Hawaii (6-8 weeks)
- Idaho (2-3 weeks)
- Illinois (4-6 weeks)
- Indiana (15-20 days)
- Iowa (4-6 weeks)
- Kansas (1-3 weeks)
- Kentucky (3-5 weeks)
- Louisiana (8-10 weeks)
- Maine (2-5 weeks)
- Maryland (2-4 weeks)
- Massachusetts (3-4 weeks, or Rush Order: 7-10 days)
- Michigan (4-5 weeks, or Rush Order: 2-3 weeks)
- Minnesota (4-6 weeks, or Rush Order: 5-10 days)
- Mississippi (3-5 weeks)
- Missouri (12-16 weeks)
- Montana (2-3 weeks)
- Nebraska (2-5 weeks)
- Nevada (4-6 weeks)
- New Hampshire (3-5 weeks)
- New Jersey (10-12 weeks)
- New Mexico (8-12 weeks)
- New York (12-14 weeks, or Rush Order: 2-4 weeks)
- New York City (18-20 weeks)
- North Carolina (6-8 weeks, or Rush Order: 1-2 weeks)
- North Dakota (5-10 days)
- Ohio (3-5 weeks)
- Oklahoma (8-12 weeks)
- Oregon (3-5 weeks)
- Pennsylvania (4-8 weeks)
- Rhode Island (6-8 weeks, or Rushed Order: 3-7 days)
- South Carolina (2-4 weeks)
- South Dakota (2-5 weeks)
- Tennessee (4-6 weeks)
- Texas (16-18 weeks, or Rush Order: 15-16 weeks)
- Utah (1-3 weeks)
- Vermont (10-20 days)
- Virginia (6-8 weeks)
- Washington (6-8 weeks)
- West Virginia (5-20 days)
- Wisconsin (1-2 weeks)
- Wyoming (5-15 days)