Vital records are records of life events kept under governmental authority, including birth certificates, marriage licenses and death certificates. In the United States, vital records are typically maintained at the state level. In Missouri, the recording of birth and death began in 1910.

House Bill No. 894 of the 86th Missouri General Assembly enables local registrars of official county health agencies to issue computer-generated certifications of birth and death records.

Whenever it is necessary to establish an applicant’s right to information from a vital record, the local registrar may require identification of the applicant or a notarized sworn statement. Missouri law also gives the local registrar authority to withhold the issuance of a copy of a vital record when they find that an application was made through misrepresentation or fraud. The registrar has the authority to withhold the issuance of a copy of the certificate until a court determination of the facts has been made.

Recording of births began January 1, 1910.

Throughout life, a person uses his or her birth certificate to prove age, parentage and citizenship. Birth certificates are needed for entrance to school; voter’s registration; obtaining a driver’s license, marriage license, passport; veterans’ benefits; welfare and/or social security benefits and many other purposes.

Birth certificates for births from 1930 to the present are available through the local health department.

In order for certificates to be issued at the health department, applicants must complete the Birth section of the  Application For A Vital Record and provide a valid picture ID. The fee is $15.00. Sample forms are provided for information only and may be obtained at the Butler County Health Department. 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 department due to various reasons.

Certificates may also be requested from the health department by mail. When mailing requests, the applicants will need to complete the Birth section and also the bottom section.  The applicant’s signature is required as well as a notarization from a notary public.  All applications must be mailed with a stamped self addressed envelope.

Not all Birth Certificates are available at the local health department due to various reasons. In the event you cannot obtain at the local office, you may contact the following:

Bureau of Vital Records
930 Wildwood Drive
P.O. Box 570
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Telephone: (573) 751-6387
Fax: (573) 526-3846

You can now order birth certificates online through VitalChek, a secure and fast online source for government-issued vital records.

Who may receive copies of birth certificates?

• 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:
• Wife
• Husband
• Son
• Daughter
• Mother
• Father
• Brother
• Sister
• Grandmother
• Niece
• Grandfather
• Grandchildren
• Aunt
• Uncle
• Nephew
• 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
• A stepparent
• An attorney acting on behalf of the person/family
• Authorized agent of person or family
• Others as demonstrated by a direct and tangible interest when information is needed for determination or protection of personal or property rights

Who may not receive a copy of birth certificates?

• Cousins
• Funeral Directors
• An alleged father
• Genealogists
• Friends

Application For A Vital Record