Find O'Fallon Marriage Records
O'Fallon marriage records are managed by the St. Charles County Recorder of Deeds office in the city of St. Charles. O'Fallon is the seventh-largest city in Missouri but has no city-level vital records office. The county Recorder handles all marriage license applications, record storage, and certified copies for O'Fallon residents. Whether you want to search for a past marriage record or apply for a new license, the St. Charles County office is where you need to go. This page explains the fees, requirements, and how to search for O'Fallon marriage records.
O'Fallon Quick Facts
St. Charles County Marriage Filings
O'Fallon's City Clerk office handles city records but does not issue marriage licenses. In Missouri, marriage licenses come from the county Recorder of Deeds. For O'Fallon, that means the St. Charles County Recorder of Deeds at 201 N. Second Street, Suite 338, in the city of St. Charles. St. Charles County was founded in 1812 and has marriage records dating back to 1805, making it one of the oldest record collections in the state.
Both applicants must go to the county office in person to apply. The office only accepts cash for marriage license payments. This catches some people off guard, so bring cash. The service window closes at 4:50 PM and the public research area shuts down at 4:30 PM. Marriage licenses will not be issued after 4:30 PM.
The O'Fallon city website is shown below, though the city does not handle marriage license services.
For all marriage record needs, contact the St. Charles County Recorder directly rather than the O'Fallon City Clerk. O'Fallon's City Clerk, Bess Bacher, manages city-level business licenses and other municipal records, but marriage licenses are not among them. That distinction confuses some residents who assume city hall can help with marriage paperwork.
O'Fallon Marriage License Office
| Office | St. Charles County Recorder of Deeds |
|---|---|
| Address |
201 N. Second Street, Suite 338 St. Charles, MO 63301 |
| Phone | (636) 949-7505 |
| Fax | (636) 949-7512 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (licenses not issued after 4:30 PM) |
Marriage License Fees for O'Fallon
The marriage license fee in St. Charles County is $48. Cash only. No cards, no checks at the walk-in window. Certified copies of a marriage record are $10 each. Historical record fees may vary depending on the age and format of the document. Missouri law under Chapter 451 RSMo sets how these fees break down, with portions going to the Children's Trust Fund and domestic violence programs.
You need valid photo ID and your Social Security number. Both people must be at least 18. If you were married before, bring the month and year your last marriage ended. Missouri has no blood test and no waiting period for a marriage license. The license is good for 30 days from issuance and can be used anywhere in Missouri. After the ceremony, the officiant must return the signed license to the St. Charles County Recorder within 15 days. Two witnesses must sign at the wedding.
Search O'Fallon Marriage Records
St. Charles County has a document search system at recorder.sccmo.org, though the online search has limited capabilities for marriage records. Marriage license records are primarily available through in-person requests at the Recorder's office in St. Charles. Staff can search by name or date and pull files from the county's collection going back to 1805.
The Missouri Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City maintains state-level marriage data from July 1948 forward. You can also check the Missouri State Archives for older St. Charles County marriage records on microfilm. The archives has coverage from the 1940s through roughly 2020 for the county. For genealogy research, FamilySearch has indexed some Missouri marriage records. All marriage records in the state are public under the Sunshine Law.
Note: In-person searches at the county office provide the most complete results for O'Fallon marriage records.
O'Fallon Marriage License Process
When you apply for a marriage license at the St. Charles County office, the process is fairly quick. Both people show up, fill out the application, present their IDs, and pay the $48 fee in cash. The staff enters your information and prints the license. You can use it that same day if you want. There is no waiting period in Missouri. The license stays good for 30 days and works anywhere in the state.
The ceremony itself must be performed by an authorized officiant. Missouri law under Chapter 451 allows clergy members, ordained ministers, and judges of courts of record to officiate. Two witnesses must be present and sign the license during the ceremony. After the wedding, the officiant has 15 days to return the completed license to the St. Charles County Recorder. Once it is filed, the marriage becomes a permanent public record. Anyone can request a copy under Missouri's public records laws. If you need a certified copy for a name change, passport update, or other legal purpose, you can get one from the Recorder's office for $10.
Missouri's vital statistics law under Chapter 193 RSMo also requires that the state Bureau of Vital Records maintain a central index of all marriages. This means your O'Fallon marriage filing ends up in both the county and state systems.
Nearby Cities
These cities are also in St. Charles County and use the same Recorder of Deeds office for marriage records.
St. Charles County Records Page
For the full rundown on St. Charles County marriage records, fees, and all available services, visit the county page.