St. Charles Marriage Records Search

St. Charles marriage records are held by the St. Charles County Recorder of Deeds, and the office is right here in the city of St. Charles since it is the county seat. Marriage license files in this county go all the way back to 1807, making St. Charles one of the oldest collections of marriage records in Missouri. You can apply for a new license, look up an old record, or get certified copies at the Recorder's office on Second Street. The City Clerk does not issue marriage licenses. This page covers the process, fees, and where to search for marriage records in St. Charles.

St. Charles County Recorder Office

The St. Charles County Recorder of Deeds is led by Mary Dempsey. The office sits at 201 N. Second Street, Suite 338, right in downtown St. Charles. Since St. Charles is the county seat, the Recorder's office is local for city residents. The City Clerk's office does not handle marriage licenses. All marriage services go through the county Recorder.

The county has kept marriage records since 1807. Historical archives from 1807 to 1883 are available at the office. More recent records are in the regular filing system. Staff can search for records by name or date. Land records are searchable online through the county website, but marriage record searches are best done in person at the office.

The St. Charles County Recorder website shows the office location and available services for marriage records.

The website provides basic information about the office, though in-person visits are required for marriage license applications.

St. Charles Marriage License Fees

The marriage license costs $48 in St. Charles County. Cash only. The office does not accept credit cards, debit cards, or checks for walk-in license applications. Certified copies of marriage records cost $10. Bring enough cash for both the license and any copies you want to take with you that day.

Missouri's fee structure under Chapter 451 RSMo divides each license fee among several funds. Part goes to the Children's Trust Fund, part to domestic violence shelters, and part to the county general revenue. The Recorder's office collects the fee and distributes it as required by state law.

Note: Cash only applies to walk-in payments at the St. Charles County Recorder's office.

Marriage License Requirements

Here is what you need to apply for a marriage license in St. Charles:

• Valid photo ID for both people (driver's license, passport, or state ID)
• Social Security number for each applicant
• Proof of age showing both are 18 or older
• Month and year your last marriage ended, if either was previously married
• $48 in cash

Both applicants must come to the office together. There is no blood test. Missouri eliminated the waiting period for marriage licenses, so you can apply and use the license on the same day. The license stays valid for 30 days from the date of issuance. The ceremony must take place in Missouri. Two witnesses need to sign the license at the wedding. The officiant must return the completed license to the Recorder within 15 days. If either applicant was divorced less than 30 days ago, Missouri law technically requires a waiting period before a new license can be issued, though some county offices handle this differently.

Look Up St. Charles Marriage Records

The St. Charles County Recorder has a document search portal at recorder.sccmo.org. The online system has some search capabilities, though marriage records are most reliably found through in-person requests. Staff at the office can pull files from the full collection dating back to 1807. The historical archives covering 1807 to 1883 are also accessible at the office.

For state resources, the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records has a central index of all Missouri marriages since July 1948. The Missouri State Archives holds microfilm of St. Charles County marriage records with coverage from roughly the 1940s through 2020. These state resources supplement the county records, especially for older filings. Marriage records in Missouri are public under the Sunshine Law.

Historical St. Charles Marriage Records

St. Charles has one of the oldest collections of marriage records in Missouri. The county archives cover 1807 to 1883 and are kept at the Recorder's office. These early records predate Missouri statehood. They are valuable for genealogy and historical research. The Missouri State Archives has additional microfilm coverage of St. Charles County marriage records from the 1940s through roughly 2020.

Under Chapter 193 RSMo, the state Bureau of Vital Records has tracked all Missouri marriages centrally since July 1948. For anything older, the county office and state archives are the primary sources. The Missouri Recorders Association can help connect you to other county offices if you need records from outside St. Charles County. Certified copies from the local Recorder cost $10 and carry the official seal needed for legal purposes like name changes and passport applications.

Nearby Cities

O'Fallon and St. Peters are also in St. Charles County. They use the same Recorder of Deeds office in St. Charles for all marriage record services.

St. Charles County Records Page

See the St. Charles County page for the complete guide to marriage records, fees, and all county services.