St. Joseph Marriage Records

St. Joseph marriage records are stored at the Buchanan County Recorder of Deeds office on Jules Street. St. Joseph is the county seat of Buchanan County, which means the Recorder's office is right in town. Marriage records here go back to 1839, when the county was first organized. If you need to search for a marriage record, get a certified copy, or apply for a license in St. Joseph, the Buchanan County Recorder is the office to visit. This page covers fees, office details, how to search for records, and everything else you need to know about marriage records in St. Joseph.

Buchanan County Marriage Filings

St. Joseph does not issue marriage licenses at the city level. Missouri places that responsibility on the county Recorder of Deeds. The Buchanan County Recorder of Deeds is currently led by Rebecca Dunlap. The office is at 411 Jules Street, Room 103, in St. Joseph. Since St. Joseph is the county seat, you don't have to travel outside the city for marriage license services.

Buchanan County has preserved marriage records since 1839, when the county was first organized. The courthouse survived fires that affected many other Missouri counties, which means the historical record is more complete here than in some other places. E-recording services are also available for certain document types. Military discharge records (DD-214) are recorded at no charge.

The St. Joseph city website provides local government information, though marriage licenses are a county function.

Contact the Buchanan County Recorder's office for all questions about marriage licenses and record copies.

St. Joseph Marriage License Office

Note: The office is closed on weekends and all county holidays.

Marriage Fees in St. Joseph

The marriage license fee in Buchanan County is about $48 to $51. You can pay with cash or check. Certified copies cost $10 each. Plain copies are $2. Active duty military members may be able to get certified copies at no charge. The fee structure follows Chapter 451 RSMo, which divides the fee among the Children's Trust Fund, county revenue, and other state-mandated allocations.

If you need a certified copy for a name change with Social Security or for Real ID purposes, make sure to ask for the certified version. Plain copies are cheaper but won't be accepted by most government agencies. When you request copies by mail, send a check or money order to the Buchanan County Recorder at 411 Jules Street, Room 103, St. Joseph, MO 64501. Include the names of both parties and the approximate date of the marriage.

License Requirements in St. Joseph

Both people must come to the Buchanan County Recorder's office in person to apply. Each applicant needs a valid photo ID and Social Security number. You must be 18 or older. If either person was married before, you need to know the month and year your last marriage ended. Missouri has no blood test requirement and no waiting period. Your license is valid for 30 days and can be used anywhere in the state.

After the wedding, the officiant returns the signed license to the Buchanan County Recorder within 15 days. Two witnesses sign the license at the ceremony. Once filed, the marriage becomes a permanent public record. Anyone can request a copy under the Missouri Sunshine Law. You don't have to be named in the record or give a reason for your request.

Search St. Joseph Marriage Records

You can search for St. Joseph marriage records in person at the Buchanan County Recorder's office. Staff can pull records by name or date from the collection going back to 1839. For state-level searches, the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records has marriage data from July 1948 onward. The Missouri State Archives also has microfilm copies of Buchanan County marriage records.

FamilySearch has indexed some Missouri marriage records and is a free resource for genealogy. Whether you are researching family history or need a recent record, between the county office and these state-level resources you should be able to find what you need.

St. Joseph Historical Marriage Records

Buchanan County has kept marriage records since 1839, and the courthouse in St. Joseph survived fires that destroyed records in many other Missouri counties. That means the historical collection here is more complete than in some parts of the state. The Recorder's office can pull records from any year in that range. For older records, researchers can also check the Missouri State Archives for microfilm copies.

Under Chapter 193 RSMo, Missouri has maintained a central marriage index since July 1948. Records before that date are only available at the county level or through the archives. The Missouri Recorders Association provides a directory of all county Recorders across the state. If you need records from both Buchanan County and another county, their website can point you to the right offices. Buchanan County also offers e-recording for certain document types, which makes some filing processes faster for St. Joseph residents.

Nearby Cities

Kansas City is the nearest qualifying city to St. Joseph. It sits about 55 miles to the south in Jackson County.

Buchanan County Records Page

See the Buchanan County page for the full overview of marriage records and all Recorder of Deeds services available to St. Joseph residents.