Access St. Peters Marriage Records
St. Peters marriage records are maintained by the St. Charles County Recorder of Deeds. St. Peters is a city within St. Charles County, and it does not have a city-level vital records office or a City Clerk who issues marriage licenses. All marriage license applications, record searches, and certified copy requests go through the county Recorder's office in the city of St. Charles. Whether you are looking for an old marriage record or planning to get married, the county Recorder is the only office that handles these services for St. Peters residents. Below you will find the address, fees, and steps to search or apply.
St. Peters Quick Facts
St. Charles County Handles St. Peters Records
The St. Charles County Recorder of Deeds at 201 N. Second Street, Suite 338, in the city of St. Charles handles all marriage records for St. Peters residents. This is the same office that serves O'Fallon, St. Charles city, and every other community in the county. The St. Peters City Clerk does not issue marriage licenses. Missouri law puts that function at the county level.
St. Charles County has marriage records from 1805 onward. The county was established in 1812, but some early records predate the formal county organization. The Recorder's office keeps the original documents and can issue certified copies for any record in the collection. Marriage applications close at 4:30 PM, so plan to arrive before then.
The St. Peters city website offers city-related information but does not provide marriage license services.
For marriage licenses and record copies, go directly to the St. Charles County Recorder's office. The drive from St. Peters to the Recorder in downtown St. Charles takes about 10 to 15 minutes depending on traffic. Plan to arrive before 4:30 PM since they stop issuing licenses after that time. The public research area for in-person record searches also closes at 4:30 PM.
Marriage License Office for St. Peters
| 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) |
St. Peters Marriage Fees and Requirements
The marriage license fee is $48. Cash only at the walk-in window. Certified copies of a marriage record cost $10 each. Missouri law under Chapter 451 RSMo governs the fee structure. Both applicants must appear together at the Recorder's office. You each need a valid photo ID and Social Security number. You must be at least 18.
If either person was married before, bring the month and year your prior marriage ended. There is no blood test and no waiting period in Missouri. The license is good for 30 days and works for ceremonies held anywhere in the state. Two witnesses must sign the license at the wedding. The officiant returns the signed license to the St. Charles County Recorder within 15 days of the ceremony.
Once filed, the marriage record becomes part of the permanent public record. Anyone can request copies under the Missouri Sunshine Law without giving a reason.
Search St. Peters Marriage Records
The St. Charles County Recorder has a document search system at recorder.sccmo.org. Online search capabilities for marriage records are limited, so in-person requests at the Recorder's office tend to produce the best results. Staff can search the full collection by name or date.
The Missouri Bureau of Vital Records keeps a statewide marriage index from July 1948 onward. The Missouri State Archives also has St. Charles County marriage records on microfilm. For genealogy research, FamilySearch indexes some Missouri marriage records for free online access.
Note: Online tools are best for basic lookups, but certified copies must be obtained from the county office in St. Charles for legal or official purposes.
St. Peters Marriage License Process
Applying for a marriage license when you live in St. Peters means a short drive to the city of St. Charles where the county Recorder's office is located. Both applicants go in together, fill out the application, and pay the $48 fee in cash. The staff processes the application and prints the license. There is no waiting period. You can use the license that same day if you like. It stays valid for 30 days and works for ceremonies anywhere in Missouri.
Missouri law under Chapter 451 says that clergy, ordained ministers, and judges of courts of record can perform the ceremony. Two witnesses must sign the license at the wedding. The officiant returns the completed license to the St. Charles County Recorder within 15 days. Once filed, the marriage is part of the permanent public record.
The state also tracks marriages centrally. Under Chapter 193 RSMo, the Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City maintains an index of all Missouri marriages since 1948. So your St. Peters marriage record ends up in both the county files and the state database. Certified copies can come from either source, though the county office is usually faster for local records. The Missouri Recorders Association website has information about Recorder offices across the state if you need records from other jurisdictions.
Nearby Cities
These St. Charles County cities share the same Recorder of Deeds office for all marriage record services.
St. Charles County Records Page
Visit the St. Charles County page for the complete guide to marriage records, fees, and search tools that serve St. Peters and all other county residents.