Find Marriage Records in Montgomery County

Montgomery County marriage records are kept at the Recorder of Deeds in Montgomery City. This office handles marriage licenses, certificates, and all related filings for the county. If you need a copy of a marriage record, want to verify a filing, or need to apply for a new license, the Recorder of Deeds is where you go. Montgomery County has records stretching back to the 1800s, and the staff can help you search through them. You can reach the office by visiting in person, calling by phone, or sending a mail request.

Montgomery County Recorder of Deeds

The Montgomery County Recorder of Deeds is the central office for all marriage records in the county. It is at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Montgomery City. Staff issue marriage licenses, maintain the certificate files, and provide copies to the public. Walk-ins are accepted during regular business hours. Calling ahead is a good idea if you need something specific.

Missouri law governs marriage licenses uniformly across all counties. Under RSMo Chapter 451, both people must come to the office in person together. Each person brings a valid photo ID and a Social Security number. Missouri does not require a blood test. There is no waiting period. The license gets issued the same day you apply, and it is valid for 30 days across the state.

The Missouri Sunshine Law page shown below outlines the public records access rules that apply to all county offices, including the Montgomery County Recorder.

The Sunshine Law guarantees that marriage records filed in Montgomery County are accessible to the public.

How to Search Montgomery County Marriage Records

Visit the Recorder's office in Montgomery City for the quickest search. Bring the name of at least one spouse and a rough date if you have it. Staff will search the files and pull the record. Plain copies cost about $1 to $2 per page. Certified copies are around $9 each. Cash is the most reliable payment option.

Mail requests are another way to get copies. Send a letter to the Recorder's office with the full names, date of marriage, and a check or money order for the fees. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Most requests are handled within two to three weeks. Montgomery County does not have a public online search portal for marriage records. Phone, mail, or an in-person visit are your options.

Montgomery County Marriage License

Both people must appear at the Recorder of Deeds office together. Bring photo ID and Social Security numbers. If either person was married before, the month and year that marriage ended is required. Missouri has no blood test requirement and no waiting period. The fee is about $51. You leave with the license the same day.

The license works anywhere in Missouri for 30 days under RSMo 451.090. After the ceremony, the officiant returns the signed license to the Montgomery County Recorder within 15 days per RSMo 451.130. The minimum marriage age in Missouri is 18, effective August 28, 2025, with no exceptions.

Note: Montgomery County is between St. Louis and Columbia along Interstate 70, making it convenient for couples in that corridor.

State Marriage Records for Montgomery County

The Missouri Bureau of Vital Records has an index of marriages from July 1, 1948 to the present. They can issue a Certified Statement Relating to Marriage that lists names, date, and county. This is a shorter document than what the Montgomery County Recorder has on file.

Order the state statement through the Bureau of Vital Records by mail, in person in Jefferson City, or through VitalChek. VitalChek charges a service fee. For the full certificate from a Montgomery County marriage, go through the county Recorder. Under RSMo 193.255, certified copies require a direct and tangible interest in the record.

Historical Montgomery County Marriage Records

Montgomery County was established in 1818 and is one of Missouri's older counties. Marriage records have been kept since the county's early days. The Recorder's office in Montgomery City maintains the original files. For genealogy research, the Missouri State Archives holds microfilm copies. FamilySearch has additional free microfilm access at their centers. Together, these sources cover much of Montgomery County's historical marriage record collection.

Public Records Access in Montgomery County

Marriage records are public in Missouri under the Missouri Sunshine Law (Chapter 610 RSMo). Anyone can request to see a Montgomery County marriage record. Plain copies are available to all. Certified copies require a direct and tangible interest per RSMo 193.255. The Missouri Recorders Association directory lists all 114 county Recorder offices if you need to search beyond Montgomery County.

Name Changes and Montgomery County Marriages

After a marriage in Montgomery County, one or both spouses may want to change their legal name. You will need a certified copy of the marriage certificate from the Recorder's office in Montgomery City. This document is what the Social Security Administration, the Missouri DMV, banks, and other agencies require before they update your name on their records. Plan to order at least two or three certified copies at $9 each so you can send them to multiple agencies at the same time rather than mailing one copy from place to place.

Montgomery County is along the Interstate 70 corridor between St. Louis and Columbia. If you or your spouse were married somewhere else in Missouri and now live in Montgomery County, remember that the marriage record stays on file in the county where the license was issued. You would need to contact that county's Recorder for a copy. The Montgomery County office can help point you in the right direction if you are not sure where to look.

Nearby Counties

These counties neighbor Montgomery County in east-central Missouri. Records are kept in the county where the license was issued, so verify that before you request a copy.