Find Pemiscot County Marriage Records

Pemiscot County marriage records are stored at the Recorder of Deeds office in Caruthersville. This is the office to contact for copies of marriage licenses, certified certificates, or to search for older filings. Pemiscot County is in the far southeast corner of Missouri, and the Recorder has records going back well over a century. Staff can pull records by name or date and provide copies on the spot. You can visit in person, call, or mail a request. The Recorder also handles new marriage license applications for Pemiscot County residents.

Pemiscot County Recorder of Deeds

The Pemiscot County Recorder of Deeds is the custodian of all marriage records in the county. This office issues licenses, records completed marriages, and keeps the original certificates. It sits in Caruthersville at the county courthouse. The staff can search files by name or by date and make copies for you while you wait. Certified copies cost about $9. Plain copies are $1 to $2 per page.

The Pemiscot County Recorder website provides details about office services, hours, and how to submit requests. The screenshot below shows the Pemiscot County Recorder's online page where you can find contact information and learn about available services.

Check the site before you drive to Caruthersville. It lists the current fees and tells you what to bring when applying for a license.

The Pemiscot County government website also provides general information about county offices and departments, as shown below.

That page links to the various county departments. Use it to find phone numbers and addresses for other offices if needed.

Search Pemiscot County Marriage Records

Go to the Recorder's office in Caruthersville with the full name of one or both spouses and the approximate year of the marriage. Staff will check the index and pull the file. You can view the record and order copies right then. Certified copies work for legal purposes like name changes, insurance, and court filings. Plain copies are cheaper if you just need the information.

You can also request records by mail. Write to the Recorder with the names, date, and a check or money order for the copy fees. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Give it a few weeks for processing. Pemiscot County does not have an online search portal for marriage records, so you need to go through the office directly.

Pemiscot County Marriage License

Both people must come to the Recorder's office in Caruthersville to get a marriage license. Bring a valid photo ID and your Social Security number. Missouri does not require a blood test or a waiting period. You pay the fee, fill out the forms, and get the license the same day. The cost is about $51.

The license is good for 30 days under RSMo 451.090 and can be used in any Missouri county. After the wedding, the officiant must sign the license and return it to the Pemiscot County Recorder within 15 days per RSMo 451.130. If either person was married before, bring the month and year that marriage ended. As of August 28, 2025, both parties must be 18 or older with no exceptions.

Marriage Certificates in Pemiscot County

The full marriage certificate is on file at the Pemiscot County Recorder's office. A certified copy includes names, date, location, officiant, and witnesses. The fee is about $9 per certified copy.

The Missouri Bureau of Vital Records can issue a Certified Statement Relating to Marriage for weddings from July 1, 1948 onward. This statement only lists names, date, and county. It does not have the full details from the license. You can order one through the Bureau's website or through VitalChek. Under RSMo 193.255, certified copies require a direct and tangible interest in the record. Plain copies are available to anyone.

Note: The state Bureau of Vital Records does not have marriage records from before July 1, 1948.

Historical Pemiscot County Records

Pemiscot County was organized in 1851. Records stretch back to that era. The Missouri State Archives holds microfilm copies of Pemiscot County marriage records in its database. FamilySearch also has copies for free research. The Missouri Sunshine Law ensures public access to these records, and the Missouri Recorders Association directory can help you find any county Recorder in the state.

More Resources for Pemiscot County

Pemiscot County sits in the Bootheel region of Missouri, near the Arkansas border. Caruthersville is the county seat and the main hub for county services. If you live in Hayti, Portageville, or any other town in Pemiscot County, the Recorder in Caruthersville is where you handle marriage records. Missouri does all marriage record keeping at the county level through the Recorder of Deeds.

After a wedding, you will need certified copies of your Pemiscot County marriage license for name changes with Social Security, the DMV, banks, and your employer. The Recorder charges about $9 per certified copy. Order a few extras so you can send them to different agencies at the same time. It saves weeks compared to waiting for each one to come back before mailing the next.

Missouri does not require you to live in Pemiscot County to get a license here. Both people just need to show up with valid photo ID and Social Security numbers. The license works in any Missouri county for 30 days. If your ceremony is in a different county, the officiant still sends the signed license back to the Pemiscot County Recorder since that is where it was issued. For legal questions about property, custody, or other family matters, contact Legal Aid of Southeast Missouri or a local attorney.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Pemiscot County in Missouri's Bootheel region. Verify where the license was filed before requesting records from a neighboring county.