Search Putnam County Marriage Records

Putnam County marriage records are filed at the Recorder of Deeds office in Unionville. This small county sits along the Iowa border in north-central Missouri. The Recorder holds all marriage licenses, certificates, and related documents. If you need to look up a marriage record, get a copy, or apply for a license, this is the office to contact. Staff can search by name or date, and records go back to the 1840s. You can visit the courthouse, call ahead, or mail in a request for Putnam County marriage records.

Putnam County Recorder of Deeds

The Putnam County Recorder of Deeds manages all marriage records for the county. This office issues new licenses, records completed marriages, and keeps the original certificates. Located in the courthouse in Unionville, the Recorder serves all Putnam County residents. A certified copy of a marriage record costs about $9. Plain copies are $1 to $2 per page.

Putnam County is one of the smaller counties in Missouri. The Recorder's office handles a modest volume of marriage licenses each year, so the staff can usually help you quickly. Under Missouri law, both people must appear together with valid photo ID and Social Security numbers. There is no blood test and no wait time. The license fee runs about $51 and stays valid for 30 days per RSMo 451.090.

The state vital records portal shown below outlines how Missouri handles marriage records at both the state and county level, which applies to Putnam County residents.

That directory can help you find the right county office if you are not sure where a marriage was filed.

Finding Putnam County Marriage Records

Visit the Recorder in Unionville with the name of at least one spouse and an approximate date. Staff check the index and pull the record for you. You view it and order copies on the spot. Certified copies carry the county seal. Plain copies cost less if you just want the information.

Mail requests work as well. Send a letter with the names, date, and a check or money order to cover copy fees. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Putnam County does not have an online search portal. All requests go through the office. It is a small office, so calling ahead can save you time. Processing for mail requests usually takes about two weeks.

Putnam County Marriage License

Both people must come to the Recorder's office in person. Bring photo ID and your Social Security number. No blood test. No wait. Pay the fee, sign the forms, and you leave with the license. After the ceremony, the officiant has 15 days to sign and return it to the Putnam County Recorder per RSMo 451.130.

If either person was married before, bring the month and year the previous marriage ended. Missouri now requires both people to be at least 18, with no exceptions, since August 28, 2025. The license works in any Missouri county for 30 days from the date it is issued.

Marriage Certificates in Putnam County

The full marriage certificate is at the Putnam County Recorder's office. A certified copy includes names, date, location, officiant, and witnesses. It costs about $9. The Missouri Bureau of Vital Records has a shorter Certified Statement Relating to Marriage for marriages from July 1, 1948 onward. Order it from the Bureau or through VitalChek.

Under RSMo 193.255, certified copies require a direct and tangible interest in the record. Plain copies and viewing are open to the public under the Missouri Sunshine Law. For genealogy research, the Missouri State Archives and FamilySearch have microfilm copies of Putnam County marriage records. The Missouri Recorders Association directory lists all 114 county Recorders.

Note: Putnam County is a small office. Call ahead to confirm hours, especially around holidays or during bad weather.

More Putnam County Resources

If you are working on a name change after getting married in Putnam County, you will need a certified copy of the marriage license. Social Security, the DMV, banks, and other agencies all want to see it. The Recorder in Unionville can give you as many copies as you need for $9 each. Plan to get a few extras so you can send them to different agencies at the same time instead of waiting for one to come back before mailing it to the next.

Putnam County sits near the Iowa border. If one spouse lives in Iowa and the other in Missouri, you can still get your marriage license in Putnam County. Missouri does not have a residency requirement for marriage licenses. Anyone can apply here as long as both people appear in person and meet the state requirements. The license is good for 30 days and valid anywhere in Missouri. Keep in mind that an Iowa marriage would require a separate license from that state.

For general questions about Missouri marriage law, Chapter 451 of the Missouri Revised Statutes covers everything from who can perform a ceremony to what happens if the license is not returned on time. The Recorder's office in Unionville can answer most practical questions about the process in Putnam County. If you need legal advice, contact a family law attorney in the area or reach out to Legal Aid of Western Missouri.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Putnam County in north Missouri near the Iowa line. Always verify where the license was issued before requesting records.