St. Charles County Marriage Records

St. Charles County holds marriage records dating back to 1807, making it one of the most complete collections in Missouri. The Recorder of Deeds office in the city of St. Charles handles all marriage license applications and record requests for the county's roughly 405,000 residents. Whether you need a new license or a copy of an old one, the process starts at the county seat. Three major cities fall within this county, and each one relies on the same recorder office for marriage records. You can search for documents online or visit in person to get what you need.

St. Charles County Recorder of Deeds

Mary Dempsey serves as the St. Charles County Recorder of Deeds. Her office is the sole place in the county where you can apply for a marriage license or get a copy of a marriage record. The office sits on the second floor of the county administration building in downtown St. Charles. Staff can help you with new license applications, certified copies, and searches through the county's marriage record archives. Walk-ins are welcome, but keep in mind that the office will not issue new marriage licenses after 4:30 PM even though the building stays open until 5:00 PM.

The St. Charles County Recorder of Deeds website offers some online tools for document searches. You can look up recorded documents through their portal, though marriage license records typically need an in-person request. The public research area inside the office closes at 4:30 PM as well, so plan your visit with that in mind.

The recorder's office at the St. Charles County website provides an overview of available services and contact details for specific questions about marriage records in the county.

The recorder homepage shown above is where St. Charles County residents can start their search for marriage license information and related documents.

Getting a Marriage License in St. Charles County

Both people who plan to marry must show up at the recorder's office together. You cannot send just one person. Bring a valid photo ID with your date of birth and your Social Security number. If you were married before, you will need to know the month and year that marriage ended. The fee is $48 and must be paid in cash. No checks. No cards. Cash only. The office does not have an ATM on site, so bring the right amount with you.

Once you pay and sign the paperwork, the license is good for 30 days. The ceremony can take place anywhere in Missouri during that window. After the ceremony, the person who performed it must sign the license and return it to the St. Charles County Recorder of Deeds within 15 days. Under Missouri Revised Statutes Chapter 451, this return step is required by law. If the license is not returned on time, there can be complications with your official marriage record.

There is no waiting period in Missouri. You can apply and pick up your license the same day. No blood test is needed either. Missouri law under Chapter 193 sets out the basic rules for how vital records like marriage licenses are handled across the state.

Note: Marriage license applications will not be accepted after 4:30 PM at the St. Charles County Recorder of Deeds.

Search St. Charles County Marriage Records Online

St. Charles County provides an online document search tool through the recorder's website. The St. Charles County document search portal lets you look up recorded documents by name, date, or document type. While this tool covers many types of recorded documents, marriage license records are mainly available through in-person requests. The online portal works best for finding land records and other recorded instruments.

This document search page is the main online tool for St. Charles County public records. It can help narrow down what you need before visiting the office in person.

For certified copies of marriage records, you will need to visit the office or contact them by phone at (636) 949-7505. A certified copy costs $10. Plain copies are also available at a lower cost. If you are not sure whether a record exists, the staff can do a search for you on the spot during business hours. The public research area closes at 4:30 PM, so arrive well before that time if you plan to look through older records on your own.

Historical Marriage Records in St. Charles County

St. Charles County has marriage records going back to 1807. That is nearly 220 years of recorded marriages. The county's historical archives from 1807 through 1883 are especially valuable for genealogy research. These older records can be accessed at the recorder's office. Some have also been preserved on microfilm by the Missouri State Archives in Jefferson City.

The Missouri State Archives holds microfilm copies of St. Charles County marriage records. Their County and Municipal Records Database at the archives website lets you browse digitized records by county and record type. Coverage for St. Charles County marriage license searches runs from roughly the 1940s through 2020. Older records may need an in-person visit to the archives or the county recorder's office.

The St. Charles County website provides additional context about county services and departments that handle public records including marriage documents.

FamilySearch also has Missouri marriage record indexes that include St. Charles County data. These collections cover the early 1800s through the early 1900s and are free to search. They can be a good starting point when you are not sure of exact dates or names.

Missouri Marriage Records for St. Charles County

The state of Missouri keeps a central registry of marriages that goes back to July 1, 1948. The Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City can issue a certified statement relating to a marriage. This statement shows the names of both spouses, the date of the marriage, and the county where it was recorded. It does not include all the details found on the original marriage certificate. For a full certified copy, you must go through the St. Charles County Recorder of Deeds.

You can also order a marriage statement through VitalChek, which is the state's authorized online ordering service. There is an extra service fee on top of the state's base charge. Processing times vary based on the method you choose. In-person requests at the Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City are usually the fastest option.

Missouri's Sunshine Law under Chapter 610 of the Revised Statutes sets the rules for public access to government records. Marriage records are generally public, but certified copies are limited to people who can show a direct and tangible interest in the record as defined by RSMo 193.255. The Missouri Recorders Association website has contact details for all 114 county recorders if you need to reach out to a specific office.

Cities in St. Charles County

Three qualifying cities sit within St. Charles County. All of them use the same Recorder of Deeds office at 201 N. Second Street in St. Charles for marriage license applications and record requests. None of these cities have their own vital records offices. The city clerk in each town handles other city business but not marriage licenses.

Other communities in St. Charles County include Wentzville, Lake St. Louis, Dardenne Prairie, and Cottleville. Residents of these areas also file for marriage licenses at the county recorder's office in St. Charles.

Nearby Counties

These counties border St. Charles County. If you live near a county line, confirm your address falls within St. Charles County before applying for a license here. You must file in the county where you appear in person, though the license itself is valid anywhere in Missouri.