St. Francois County Marriage Records Lookup

St. Francois County marriage records go back to the early 1800s and are kept at the Recorder of Deeds office in Farmington. The county handles a steady number of marriage license applications each year from residents across the region. Whether you need to apply for a new license or track down an old marriage record, the Farmington office is your main point of contact. This page covers fees, the application process, what documents to bring, and where to find historical records for St. Francois County marriages.

St. Francois County Recorder of Deeds

Jay Graf serves as the St. Francois County Recorder of Deeds. His office is in the Courthouse Annex Building on the first floor in Farmington. The entrance is accessible from the rear parking lot. Staff at this office process marriage license applications, maintain marriage records, and provide certified copies to those who request them. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

The St. Francois County Recorder of Deeds website has details about services, fees, and hours. You can find general information about marriage licenses and other recorded documents. For questions about a specific record or your application, call the office directly. The staff is typically responsive and can give you a quick answer over the phone.

The recorder's page above provides an overview of the services available at the St. Francois County office in Farmington.

Applying for a Marriage License

Both applicants must appear in person at the St. Francois County Recorder of Deeds office in Farmington. You cannot apply by mail or online. Each person needs a valid government-issued photo ID that shows their date of birth and a Social Security card. If either party was previously married, you need to know the month and year that marriage ended. Missouri does not require a blood test, and there is no waiting period. You can get your license the same day you apply.

The marriage license fee in St. Francois County is $60. That price includes the $51 license fee plus a $9 certified copy fee built in. Cash is accepted. If you pay with a debit or credit card, the total comes to $62 because of a $2 convenience fee. Personal checks are not accepted at this office. The license is valid for 30 days from the date of issue. It can be used for a ceremony anywhere in Missouri. Under Missouri Revised Statutes Chapter 451, the officiant must sign and return the license to the recorder within 15 days of the ceremony.

As of August 28, 2025, you must be 18 years old or older to get married in Missouri. No exceptions exist anymore. Parental consent for minors has been removed from state law.

Note: Personal checks are not accepted at the St. Francois County Recorder of Deeds for marriage license fees.

St. Francois County Absent Applicant Process

St. Francois County offers an Absent Applicant process for situations where one person cannot come to the recorder's office. This involves an Affidavit of Absent Applicant, which the missing party fills out and has notarized. The present applicant then brings the affidavit along with their own ID and documents to the office in Farmington. The fee for an absent applicant license is the same as a regular one: $60 in cash or money order, or $62 with debit or credit. This option works well for military members stationed away from home or people who live far from the county.

The county government site provides details on available services including the absent applicant process and general recorder of deeds information.

Keep in mind that the recorder's office no longer takes license applications to correctional facilities in the area. If someone is incarcerated, you will need to use the absent applicant affidavit method instead of an in-person visit to the facility.

Historical Marriage Records

St. Francois County has marriage records from the early 1800s. That gives researchers nearly two centuries of recorded marriages to work with. The recorder's office in Farmington maintains the original records. For genealogy research or older record searches, you may also want to check state-level archives.

The Missouri State Archives holds microfilm copies of St. Francois County marriage records from the early 1800s. Their County and Municipal Records Database lets you browse digitized records online by county and type. Not everything has been digitized yet, but the database grows regularly. For records not available online, you can submit a research request through the archives website or visit the archives at 600 West Main Street in Jefferson City.

FamilySearch has Missouri Marriage Records Indexes for St. Francois County covering the early 1800s through the early 1900s. These free resources are a helpful starting point for tracking down older marriage records. The indexes can point you to specific dates and names, which makes it easier to request the right certified copies from the county.

Missouri State Marriage Records

Missouri has kept a central registry of marriages since July 1, 1948. The Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City issues certified marriage statements that include the names of both spouses, the marriage date, and the county. These statements are not the same as the full marriage certificate. For a complete certified copy, contact the St. Francois County Recorder of Deeds directly.

You can order a state-level marriage statement online through VitalChek, by phone, or in person at the Bureau of Vital Records. Each method has different processing times and fees. Under RSMo Chapter 193, certified copies are available only to people with a direct and tangible interest in the record. The Missouri Sunshine Law provides the broader framework for public access to government records, while specific vital records statutes add extra requirements for certified copies.

The Missouri Recorders Association website has a directory of all 114 county recorders if you need to find contact information for offices outside St. Francois County.

Cities in St. Francois County

St. Francois County does not have cities large enough for dedicated pages on this site. Farmington is the county seat and largest community. Other towns include Bonne Terre, Desloge, Park Hills, and Bismarck. All residents of these communities go to the Recorder of Deeds in Farmington for marriage licenses and records. There are no separate city-level vital records offices in St. Francois County.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near St. Francois County in southeast Missouri. You can apply for a marriage license at any Missouri county recorder's office. The license is valid statewide for 30 days.