Search St. Louis County Marriage Records

St. Louis County marriage records are managed by the Recorder of Deeds in Clayton, Missouri. With roughly one million residents, this is one of the most populous counties in the state and processes a large volume of marriage license applications each year. The recorder's office keeps records from 1877 to the present. Whether you plan to apply for a new license or need a copy of an existing record, the Clayton office on South Central Avenue is where all requests are handled. You can also reach the office by email or phone for specific questions about St. Louis County marriage documents.

St. Louis County Recorder of Deeds

Gerald E. Smith is the St. Louis County Recorder of Deeds. His office is on the fourth floor of the Lawrence K. Roos County Government Building at 41 South Central Avenue in Clayton. This building sits just south of Forsyth Boulevard. The office handles all marriage license applications, record requests, and document recording for St. Louis County. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, though the marriage license window may close earlier at 4:30 PM for new applications.

It is important to know that St. Louis County and the City of St. Louis are separate jurisdictions. The City of St. Louis is an independent city and is not part of St. Louis County. If you live within the city limits of St. Louis, your marriage records are handled by the City of St. Louis Recorder of Deeds, not by this office. Records prior to 1876 for the combined area are held at St. Louis City Hall.

You can reach the St. Louis County Recorder of Deeds by phone at (314) 615-7100 or by email at marriage@stlouiscountymo.gov for marriage-related questions. A recorded message line is also available at (314) 615-7180 for basic information outside of business hours.

The St. Louis County Recorder of Deeds page shown above is the main online resource for marriage license information and record requests in the county.

Marriage License Application in St. Louis County

Both applicants must appear together at the recorder's office in Clayton. You need a valid photo ID with your date of birth and your Social Security number. If either person was married before, bring information about the month and year that marriage ended. No blood test is required in Missouri, and there is no waiting period. You can apply and receive your license on the same visit.

The marriage license fee in St. Louis County ranges from $47 to $51. Cash is the only accepted payment for in-person applications. No checks. No credit cards. No debit cards at the counter. Plan to bring the exact amount or close to it. Once issued, the license is good for 30 days and can be used for a ceremony anywhere in the state. Under Chapter 451 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, the person who performs the ceremony must sign and return the license to the St. Louis County Recorder within 15 days.

Missouri law requires all applicants to be 18 or older. As of August 2025, no parental consent or judicial waiver can be used to allow someone younger than 18 to marry. This applies to every county in the state, including St. Louis County.

St. Louis County Marriage Record Copies

The St. Louis County Recorder of Deeds offers several ways to get copies of marriage records. You can request them in person, by mail, or through an online ordering service. Each method has different fees and processing times. In-person requests are handled the fastest. Mail requests require a check or money order payable to "Recorder of Deeds" along with a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Fee details for St. Louis County marriage records:

• Certified copy of marriage license: $9 per copy
• Uncertified photocopy: $2 per copy
• Online service fee: $10 plus copy fees
• Marriage license application: $47 to $51 (cash only in person)

The online option goes through a third-party provider and adds a $10 service fee on top of the per-copy charge. This can be a good choice if you live far from Clayton and do not want to make the trip. Mail-in requests take longer but avoid the online service fee. Under RSMo Chapter 193, Section 193.215, the state sets the base fees for certified copies of vital records, and individual counties may add recording fees as allowed by Section 193.195.

Note: Online orders for St. Louis County marriage records include an additional $10 service fee charged by the third-party provider.

Historical Marriage Records

St. Louis County marriage records start in 1877. Records before that year are held at St. Louis City Hall because the county and city were part of the same jurisdiction until 1876. If you need a marriage record from before 1877, contact the City of St. Louis Recorder of Deeds rather than the county office.

The Missouri State Archives has microfilm copies of St. Louis County marriage records from 1877. Their County and Municipal Records Database allows online browsing of digitized records by county and type. Not everything has been digitized, but new content is added regularly. You can also submit a research request and the archives staff will search a 10-year window for the records you need. The archives are at 600 West Main Street in Jefferson City.

FamilySearch provides free access to microfilm copies of St. Louis County marriage records from 1877 onward. These collections are helpful for genealogy research and can give you names and dates to narrow down your search before you order certified copies from the county.

Missouri State Marriage Records

The Missouri Bureau of Vital Records has maintained a central registry of marriages since July 1, 1948. They can issue a certified statement of marriage that shows the names of both spouses, the date, and the county. This statement is not a full copy of the marriage certificate. For the complete document with all the original details, you need to go through the St. Louis County Recorder of Deeds.

You can order state-level marriage statements through VitalChek online, by phone, or in person at the Bureau of Vital Records at 930 Wildwood Drive in Jefferson City. RSMo 193.255 limits certified copy access to people who can prove a direct and tangible interest in the record. The Missouri Sunshine Law gives the public a broad right to access government records, but certified vital records have extra restrictions built into the statutes. The Missouri Recorders Association provides a statewide directory of all 114 county recorder offices.

Cities in St. Louis County

St. Louis County contains dozens of municipalities. Florissant is the largest city within the county that has a dedicated page on this site. All cities in St. Louis County use the Recorder of Deeds in Clayton for marriage licenses and records. No city within the county has its own vital records office for marriage documents. The City of St. Louis is a separate independent city and does not fall within St. Louis County.

Other communities in St. Louis County include University City, Chesterfield, Kirkwood, Webster Groves, Ballwin, and Maryland Heights. All residents of these communities file for marriage licenses at the county recorder's office in Clayton.

Nearby Counties

St. Louis County shares borders with several Missouri counties. Remember that the City of St. Louis is a separate jurisdiction and not part of this county. Verify your address before applying for a marriage license to make sure you are going to the right office.