Mo. Rev. Stat. § 193.005 Law, how cited.
193.005. Law, how cited. — Sections 193.005 to 193.325 may be cited as the "Uniform Vital Statistics Law".
(L. 1984 S.B. 574)
Mo. Rev. Stat. ch. 193
Mo. Rev. Stat. ch. 193
in effectMo. Rev. Stat. § 193.015 Definitions.
193.015. Definitions. — As used in sections 193.005 to 193.325 , unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following terms shall mean:
(1) "Advanced practice registered nurse" , a person licensed to practice as an advanced practice registered nurse under chapter 335 , and who has been delegated tasks outlined in section 193.145 by a physician with whom they have entered into a collaborative practice arrangement under chapter 334 ;
(2) "Assistant physician" , as such term is defined in section 334.036 , and who has been delegated tasks outlined in section 193.145 by a physician with whom they have entered into a collaborative practice arrangement under chapter 334 ;
(3) "Dead body" , a human body or such parts of such human body from the condition of which it reasonably may be concluded that death recently occurred;
(4) "Department" , the department of health and senior services;
(5) "Final disposition" , the burial, interment, cremation, removal from the state, or other authorized disposition of a dead body or fetus;
(6) "Institution" , any establishment, public or private, which provides inpatient or outpatient medical, surgical, or diagnostic care or treatment or nursing, custodian, or domiciliary care, or to which persons are committed by law;
(7) "Live birth" , the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a child, irrespective of the duration of pregnancy, which after such expulsion or extraction, breathes or shows any other evidence of life such as beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles, whether or not the umbilical cord has been cut or the placenta is attached;
(8) "Physician" , a person authorized or licensed to practice medicine or osteopathy pursuant to chapter 334 ;
(9) "Physician assistant" , a person licensed to practice as a physician assistant pursuant to chapter 334 , and who has been delegated tasks outlined in section 193.145 by a physician with whom they have entered into a collaborative practice arrangement under chapter 334 ;
(10) "Spontaneous fetal death" , a noninduced death prior to the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a fetus, irrespective of the duration of pregnancy; the death is indicated by the fact that after such expulsion or extraction the fetus does not breathe or show any other evidence of life such as beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles;
(11) "State registrar" , state registrar of vital statistics of the state of Missouri;
(12) "System of vital statistics" , the registration, collection, preservation, amendment and certification of vital records; the collection of other reports required by sections 193.005 to 193.325 and section 194.060 ; and activities related thereto including the tabulation, analysis and publication of vital statistics;
(13) "Vital records" , certificates or reports of birth, death, marriage, dissolution of marriage and data related thereto;
(14) "Vital statistics" , the data derived from certificates and reports of birth, death, spontaneous fetal death, marriage, dissolution of marriage and related reports.
(L. 1984 S.B. 574, A.L. 2005 S.B. 74 & 49, A.L. 2015 H.B. 618, A.L. 2019 S.B. 514)
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 193.025 Office - exclusive system - preservation of records.
193.025. Office — exclusive system — preservation of records. — The department shall establish an office which shall install, maintain and operate the only system of vital statistics throughout the state. The office shall provide for the preservation of its official records.
(L. 1984 S.B. 574)
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 193.035 Rules and regulations, procedure.
193.035. Rules and regulations, procedure. — The department may promulgate rules and regulations for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of sections 193.005 to 193.325 . No rule or portion of a rule promulgated under the authority of this chapter shall become effective unless it has been promulgated pursuant to the provisions of section 536.024 .
(L. 1984 S.B. 574, A.L. 1993 S.B. 52, A.L. 1995 S.B. 3)
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 193.045 State registrar, administration of system, powers and duties.
193.045. State registrar, administration of system, powers and duties. — 1. The department director or his designee shall be the state registrar of vital statistics.
2. The state registrar shall administer the system of vital statistics and shall:
(1) Conduct training programs to promote uniformity of policy and procedures throughout the state;
(2) Prescribe, furnish and distribute such forms as are required by sections 193.005 to 193.325 and the rules and regulations issued hereunder, or prescribe such other means for transmission of data as will accomplish the purposes of complete and accurate reporting and registration of vital records;
(3) Prepare and publish reports of vital statistics of this state and such other reports as may be required by department rules;
(4) Provide to the state or local health agencies copies of or data derived from certificates and reports required under sections 193.005 to 193.325 , deemed necessary for state or local health planning and program activities. The state registrar shall establish a schedule for transmittal of such copies or data, but such copies or data shall remain the property of the department and the uses which may be made of them shall be governed by the state registrar.
(L. 1984 S.B. 574)
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 193.055 Division of state into registration districts.
193.055. Division of state into registration districts. — The state registrar may divide the state into registration districts which shall conform to political subdivisions or combinations thereof, or of parts thereof.
(L. 1984 S.B. 574)
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 193.065 Local registrars, qualifications, appointment - deputies - duties - ...
193.065. Local registrars, qualifications, appointment — deputies — duties — recorder of deeds appointed as local registrar (St. Louis City). — The state registrar may appoint local registrars, each of whom shall be a person employed by an official county or city health agency except as otherwise herein provided. Each local registrar shall be authorized under the provisions of section 193.255 and subsection 2 of section 193.265 to issue certifications of death records. A local registrar, with the approval of the state registrar, may appoint deputies to carry out some or all of the responsibilities of the local registrar as provided in sections 193.005 to 193.325 or the regulations promulgated pursuant thereto. The local registrars shall immediately report to the state registrar violations of sections 193.005 to 193.325 or the regulations promulgated pursuant thereto. In any city not within a county, the state registrar shall appoint the recorder of deeds for such city as the local registrar.
(L. 1984 S.B. 574, A.L. 1985 S.B. 263, A.L. 2002 S.B. 1132, A.L. 2006 H.B. 1707 merged with S.B. 1177)
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 193.075 Certificates and reports, form, format, contents.
193.075. Certificates and reports, form, format, contents. — 1. The forms of certificates and reports required by sections 193.005 to 193.325 or by regulations adopted hereunder shall include as a minimum the items recommended by the federal agency responsible for national vital statistics.
2. Each certificate, report, and other document required by sections 193.005 to 193.325 shall be on a form or in a format prescribed by the state registrar.
3. All vital records shall contain the date received for registration.
4. Information required in certificates or reports authorized by sections 193.005 to 193.325 may be filed and registered by photographic, electronic, or other means as prescribed by the state registrar.
5. In addition to other personal data required by the registrar to be entered on a birth certificate, each parent shall furnish to the registrar the Social Security account number, or numbers if applicable, issued to the parent unless the registrar finds good cause for not requiring the furnishing of such number or numbers. Good cause shall be determined in accordance with regulations established by the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The registrar shall make numbers furnished under this section available to the family support division and the children's division of the department of social services. Such numbers shall not be recorded on the birth certificate. The family support division shall not use any Social Security number furnished under the section for any purpose other than for the establishment and enforcement of child support obligations, and the confidentiality provisions and penalties contained in section 454.440 shall apply. The children's division shall not use any Social Security number furnished under this section for any purpose other than verifying the identity of a parent of a child whose birth record information is provided under section 210.156 and the confidentiality provisions of section 210.156 shall apply. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the department of health and senior services from using Social Security numbers for statistical purposes.
(L. 1984 S.B. 574, A.L. 1990 S.B. 834, A.L. 2014 H.B. 1299 Revision, A.L. 2021 H.B. 429 merged with H.B. 432)
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 193.085 Birth certificate - contents, filing, locale, duties of certain persons, ...
193.085. Birth certificate — contents, filing, locale, duties of certain persons, time allowed, attestation. — 1. A certificate of birth for each live birth which occurs in this state shall be filed with the local registrar, or as otherwise directed by the state registrar, within five days after such birth and shall be registered if such certificate has been completed and filed pursuant to the provisions of this section.
2. When a birth occurs in an institution or en route to an institution, the person in charge of the institution or such person's designated representative shall obtain the personal data, prepare the certificate, certify that the child was born alive at the place and time and on the date stated either by signature or an electronic process approved by the department, and file the certificate pursuant to this section or as otherwise directed by the state registrar within the required five days. The physician or other person in attendance shall provide the medical information required by the certificate and certify to the facts of birth within five days after the birth. If the physician or other person in attendance does not certify to the facts of birth within the five-day period, the person in charge of the institution shall complete the certificate.
3. When a birth occurs outside an institution, the certificate shall be prepared and filed by one of the following in the indicated order of priority:
(1) The physician in attendance at or immediately after the birth;
(2) Any other person in attendance at or immediately after the birth;
(3) The father, the mother, or, in the absence of the father and the inability of the mother, the person in charge of the premises where the birth occurred.
4. When a birth occurs on a moving conveyance within the United States and the child is first removed from the conveyance in this state, the birth shall be registered in this state and such place shall be considered the place of birth. When a birth occurs on a moving conveyance while in international waters or air space or in a foreign country or its air space and the child is first removed from the conveyance in this state, the birth shall be registered in this state but the certificate shall show the actual place of birth insofar as can be determined.
5. If the mother was married at the time of either conception or birth, or between conception and birth, the name of the husband shall be entered on the certificate as the father of the child, unless:
(1) Paternity has been determined otherwise by a court of competent jurisdiction; or
(2) The mother executes an affidavit attesting that the husband is not the father and the putative father is the father, and the putative father executes an affidavit attesting that he is the father, and the husband executes an affidavit attesting that he is not the father. If such affidavits are executed, the putative father shall be shown as the father on the birth certificate and the signed acknowledgment of paternity shall be considered a legal finding of paternity. The affidavits shall be as provided for in section 193.215 .
6. In any case in which paternity of a child is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, the name of the father and surname of the child shall be entered on the certificate of birth pursuant to the finding and order of the court.
7. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, if a child is born to unmarried parents, the name of the father and other required information shall be entered on the certificate of birth only if an acknowledgment of paternity pursuant to section 193.215 is completed, or if paternity is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction or by an administrative order of the family support division.
8. If the father is not named on the certificate of birth, no other information about the father shall be entered on the certificate.
9. The birth certificate of a child born to a married woman as a result of artificial insemination, with consent of her husband, shall be completed pursuant to the provisions of subsection 5 of this section.
10. Either of the parents of the child, or other informant, shall attest to the accuracy of the personal data entered on the certificate in time to permit the filing of the certificate within the required five days.
(L. 1984 S.B. 574, A.L. 1997 S.B. 361, A.L. 2005 S.B. 74 & 49)
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 193.087 Voluntary acknowledgment of paternity - forms, contents - immunity for ...
193.087. Voluntary acknowledgment of paternity — forms, contents — immunity for staff presenting form — training of hospital staff — intentional misidentification of parent, penalty — public assistance recipients, duty to cooperate. — 1. In addition to the requirements of subsection 2 of section 193.085 , when a birth occurs to an unmarried mother, whether in an institution or en route to an institution, the person in charge of the institution or a designated representative shall:
(1) Provide a form or affidavit prescribed by the state registrar that may be completed by the child's mother and father to voluntarily acknowledge paternity of the child pursuant to section 193.215 ;
(2) File the form, when completed, along with the certificate required by this section; and
(3) Provide oral and written notice to the affiant required by section 193.215 .
2. Any institution, the person in charge or a designated representative shall be immune from civil or criminal liability for providing the form or affidavit required by subsection 1 of this section, the information developed pursuant to that subsection, or otherwise fulfilling the duties required by subsection 1 of this section.
3. The family support division may contract with the department of health and senior services to provide assistance and training to the hospital staff assigned responsibility for providing the information, as appropriate, to carry out duties pursuant to this section. The family support division shall develop and distribute free of charge the information on the rights and responsibilities of parents that is required to be distributed pursuant to this section. The department of health and senior services shall provide free of charge to hospitals the acknowledgment of paternity affidavit, and instructions on the completion of the affidavit.
4. If no contract is developed with the department of health and senior services, then the family support division shall provide the assistance and training activities to hospitals pursuant to subsection 3 of this section.
5. Any affiant who intentionally misidentifies another person as a parent may be prosecuted for perjury, pursuant to section 575.040 .
6. Due to lack of cooperation by public assistance recipients, the family support division shall either suspend the entire public assistance cash grant, or remove the needs of the adult recipient of public assistance from the cash grant, subject to good cause exceptions pursuant to federal law or regulations.
(L. 1994 H.B. 1491 & 1134 § 1 merged with H.B. 1547 & 961 § 8 merged with S.B. 508 § 1, A.L. 1997 S.B. 361, A.L. 2005 S.B. 74 & 49)
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 193.095 Parentage unknown - report of custodian constitutes certificate - ...
193.095. Parentage unknown — report of custodian constitutes certificate — inspection by court order only. — 1. Whoever assumes the custody of a live born infant of unknown parentage shall report on a form and in a manner prescribed by the state registrar within seven days to the local registrar the following information:
(1) The date and place of finding;
(2) Sex, color or race, and approximate birth date of child;
(3) Name and address of the person or institution with whom the child has been placed for care;
(4) Name given to the child by the custodian of the child;
(5) Other data required by the state registrar.
2. The place where the child was found shall be entered as the place of birth.
3. A report registered under this section shall constitute the certificate of birth for the child.
4. If the child is identified and a certificate of birth is found or obtained, the report registered under this section shall be placed in a special file and shall not be subject to inspection except upon order of a court of competent jurisdiction or as provided by regulation of the department.
(L. 1984 S.B. 574)
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 193.105 Delayed filing, registration - refusal - appeal.
193.105. Delayed filing, registration — refusal — appeal. — 1. When a certificate of birth of a person born in this state has not been filed within the time period provided in section 193.085 , a certificate of birth may be filed in accordance with regulations of the department and registered subject to such evidentiary requirements as the department shall by regulation prescribe to substantiate the alleged facts of birth.
2. Certificates of birth registered one year or more after the date of birth shall be made on forms prescribed and furnished by the state registrar, marked "Delayed", and shall show on their face the date of the delayed registration.
3. A summary statement of the evidence submitted in support of the delayed registration shall be endorsed on the certificate.
4. When an applicant does not submit the minimum documentation required in the regulations for delayed registration or when the state registrar has reasonable cause to question the validity or adequacy of the applicant's sworn statement or the documentary evidence, and if the deficiencies are not corrected, the state registrar shall not register the delayed certificate of birth and shall advise the applicant of the reasons for this action, and shall further advise the applicant of his or her right of appeal to a court of competent jurisdiction.
(L. 1984 S.B. 574)
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 193.115 Court order constituting birth certificate, petition, procedure.
193.115. Court order constituting birth certificate, petition, procedure. — 1. If a delayed certificate of birth is rejected under the provisions of section 193.105 , a petition signed and sworn to by the petitioner may be filed with a court of competent jurisdiction for an order establishing a record of the date and place of the birth and the parentage of the person whose birth is to be registered.
2. Such petition shall be made on a form prescribed or approved by the state registrar and shall allege:
(1) That the person for whom a delayed certificate of birth is sought was born in this state;
(2) That no certificate of birth of such person can be found in the department or the office of any local custodian of birth certificates;
(3) That diligent efforts by the petitioner have failed to obtain the evidence required in accordance with section 193.105 , and regulations adopted pursuant thereto;
(4) That the state registrar has refused to register a delayed certificate of birth;
(5) Such other allegations as may be required.
3. The petition shall be accompanied by a statement of the state registrar made in accordance with section 193.105 and all documentary evidence which was submitted to the state registrar in support of such registration.
4. The court shall fix a time and place for hearing the petition and shall give the state registrar thirty days' notice of said hearing. The state registrar or his authorized representative may appear and testify in the proceeding.
5. If the court finds, from the evidence presented, that the person for whom a delayed certificate of birth is sought was born in this state, it shall make findings as to the place and date of birth, parentage, and such other findings as may be required and shall issue an order, on a form prescribed or approved by the state registrar, to establish a certificate of birth. This order shall include the birth data to be registered, a description of the evidence presented, and the date of the court's action.
6. The clerk of the court shall forward each such order to the state registrar not later than the tenth day of the calendar month following the month in which it was entered. Such order shall be registered by the state registrar and shall constitute the certificate of birth.
(L. 1984 S.B. 574, A.L. 2005 S.B. 74 & 49)
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 193.125 Missouri adoptee rights act - adoption - new birth certificate, when - ...
193.125. Missouri adoptee rights act — adoption — new birth certificate, when — reports — duties — inspection of certain records by court order only. — 1. This section and section 193.128 shall be known and may be cited as the "Missouri Adoptee Rights Act".
2. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3 of this section, for each adoption decreed by a court of competent jurisdiction in this state, the court shall require the preparation of a certificate of decree of adoption on a form as prescribed or approved by the state registrar. The certificate of decree of adoption shall include such facts as are necessary to locate and identify the certificate of birth of the person adopted, and shall provide information necessary to establish a new certificate of birth of the person adopted and shall identify the court and county of the adoption and be certified by the clerk of the court. The state registrar shall file the original certificate of birth with the certificate of decree of adoption and such file may be opened by the state registrar only upon receipt of a certified copy of an order as decreed by the court of adoption or in accordance with section 193.128 .
3. No new certificate of birth shall be established following an adoption by a stepparent if so requested by the adoptive parent or the adoptive stepparent of the child.
4. Information necessary to prepare the report of adoption shall be furnished by each petitioner for adoption or the petitioner's attorney. The social welfare agency or any person having knowledge of the facts shall supply the court with such additional information as may be necessary to complete the report. The provision of such information shall be prerequisite to the issuance of a final decree in the matter by the court.
5. Whenever an adoption decree is amended or annulled, the clerk of the court shall prepare a report thereof, which shall include such facts as are necessary to identify the original adoption report and the facts amended in the adoption decree as shall be necessary to properly amend the birth record.
6. Not later than the fifteenth day of each calendar month or more frequently as directed by the state registrar the clerk of the court shall forward to the state registrar reports of decrees of adoption, annulment of adoption and amendments of decrees of adoption which were entered in the preceding month, together with such related reports as the state registrar shall require.
7. When the state registrar shall receive a report of adoption, annulment of adoption, or amendment of a decree of adoption for a person born outside this state, he or she shall forward such report to the state registrar in the state of birth.
8. In a case of adoption in this state of a person not born in any state, territory or possession of the United States or country not covered by interchange agreements, the state registrar shall upon receipt of the certificate of decree of adoption prepare a birth certificate in the name of the adopted person, as decreed by the court. The state registrar shall file the certificate of the decree of adoption, and such documents may be opened by the state registrar only by an order of court. The birth certificate prepared under this subsection shall have the same legal weight as evidence as a delayed or altered birth certificate as provided in section 193.235 .
9. The department, upon receipt of proof that a person has been adopted by a Missouri resident pursuant to laws of countries other than the United States, shall prepare a birth certificate in the name of the adopted person as decreed by the court of such country. If such proof contains the surname of either adoptive parent, the department of health and senior services shall prepare a birth certificate as requested by the adoptive parents. Any subsequent change of the name of the adopted person shall be made by a court of competent jurisdiction. The proof of adoption required by the department shall include a copy of the original birth certificate and adoption decree, an English translation of such birth certificate and adoption decree, and a copy of the approval of the immigration of the adopted person by the Immigration and Naturalization Service of the United States government which shows the child lawfully entered the United States. The authenticity of the translation of the birth certificate and adoption decree required by this subsection shall be sworn to by the translator in a notarized document. The state registrar shall file such documents received by the department relating to such adoption and such documents may be opened by the state registrar only by an order of a court. A birth certificate pursuant to this subsection shall be issued upon request of one of the adoptive parents of such adopted person or upon request of the adopted person if of legal age. The birth certificate prepared pursuant to the provisions of this subsection shall have the same legal weight as evidence as a delayed or altered birth certificate as provided in sections 193.005 to 193.325 .
10. If no certificate of birth is on file for the person under twelve years of age who has been adopted, a belated certificate of birth shall be filed with the state registrar as provided in sections 193.005 to 193.325 before a new birth record is to be established as result of adoption. A new certificate is to be established on the basis of the adoption under this section and shall be prepared on a certificate of live birth form.
11. If no certificate of birth has been filed for a person twelve years of age or older who has been adopted, a new birth certificate is to be established under this section upon receipt of proof of adoption as required by the department. A new certificate shall be prepared in the name of the adopted person as decreed by the court, registering adopted parents' names. The new certificate shall be prepared on a delayed birth certificate form. The adoption decree is placed in a sealed file and shall not be subject to inspection except upon an order of the court.
(L. 1984 S.B. 574, A.L. 1997 H.B. 343, A.L. 2005 S.B. 74 & 49, A.L. 2008 H.B. 1640, A.L. 2016 H.B. 1599) CROSS REFERENCE: Application of law to adoption petitions filed on or after August 28, 1997, 453.012
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 193.128 Citation of law - original birth certificate, who may obtain, when - ...
193.128. Citation of law — original birth certificate, who may obtain, when — issuance, fee — contact preference form — medical history request — rulemaking authority. — 1. The provisions of section 193.125 and this section shall be known and may be cited as the "Missouri Adoptee Rights Act".
2. Notwithstanding section 453.121 to the contrary, an adopted person or the adopted person's attorney or birth parents may obtain a copy of such adopted person's original certificate of birth from the state registrar in accordance with this section.
3. In order for an adopted person to receive a copy of his or her original certificate of birth, the adopted person shall:
(1) Be at least eighteen years of age;
(2) Have been born in this state; and
(3) File a written application with and provide appropriate proof of identification to the state registrar.
4. The state registrar may require a waiting period and impose a fee for issuance of the uncertified copy under subsection 5 of this section. The fees and waiting period imposed under this subsection shall be identical to the fees and waiting period generally imposed on nonadopted persons seeking their own certificates of birth.
5. Upon receipt of a written application and proof of identification under subsection 3 of this section and fulfillment of the requirements of subsection 4 of this section, the state registrar shall issue an uncertified copy of the unaltered original certificate of birth to the applicant. The copy of the certificate of birth shall have the following statement printed on it: "For genealogical purposes only - not to be used for establishing identity.".
6. A birth parent or adoptee may, at any time, request from the state registrar a contact preference form that shall accompany the original birth certificate of an adopted person. The birth parent shall provide appropriate proof of identification to the state registrar. The contact preference form shall include the following options:
(1) "I would like to be contacted";
(2) "I prefer to be contacted by an intermediary"; and
(3) "I prefer not to be contacted".
A contact preference form may be updated by a birth parent or adoptee at any time upon the request of the birth parent or adoptee. A contact preference form completed by a birth parent or adoptee at the time of the adoption and forwarded to the state registrar by the clerk of the court shall accompany the original birth certificate of the adopted person and may be updated by the birth parent or adoptee at any time upon the request of the birth parent or adoptee.
7. If both birth parents indicate on the contact preference form that they would prefer not to be contacted, a copy of the original birth certificate of the adopted person shall not be released. If only one birth parent indicates on the contact preference form that he or she would prefer not to be contacted, his or her identifying information, as defined in section 453.121 , shall be redacted from a copy of the original birth certificate of the adopted person and the copy of the original birth certificate shall be released under the provisions of this section.
8. A birth parent may, at any time, request a medical history form from the state registrar and the state registrar shall provide a medical history form to any birth parent who requests a contact preference form. The medical history form shall include the following options:
(1) "I am not aware of any medical history of any significance";
(2) "I prefer not to provide any medical information at this time"; and
(3) "I wish to give the following medical information".
A medical history form may be updated by a birth parent at any time upon the request of the birth parent.
9. A contact preference form or a medical history form received by the state registrar shall be placed in a sealed envelope upon receipt from the birth parent and shall be considered a confidential communication from the birth parent to the adopted person. The sealed envelope shall only be released to the adopted person requesting his or her own original birth certificate under the provisions of this section.
10. If a birth parent indicates on the contact preference form that he or she would prefer not to be contacted, the adopted person shall have access to a copy of the medical history form with the identifying information of such birth parent redacted.
11. Upon proof that an adopted person is deceased, his or her lineal descendants, as defined in section 453.121 , shall have the right to obtain a copy of the adopted person's original birth certificate and accompanying contact preference form and medical history form in accordance with the provisions of this section, including the provisions of subsection 7 of this section regarding birth parent contact preferences and subsection 10 of this section regarding birth parent medical histories.
12. The cost of a contact preference form shall not exceed the cost of obtaining an original birth certificate. There shall be no charge for a medical history form.
13. Beginning August 28, 2016, there shall be a public notification period to allow time for birth parents to file a contact preference form. Beginning January 1, 2018, original birth certificates shall be issued under the provisions of this section. An adopted person born prior to 1941 shall be given access to his or her original birth certificate beginning August 28, 2016.
14. The state registrar shall develop by rule the application form required by this section and may adopt other rules for the administration of this section. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010 , that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028 . This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly under chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2016, shall be invalid and void.
(L. 2016 H.B. 1599, A.L. 2018 H.B. 1713)
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 193.135 New certificate of birth established or old one amended, when - inspection ...
193.135. New certificate of birth established or old one amended, when — inspection of certain records by court order only. — 1. The state registrar shall establish a new certificate of birth for a person born in this state when he or she received the following:
(1) A certificate of decree of adoption as provided in section 193.125 or a report of adoption prepared and filed in accordance with the laws of another state or foreign country, or a certified copy of the decree of adoption, together with the information necessary to identify the original certificate of birth and to establish a new certificate of birth; except that a new certificate of birth shall not be established if so requested by the court decreeing the adoption, the adoptive parents, or the adopted person;
(2) A request that a new certificate be established upon such evidence as required by the department proving that such person has been legitimated.
2. When a new certificate of birth is established, the actual place and date of birth shall be shown. The new certificate shall be substituted for the original certificate of birth in the files, and the original certificate of birth and the evidence of adoptions or legitimation shall not be subject to inspection except upon order of a court of competent jurisdiction or as provided by department rules.
3. Upon receipt of a report of an amended decree of adoption, the certificate of birth shall be amended.
4. Upon receipt of a report or decree of annulment of adoption, the original certificate of birth shall be restored to its place in the files and the new certificate and evidence shall not be subject to inspection except upon order of a court of competent jurisdiction or as provided by department rules.
5. When a new certificate of birth is established by the state registrar, all copies of the original certificate of birth in the custody of any other custodian of vital records in this state shall be sealed from inspection or forwarded to the state registrar, as he directs.
(L. 1984 S.B. 574)
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 193.145 Death certificate - electronic system - contents, filing, locale, duties of ...
193.145. Death certificate — electronic system — contents, filing, locale, duties of certain persons, time allowed — certificate marked presumptive, when — training, failure to complete, effect of. — 1. A certificate of death for each death which occurs in this state shall be filed with the local registrar, or as otherwise directed by the state registrar, within five days after death and shall be registered if such certificate has been completed and filed pursuant to this section. All data providers in the death registration process, including, but not limited to, the state registrar, local registrars, the state medical examiner, county medical examiners, coroners, funeral directors or persons acting as such, embalmers, sheriffs, attending physicians and resident physicians, physician assistants, assistant physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, and the chief medical officers of licensed health care facilities, and other public or private institutions providing medical care, treatment, or confinement to persons, shall be required to use and utilize any electronic death registration system required and adopted under subsection 1 of section 193.265 within six months of the system being certified by the director of the department of health and senior services, or the director's designee, to be operational and available to all data providers in the death registration process.
2. If the place of death is unknown but the dead body is found in this state, the certificate of death shall be completed and filed pursuant to the provisions of this section. The place where the body is found shall be shown as the place of death. The date of death shall be the date on which the remains were found.
3. When death occurs in a moving conveyance in the United States and the body is first removed from the conveyance in this state, the death shall be registered in this state and the place where the body is first removed shall be considered the place of death. When a death occurs on a moving conveyance while in international waters or air space or in a foreign country or its air space and the body is first removed from the conveyance in this state, the death shall be registered in this state but the certificate shall show the actual place of death if such place may be determined.
4. The funeral director or person in charge of final disposition of the dead body shall file the certificate of death. The funeral director or person in charge of the final disposition of the dead body shall obtain or verify and enter into the electronic death registration system:
(1) The personal data from the next of kin or the best qualified person or source available;
(2) The medical certification from the person responsible for such certification if designated to do so under subsection 5 of this section; and
(3) Any other information or data that may be required to be placed on a death certificate or entered into the electronic death certificate system including, but not limited to, the name and license number of the embalmer.
5. The medical certification shall be completed, attested to its accuracy either by signature or an electronic process approved by the department, and returned to the funeral director or person in charge of final disposition within seventy-two hours after death by the physician, physician assistant, assistant physician, or advanced practice registered nurse in charge of the patient's care for the illness or condition which resulted in death. In the absence of the physician, physician assistant, assistant physician, or advanced practice registered nurse or with the physician's, physician assistant's, assistant physician's, or advanced practice registered nurse's approval the certificate may be completed and attested to its accuracy either by signature or an approved electronic process by the physician's associate physician, the chief medical officer of the institution in which death occurred, or the physician who performed an autopsy upon the decedent, provided such individual has access to the medical history of the case, views the deceased at or after death and death is due to natural causes. The person authorized to complete the medical certification may, in writing, designate any other person to enter the medical certification information into the electronic death registration system if the person authorized to complete the medical certificate has physically or by electronic process signed a statement stating the cause of death. Any persons completing the medical certification or entering data into the electronic death registration system shall be immune from civil liability for such certification completion, data entry, or determination of the cause of death, absent gross negligence or willful misconduct. The state registrar may approve alternate methods of obtaining and processing the medical certification and filing the death certificate. The Social Security number of any individual who has died shall be placed in the records relating to the death and recorded on the death certificate.
6. When death occurs from natural causes more than thirty-six hours after the decedent was last treated by a physician, physician assistant, assistant physician, or advanced practice registered nurse, the case shall be referred to the county medical examiner or coroner or physician or local registrar for investigation to determine and certify the cause of death. If the death is determined to be of a natural cause, the medical examiner or coroner or local registrar shall refer the certificate of death to the attending physician, physician assistant, assistant physician, or advanced practice registered nurse for such certification. If the attending physician, physician assistant, assistant physician, or advanced practice registered nurse refuses or is otherwise unavailable, the medical examiner or coroner or local registrar shall attest to the accuracy of the certificate of death either by signature or an approved electronic process within thirty-six hours.
7. If the circumstances suggest that the death was caused by other than natural causes, the medical examiner or coroner shall determine the cause of death and shall, either by signature or an approved electronic process, complete and attest to the accuracy of the medical certification within seventy-two hours after taking charge of the case.
8. If the cause of death cannot be determined within seventy-two hours after death, the attending medical examiner, coroner, attending physician, physician assistant, assistant physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or local registrar shall give the funeral director, or person in charge of final disposition of the dead body, notice of the reason for the delay, and final disposition of the body shall not be made until authorized by the medical examiner, coroner, attending physician, physician assistant, assistant physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or local registrar.
9. When a death is presumed to have occurred within this state but the body cannot be located, a death certificate may be prepared by the state registrar upon receipt of an order of a court of competent jurisdiction which shall include the finding of facts required to complete the death certificate. Such a death certificate shall be marked "Presumptive", show on its face the date of registration, and identify the court and the date of decree.
10. (1) The department of health and senior services shall notify all physicians, physician assistants, assistant physicians, and advanced practice registered nurses licensed under chapters 334 and 335 of the requirements regarding the use of the electronic vital records system provided for in this section.
(2) On or before August 30, 2015, the department of health and senior services, division of community and public health shall create a working group comprised of representation from the Missouri electronic vital records system users and recipients of death certificates used for professional purposes to evaluate the Missouri electronic vital records system, develop recommendations to improve the efficiency and usability of the system, and to report such findings and recommendations to the general assembly no later than January 1, 2016.
11. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, if a coroner or deputy coroner is not current with or is without the approved training under chapter 58 , the department of health and senior services shall prohibit such coroner from attesting to the accuracy of a certificate of death. No person elected or appointed to the office of coroner can assume such elected office until the training required under section 58.030 has been completed and a certificate of completion has been issued. In the event a coroner cannot fulfill his or her duties or is no longer qualified to attest to the accuracy of a death certificate, the sheriff of the county shall appoint a medical professional to attest death certificates until such time as the coroner can resume his or her duties or another coroner is appointed or elected to the office.
(L. 1984 S.B. 574, A.L. 1989 S.B. 389, A.L. 1997 S.B. 361, A.L. 2005 S.B. 74 & 49, A.L. 2010 H.B. 1692, et al. merged with S.B. 754, A.L. 2013 S.B. 186, A.L. 2015 H.B. 618, A.L. 2020 H.B. 2046, A.L. 2023 S.B. 157, A.L. 2025 H.B. 199)
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 193.155 Delayed filing, registration.
193.155. Delayed filing, registration. — 1. When a death occurring in this state has not been registered within the time period prescribed by section 193.145 , a certificate of death may be filed in accordance with department rules. Such certificate shall be registered subject to such evidentiary requirements as the department shall prescribe to substantiate the alleged facts of death.
2. Certificates of death registered one year or more after the date of death shall be marked "Delayed" and shall show on their face the date of the delayed registration.
(L. 1984 S.B. 574)
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 193.165 Spontaneous fetal death report - release of reports - application for ...
193.165. Spontaneous fetal death report — release of reports — application for certificate of birth resulting in stillbirth, procedure. — 1. Each spontaneous fetal death of twenty completed weeks gestation or more, calculated from the date the last normal menstrual period began to the date of delivery, or a weight of three hundred fifty grams or more, which occurs in this state shall be reported within seven days after delivery to the local registrar or as otherwise directed by the state registrar.
2. When a dead fetus is delivered in an institution, the person in charge of the institution or his or her designated representative shall prepare and file the report.
3. When a dead fetus is delivered outside an institution, the physician in attendance at or immediately after delivery shall prepare and file the report.
4. When a spontaneous fetal death required to be reported by this section occurs without medical attendance at or immediately after the delivery or when inquiry is required by the medical examiner or coroner, the medical examiner or coroner shall investigate the cause of spontaneous fetal death and shall prepare and file the report within seven days.
5. When a spontaneous fetal death occurs in a moving conveyance and the fetus is first removed from the conveyance in this state or when a dead fetus is found in this state and the place of the spontaneous fetal death is unknown, the spontaneous fetal death shall be reported in this state. The place where the fetus was first removed from the conveyance or the dead fetus was found shall be considered the place of the spontaneous fetal death.
6. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, individuals with direct and tangible interest, as defined by the department of health and senior services, may receive the spontaneous fetal death report.
7. In the event of a spontaneous fetal death, regardless of whether such death occurs before or after August 28, 2004, either parent, or if both parents are deceased, a sibling of the stillborn child, shall have the right to file an application with the state registrar and other custodians of vital records requesting a certificate of birth resulting in stillbirth. The certificate shall be based upon the information available from the spontaneous fetal death report filed pursuant to this section.
(L. 1984 S.B. 574, A.L. 1999 S.B. 25, A.L. 2004 H.B. 1136)
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 193.175 Person in charge of final disposition of dead body to affix tag with ...
193.175. Person in charge of final disposition of dead body to affix tag with identifying information, requirements. — The funeral director or person in charge of final disposition of a dead body shall, prior to the interment of such dead body, affix on the ankle or wrist of the deceased and/or in a capsule or other container placed in the casket or, if the dead body is cremated, on the inside of the vessel containing the remains, a tag encased in durable and long-lasting material containing the name of the deceased, the date of birth, date of death and Social Security number of the deceased.
(L. 1984 S.B. 574, A.L. 1994 S.B. 553, A.L. 2023 S.B. 116)
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 193.185 Marriage report - certification.
193.185. Marriage report — certification. — 1. A report of each marriage performed in this state shall be filed with the department and shall be registered if it has been completed and filed in accordance with this section.
2. The official who issues the marriage license shall prepare the report on the form prescribed and furnished by the state registrar upon the basis of information obtained from one of the parties to be married.
3. Each person who performs a marriage shall certify the fact of marriage and return the license to the official who issued the license within fifteen days after the ceremony. This license shall be signed by the witnesses to the ceremony. A marriage certificate shall be given to the parties.
4. Every official issuing marriage licenses shall complete and forward to the department on or before the fifteenth day of each calendar month the reports of marriages returned to such official during the preceding calendar month.
(L. 1984 S.B. 574, A.L. 2001 H.B. 157)
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 193.195 Marriage license recording fee.
193.195. Marriage license recording fee. — Every officer authorized to issue marriage licenses shall be paid a recording fee of two dollars for each marriage license filed and reported by him or her to the state registrar. The recording fee shall be paid by the applicant for the license and be collected together with the fee for the license.
(L. 1984 S.B. 574)
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 193.205 Marriage dissolution or annulment record.
193.205. Marriage dissolution or annulment record. — 1. A record of each dissolution of marriage and annulment of marriage granted by any court in this state shall be filed by the clerk of the court with the department and shall be registered if it has been completed and filed in accordance with this section. The record shall be prepared by the petitioner or such petitioner's legal representative on a form prescribed and furnished by the state registrar and shall be presented to the clerk of the court with the petition.
2. The clerk of the court shall complete and forward to the department on or before the fifteenth day of each calendar month the records of each dissolution of marriage and annulment of marriage decree granted during the preceding calendar month.
(L. 1984 S.B. 574, A.L. 1996 S.B. 869) Effective 7-1-97
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 193.215 Amendment of certificates and reports - acknowledgment of paternity ...
193.215. Amendment of certificates and reports — acknowledgment of paternity affidavit, notice to be given parents — rescission of acknowledgment, filing — paternity establishment services offered by department. — 1. A certificate or report registered pursuant to sections 193.005 to 193.325 may be amended only pursuant to the provisions of sections 193.005 to 193.325 , and regulations adopted by the department.
2. A certificate or report that is amended pursuant to this section shall be marked "Amended" except as otherwise provided in this section. The date of amendment and a summary description of the evidence submitted in support of the amendment shall be endorsed on or made part of the record.
3. Upon receipt of a certified copy of an order of a court of competent jurisdiction changing the name of a person born in this state and upon request of such person or such person's parents, guardian, or legal representative, the state registrar shall amend the certificate of birth to show the new name. The court order shall include such facts as are necessary to locate and identify the certificate of birth of the person whose name is being changed.
4. When an applicant does not submit the minimum documentation required in the regulations for amending a vital record or when the state registrar has reasonable cause to question the validity or adequacy of the applicant's sworn statements or the documentary evidence, and if the deficiencies are not corrected, the state registrar shall not amend the vital record and shall advise the applicant of the reason for this action and the applicant's right of appeal to a court of competent jurisdiction.
5. When a certificate or report is amended pursuant to this section, the state registrar shall report the amendment to any other custodians of the vital record and their record shall be amended accordingly.
6. Upon written request of both parents and receipt of a sworn acknowledgment of paternity notarized and signed by both parents of a child born out of wedlock, the state registrar shall amend the certificate of birth to show such paternity. The acknowledgment affidavit form shall be developed by the state registrar and shall include the minimum requirements prescribed by the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services pursuant to 42 U.S.C. Section 652(a)(7). The acknowledgment form shall include provisions to allow the parents to change the surname of the child and such surname shall be changed on the birth record if the parents elect to change the child's surname. The signature of the parents shall be notarized or the signature shall be witnessed by at least two disinterested adults whose signatures and addresses shall be plainly written thereon. The form shall be accompanied by oral notice, which may be provided through the use of video or audio equipment, and written notice to the mother and putative father of:
(1) The alternatives to, the legal consequences of, and the rights and responsibilities that arise from signing the acknowledgment;
(2) The benefits of having the child's paternity established; and
(3) The availability of paternity establishment and child support enforcement services. A rescission of acknowledgment form shall be filed with the bureau of vital records pursuant to section 210.823 to vacate the legal finding of paternity. The bureau shall file all rescissions and forward a copy of each to the family support division. The birth record shall only be changed pursuant to this subsection upon an order of the court or the family support division.
7. The department shall offer voluntary paternity establishment services.
8. Upon receipt of a certified copy of an order of a court of competent jurisdiction changing the name of a person born in this state and upon request of such person or such person's parents, guardian or legal representative, the state registrar shall amend the certificate of birth to show the new name.
9. Upon receipt of a certified copy of an order of a court of competent jurisdiction indicating the sex of an individual born in this state has been changed by surgical procedure and that such individual's name has been changed, the certificate of birth of such individual shall be amended.
(L. 1984 S.B. 574, A.L. 1994 H.B. 1491 & 1134 merged with H.B. 1547 & 961 merged with S.B. 508, A.L. 1997 S.B. 361, A.L. 1998 S.B. 910, A.L. 2014 H.B. 1299 Revision)
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 193.225 Methods of preserving records, requirements - certified reproductions ...
193.225. Methods of preserving records, requirements — certified reproductions accepted as originals — death record originals transferred to state archives. — To preserve vital records, the state registrar is authorized to prepare typewritten, photographic, electronic, or other reproductions of vital statistics certificates or reports. Such reproducing material shall be of durable material and the device used to reproduce the records shall be as to accurately reproduce and perpetuate the original records in all details ensuring their proper retention and integrity in accordance with standards established by the state records commission. Such reproductions when certified by the state registrar shall be accepted as the original records. Death records over fifty years old from which permanent reproductions have been made and verified shall be transferred to the Missouri state archives.
(L. 1984 S.B. 574, A.L. 2004 H.B. 1634)
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 193.235 Probative value of delayed or altered certificates.
193.235. Probative value of delayed or altered certificates. — The probative value of a delayed or altered certificate shall be determined by the judicial or administrative body or official before whom the certificate is offered as evidence.
(L. 1984 S.B. 574)
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 193.245 Inspection and copying of records, disclosure of information, unlawful ...
193.245. Inspection and copying of records, disclosure of information, unlawful unless authorized — authority. — It shall be unlawful for any person to permit inspection of, or to disclose information contained in, vital records or to copy or issue a copy of all or part of any such record except as authorized by this law and by regulation or by order of a court of competent jurisdiction or in the following situations:
(1) A listing of persons who are born or who die on a particular date may be disclosed upon request, but no information from the record other than the name and the date of such birth or death shall be disclosed;
(2) The department may authorize the disclosure of information contained in vital records for legitimate research purposes;
(3) To a qualified applicant as provided in section 193.255 ;
(4) Copies of death records over fifty years old may be disclosed upon request.
(L. 1984 S.B. 574, A.L. 1992 H.B. 894, A.L. 2004 H.B. 1634)
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 193.255 Certified copies of vital records, issuance - probative value - cooperation ...
193.255. Certified copies of vital records, issuance — probative value — cooperation with federal agencies and other states — issuance of certificate of birth resulting in stillbirth, when. — 1. The state registrar and other custodians of vital records authorized by the state registrar to issue certified copies of vital records upon receipt of application shall issue a certified copy of any vital record in his custody or a part thereof to any applicant having a direct and tangible interest in the vital record. Each copy issued shall show the date of registration, and copies issued from records marked "Delayed" or "Amended" shall be similarly marked and show the effective date. The documentary evidence used to establish a delayed certificate shall be shown on all copies issued. All forms and procedures used in the issuance of certified copies of vital records in the state shall be provided or approved by the state registrar.
2. A certified copy of a vital record or any part thereof, issued in accordance with subsection 1 of this section, shall be considered for all purposes the same as the original and shall be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein, provided that the evidentiary value of a certificate or record filed more than one year after the event, or a record which has been amended, shall be determined by the judicial or administrative body or official before whom the certificate is offered as evidence.
3. The federal agency responsible for national vital statistics may be furnished such copies or data from the system of vital statistics as it may require for national statistics, provided such federal agency share in the cost of collecting, processing, and transmitting such data, and provided further that such data shall not be used for other than statistical purposes by the federal agency unless so authorized by the state registrar.
4. Federal, state, local and other public or private agencies may, upon request, be furnished copies or data of any other vital statistics not obtainable under subsection 1 of this section for statistical or administrative purposes upon such terms or conditions as may be prescribed by regulation, provided that such copies or data shall not be used for purposes other than those for which they were requested unless so authorized by the state registrar.
5. The state registrar may, by agreement, transmit copies of records and other reports required by sections 193.005 to 193.325 to offices of vital statistics outside this state when such records or other reports relate to residents of those jurisdictions or persons born in those jurisdictions. This agreement shall require that the copies be used for statistical and administrative purposes only, and the agreement shall further provide for the retention and disposition of such copies. Copies received by the department from offices of vital statistics in other states shall be handled in the same manner as prescribed in this section.
6. No person shall prepare or issue any certificate which purports to be an original, certified copy, or copy of a vital record except as authorized herein or by regulations adopted hereunder.
7. Upon application from either parent, or if both parents are deceased, the sibling of the stillborn child, pursuant to subsection 7 of section 193.165 , the state registrar or other custodians of vital records shall issue to such applicant a certificate of birth resulting in stillbirth. The certificate shall be based upon the information available from the spontaneous fetal death report filed pursuant to section 193.165 . Any certificate of birth resulting in stillbirth issued shall conspicuously include, in no smaller than twelve-point type, the statement "This is not proof of a live birth.". No certificate of birth resulting in stillbirth shall be issued to any person other than a parent, or if both parents are deceased, the sibling of the stillborn child who files an application pursuant to section 193.165 . The state registrar or other custodians of vital records are * authorized to charge a minimal fee to such applicant to cover the actual costs of providing the certificate pursuant to this section.
8. Any parent, or if both parents are deceased, any sibling of the stillborn child may file an application for a certificate of birth resulting in stillbirth for a birth that resulted in stillbirth prior to August 28, 2004.
(L. 1984 S.B. 574, A.L. 2004 H.B. 1136) *Word "is" appears in original rolls.
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 193.265 Fees for certification and other services - distribution - services free, when.
193.265. Fees for certification and other services — distribution — services free, when. — 1. For the issuance of a certification or copy of a death record, the applicant shall pay a fee of fourteen dollars for the first certification or copy and a fee of eleven dollars for each additional copy ordered at that time. For the issuance of a certification or copy of a birth, marriage, divorce, or fetal death record, the applicant shall pay a fee of fifteen dollars. No fee shall be required or collected for a certification of birth, death, or marriage if the request for certification is made by the children's division, the division of youth services, a guardian ad litem, or a juvenile officer on behalf of a child or person under twenty-one years of age who has come under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court under section 211.031 . All fees collected under this subsection shall be deposited to the state department of revenue. Beginning August 28, 2004, for each vital records fee collected, the director of revenue shall credit four dollars to the general revenue fund, five dollars to the children's trust fund, one dollar shall be credited to the endowed care cemetery audit fund, one dollar for each certification or copy of death records to the Missouri coroners' fund established in section 58.208 , and three dollars for the first copy of death records and five dollars for birth, marriage, divorce, and fetal death records shall be credited to the Missouri public health services fund established in section 192.900 . Money in the endowed care cemetery audit fund shall be available by appropriation to the division of professional registration to pay its expenses in administering sections 214.270 to 214.410 . All interest earned on money deposited in the endowed care cemetery audit fund shall be credited to the endowed care cemetery audit fund. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 33.080 to the contrary, money placed in the endowed care cemetery audit fund shall not be transferred and placed to the credit of general revenue until the amount in the fund at the end of the biennium exceeds three times the amount of the appropriation from the endowed care cemetery audit fund for the preceding fiscal year. The money deposited in the public health services fund under this section shall be deposited in a separate account in the fund, and moneys in such account, upon appropriation, shall be used to automate and improve the state vital records system, and develop and maintain an electronic birth and death registration system. For any search of the files and records, when no record is found, the state shall be entitled to a fee equal to the amount for a certification of a vital record for a five-year search to be paid by the applicant. For the processing of each legitimation, adoption, court order or recording after the registrant's twelfth birthday, the state shall be entitled to a fee equal to the amount for a certification of a vital record. Except whenever a certified copy or copies of a vital record is required to perfect any claim of any person on relief, or any dependent of any person who was on relief for any claim upon the government of the state or United States, the state registrar shall, upon request, furnish a certified copy or so many certified copies as are necessary, without any fee or compensation therefor.
2. For the issuance of a certification of a death record by the local registrar, the applicant shall pay a fee of fourteen dollars for the first certification or copy and a fee of eleven dollars for each additional copy ordered at that time. For each fee collected under this subsection, one dollar shall be deposited to the state department of revenue and the remainder shall be deposited to the official city or county health agency. The director of revenue shall credit all fees deposited to the state department of revenue under this subsection to the Missouri coroners' fund established in section 58.208 .
3. For the issuance of a certification or copy of a birth, marriage, divorce, or fetal death record, the applicant shall pay a fee of fifteen dollars; except that, in any county with a charter form of government and with more than six hundred thousand but fewer than seven hundred thousand inhabitants, a donation of one dollar may be collected by the local registrar over and above any fees required by law when a certification or copy of any marriage license or birth certificate is provided, with such donations collected to be forwarded monthly by the local registrar to the county treasurer of such county and the donations so forwarded to be deposited by the county treasurer into the housing resource commission fund to assist homeless families and provide financial assistance to organizations addressing homelessness in such county. The local registrar shall include a check-off box on the application form for such copies. All fees collected under this subsection, other than the donations collected in any county with a charter form of government and with more than six hundred thousand but fewer than seven hundred thousand inhabitants for marriage licenses and birth certificates, shall be deposited to the official city or county health agency.
4. A certified copy of a death record by the local registrar can only be issued after acceptance and registration with the state registrar. The fees paid to the official county health agency shall be retained by the local agency for local public health purposes.
5. No fee under this section shall be required or collected from a parent or guardian of a homeless child or homeless youth, as defined in subsection 1 of section 167.020 , or an unaccompanied youth, as defined in 42 U.S.C. Section 11434a(6), for the issuance of a certification, or copy of such certification, of birth of such child or youth. An unaccompanied youth shall be eligible to receive a certification or copy of his or her own birth record without the consent or signature of his or her parent or guardian; provided, that only one certificate under this provision shall be provided without cost to the unaccompanied or homeless youth. For the issuance of any additional certificates, the statutory fee shall be paid.
6. (1) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no fee shall be required or collected for a certification of birth if the request is made by a victim of domestic violence or abuse, as those terms are defined in section 455.010 , and the victim provides documentation signed by an employee, agent, or volunteer of a victim service provider, an attorney, or a health care or mental health professional, from whom the victim has sought assistance relating to the domestic violence or abuse. Such documentation shall state that, under penalty of perjury, the employee, agent, or volunteer of a victim service provider, the attorney, or the health care or mental health professional believes the victim has been involved in an incident of domestic violence or abuse.
(2) A victim may be eligible only one time for a fee waiver under this subsection.
(L. 1984 S.B. 574, A.L. 1985 S.B. 263, A.L. 1990 H.B. 1079, A.L. 1992 H.B. 894, A.L. 1999 H.B. 343, A.L. 2004 H.B. 795, et al., A.L. 2010 H.B. 1643 merged with H.B. 1692, et al. merged with S.B. 754, A.L. 2018 S.B. 819, A.L. 2020 H.B. 1414 merged with H.B. 2046, A.L. 2023 S.B. 28 merged with S.B. 157, A.L. 2025 H.B. 199)
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 193.275 Records to be kept by institutions and others - period - power of registrar ...
193.275. Records to be kept by institutions and others — period — power of registrar to demand information. — 1. Every person in charge of an institution shall keep a record of data concerning each person admitted or confined to such institution as may be required for the filing of a certificate of birth and death or report of spontaneous fetal death which occurs in the institution. The record shall be made from information provided by the person being admitted or confined, but when it cannot be so obtained, the information shall be obtained from relatives or other persons acquainted with the facts. The name and address of the person providing the information shall be a part of the record.
2. When a dead body or dead fetus is released or disposed of by an institution, the person in charge of the institution shall keep a record showing the name of the decedent, date of death, name and address of the person to whom the body or fetus is released, and the date of removal from the institution. If final disposition is made by the institution, the date, place, and manner of disposition shall also be recorded.
3. A funeral director, embalmer, sexton, or other person who removes from the place of death, transports, or makes final disposition of a dead body or fetus, in addition to filing any certificate or other report required by sections 193.005 to 193.325 , or regulations promulgated hereunder, shall keep a record which shall identify the body, and such information pertaining to his receipt, removal, delivery, burial, or cremation of such body as may be required by regulations adopted by the department.
4. Records maintained under this section shall be retained for a period of not less than five years and shall be made available for inspection by the state registrar or his designee upon demand.
5. Any person having knowledge of the facts shall furnish such information as he may possess regarding any birth, death, spontaneous fetal death, marriage, or dissolution of marriage upon demand of the state registrar.
(L. 1984 S.B. 574)
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 193.285 Local registrar's duties.
193.285. Local registrar's duties. — Local registrars shall transmit all certificates and reports filed with them to the state registrar in accordance with regulations of the department.
(L. 1984 S.B. 574)
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 193.315 Acts which constitute crimes.
193.315. Acts which constitute crimes. — 1. Any person who knowingly makes any false statement in a certificate, record, or report required by this chapter or in an application for an amendment thereof, or in an application for a certified copy of a vital record, or who knowingly supplies false information intending that such information be used in the preparation of any such report, record, or certificate, or amendment thereof shall be guilty of a class E felony.
2. Any person who, without lawful authority and with the intent to deceive, makes, counterfeits, alters, amends, or mutilates any certificate, record, or report required by this chapter, certified copy of such certificate, record, or report shall be guilty of a class E felony.
3. Any person who knowingly obtains, possesses, uses, sells, furnishes or attempts to obtain, possess, use, sell, or furnish to another, for any purpose of deception, any certificate, record, or report required by this chapter or certified copy thereof so made, counterfeited, altered, amended, or mutilated, or which is false in whole or in part or which relates to the birth of another person, whether living or deceased, shall be guilty of a class E felony.
4. Any employee of the department or involved with the system of vital statistics who knowingly furnishes or processes a certificate of birth, or certified copy of a certificate of birth, with the knowledge or intention that it be used for the purposes of deception shall be guilty of a class E felony.
5. Any person who without lawful authority possesses any certificate, record, or report, required by this chapter or a copy or certified copy of such certificate, record, or report knowing same to have been stolen, or otherwise unlawfully obtained, shall be guilty of a class E felony.
6. Any person who knowingly refuses to provide information required by this chapter, or regulations adopted hereunder, shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
7. Any person who knowingly neglects or violates any of the provisions of this chapter or refuses to perform any of the duties imposed upon him by this chapter shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
(L. 1984 S.B. 574, A.L. 2014 S.B. 491) Effective 1-01-17
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 193.325 Application of law.
193.325. Application of law. — The provisions of sections 193.005 to 193.325 apply to all certificates of birth, death, marriage and reports of dissolution of marriage and spontaneous fetal death received by the department and in the custody of the state registrar or any other custodian of vital records prior to August 13, 1984.
(L. 1984 S.B. 574, A.L. 1993 S.B. 52)
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneChapter.aspx?chapter=193Fetched: 10/17/2026