The state health department has adopted new guidelines for obtaining copies of birth, death, marriage and divorce records to help protect Missourians from identity theft.

Beginning March 1st, identification will be required when requesting vital records from the state health department in Jefferson City and local health departments throughout Missouri.

“These new guidelines are being implemented to offer a higher degree of protection for documents that contain personal information,” said Margaret Donnelly, director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. “By requiring identification to obtain vital records, we can help prevent problems resulting from identity theft.”

To obtain a copy of a birth or death certificate at the state health department or a local health department, a person must present a document containing a photo, such as a driver’s license, passport, or school, work or military identification. If an applicant does not have a photo ID, at least two alternate forms of identification must be presented. The documents must include the applicant’s name and the name of the company or organization issuing the document.

Requests for vital records submitted by mail must be notarized by a notary public. An application form available on the state health department’s website or a written request containing the required information must be notarized before it is mailed to the health department. Payment for mailed requests must be made by personal check or money order. Online requests for records can be made through a link on the state health department’s website and are required to be paid with a credit card. This service is offered through a third-party provider, and additional fees apply.

The new identification requirements also apply to requests for copies of marriage and divorce statements from the state health department.

The fees for vital records will remain the same. The fee for a birth, marriage or divorce record is $15 per record. A death record is $13 for the first copy and $10 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time.

The application for obtaining a copy of a vital record requires applicants to explain their relationship to the person named on the record. Obtaining a vital record illegally is a class D felony.

Birth and death certificates can be obtained at most local health departments in Missouri.

Copies of marriage licenses are available from the recorder of deeds in the county where the license was obtained. Copies of divorce decrees are available from the circuit clerk in the county where the decree was granted.

More information about obtaining vital records can be found at ww.dhss.mo.gov/data/vitalrecords/index.php.

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Last week, by a vote of 235 to 189, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a Continuing Resolution which drastically cuts federal funding levels for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2011 for critical public health programs, including those at CDC and HRSA, as well as food safety and environmental protection. Click here http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2011/roll147.xml to see how your Representative voted. The House-passed measure would also block funding for implementing the Affordable Care Act and for the Environmental Protection Agency to protect the public's health from dangerous air pollutants.


The House-passed bill could come up in the Senate for consideration as early as the week of February 28. Your Senators need to hear from you TODAY. Please take the time to send a message urging your Senators to reject the House-passed Continuing Resolution and to adequately fund public health agencies and programs! https://secure3.convio.net/apha/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=597&JServSessionIdr004=fh3t62onu2.app305a