Cape Girardeau County Death Records

Death records for Cape Girardeau County are managed by the county health department in the city of Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The office maintains death certificates for deaths that occurred in Cape Girardeau County from 1980 to the present. This is one of the larger counties in southeast Missouri, and the health department handles a steady flow of vital records requests. Older records dating back to 1910 sit with the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City. The county seat is Jackson, but the health department office is in Cape Girardeau proper, which is where most people go to get copies.

Cape Girardeau County Health Department

The Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center is the local registrar for death records in this region of southeast Missouri. Staff can issue certified copies of death certificates for deaths that happened in the county from 1980 forward. The office is at 1121 Linden Street in Cape Girardeau, with a mailing address of P.O. Box 1839, Cape Girardeau, MO 63703. Call (573) 335-7846 to check on hours or ask about what you need to bring. Walk-in requests are handled the same day in most cases.

Visit the Cape Girardeau County Health Department vital records page for details on forms and requirements. Under RSMo 193.255, Missouri law restricts who can get a certified death certificate. Staff will ask about your relationship to the person on the record. Family members, funeral directors, attorneys, legal guardians, and genealogists with a family link can all request copies. Bring a valid photo ID.

The office is open weekdays. Closed on state holidays and weekends.

How to Order Death Certificates

There are three ways to get a death certificate from Cape Girardeau County. The fastest is to visit the health department in person. Bring your photo ID, complete the request form, and pay. The first certified copy costs $14. Each additional copy ordered at the same time is $11. Staff can usually hand you the certificate on the spot. This works best if you are in the Cape Girardeau area.

You can also request by mail. Download the application from the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records website and fill it out completely. Include a check or money order for $14 payable to the Cape Girardeau County Health Department. Enclose a photocopy of your ID and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail to P.O. Box 1839, Cape Girardeau, MO 63703. Expect a wait of roughly two weeks.

The third option is VitalChek, the state's authorized online vendor. They add a service fee on top of the certificate cost. Orders process in about 5 to 7 business days. Call 1-877-817-7363 if you prefer to order by phone. Credit and debit cards are accepted through VitalChek.

RSMo 193.245 prohibits reproducing certified death certificates for official use. Each copy must come directly from the registrar.

Death Certificate Fees

Cape Girardeau County follows the fee schedule established by RSMo 193.265. The first certified copy of a death certificate costs $14. Each additional copy at the same time is $11. These fees apply no matter how you request the record. Cash, checks, and money orders are accepted at the health department. VitalChek adds its own processing charge on top of the base fee. The payment covers searching the records and producing a certified copy with the registrar's seal and signature.

Certified copies are what courts, banks, and government agencies need as legal proof. An informational copy without the seal may be available at a lower cost. Ask the staff which type fits your situation.

Historical Death Records

The Cape Girardeau County health office only has records from 1980 to the present. For deaths between 1910 and 1979, contact the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City. They keep the central state file going back to January 1, 1910. The same $14 fee applies. Request by mail, in person, or through VitalChek.

The Missouri State Archives death certificate database offers free digital images of death certificates from 1910 to 1975. RSMo 193.225 requires death records more than 50 years old to be transferred to the State Archives and made public. Search by name, county, and year at no cost. Cape Girardeau County has a long history, so there are many records in this database from the early 1900s.

Before 1910, there was no statewide registration system. Some Cape Girardeau County records from 1883 to 1893 may survive in the Missouri State Archives pre-1910 collection. Cape Girardeau is one of the oldest settled areas in Missouri, so there may be more surviving records here than in some other counties. Contact the archives at 573-751-3280 to check.

Who Can Request Records

Missouri law under RSMo 193.255 and 19 CSR 10-10.090 specifies who can get a certified death certificate. Eligible people include:

• Family members of the deceased, including in-laws and step-relatives
• Funeral directors acting for the family
• Attorneys or legal representatives
• Legal guardians with court documentation
• Genealogists with a demonstrated family connection

You need a valid photo ID to request a death certificate in Cape Girardeau County. A driver's license, passport, or military ID all work. If you do not have a photo ID, two alternate forms of identification such as a utility bill and insurance card will suffice. Staff verify identity and eligibility before processing any request. Under RSMo 193.145, death certificates must be filed within five days of the death through the Missouri Electronic Vital Records system. The record contains the full name, dates, parents' names, cause of death, and burial details.

The Missouri Death Index is free and covers deaths from 1968 to 2022. Use it to confirm facts before ordering a certified copy.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Cape Girardeau County in southeast Missouri. If the death occurred near a county line, it could have been registered in a neighboring area.