Find Lincoln County Death Records

Lincoln County death records are managed by the local health department in Troy, Missouri. The office at 5 Health Drive keeps death certificates for events from 1980 to the present day. Lincoln County is a growing area north of the St. Louis metro region, and the health department serves Troy and all other communities within the county. If you need a death record from Lincoln County, you can go to the office in person, send a request by mail, or order online. The staff can issue certified copies for recent deaths and direct you to state resources for older records that are outside their files.

Lincoln County Health Department

The Lincoln County Health Department at 5 Health Drive in Troy is the local registrar for death records. Call (636) 528-6117 to check hours or ask questions about the request process. The office maintains death certificates for deaths that occurred in Lincoln County from 1980 to the present. Walk-in requests get processed the same day. Staff pull the record, verify your ID and eligibility under RSMo 193.255, and hand you the certified copy. Most visits take under 30 minutes.

Their vital records page has information about certificates and the request process. While the page title mentions birth certificates, the office handles death certificates using the same procedures and forms. Lincoln County has seen population growth in recent years as more people move north of St. Louis. The health department has kept up with the increased demand for vital records services. You can find forms at the office or sometimes on their website.

The office is open weekdays. Call ahead if you plan to visit since hours may vary.

Requesting Lincoln County Death Certificates

Going in person is the fastest way to get a Lincoln County death certificate. Visit 5 Health Drive in Troy with your photo ID. Fill out the request form at the counter and pay $14 for the first certified copy. Additional copies from the same request cost $11 each. RSMo 193.265 sets these fees for all Missouri counties. The staff can usually have your certificate ready within minutes.

Mail requests work if you cannot get to Troy. Download the form from the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records. Fill it out completely. Include a check or money order for $14 payable to the Lincoln County Health Department. Add a copy of your photo ID and a stamped return envelope. Mail to 5 Health Drive, Troy, MO 63379. Plan on two to three weeks for the mail process. It is slower than a visit, but it works from anywhere in the country.

VitalChek is the state's online ordering vendor. There is a service fee on top of the $14, but you handle everything from your computer. Orders take 5 to 7 business days. Call 1-877-817-7363 for phone orders.

Older Lincoln County Death Records

Lincoln County death records at the local level only cover 1980 to the present. For anything older, you need to go through the state. The Missouri Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City has death certificates dating back to January 1, 1910 for every county in Missouri. The fee is $14. You can order by mail or through VitalChek. State-level mail requests take 4 to 8 weeks to process.

The Missouri State Archives offers free digital images of death certificates from 1910 to 1975. RSMo 193.225 moves death records older than 50 years to the archives where they are open to everyone. Search by name, county, and year. The scanned certificates show the original documents, which makes them great for genealogy.

The Missouri Death Index covers deaths from 1968 to 2022 and is free. Use it to verify information before ordering a certified copy. For records before 1910, the Missouri State Archives has some early records from 1883 to 1893. Check with them at 573-751-3280 to see what they have for Lincoln County from that period.

Note: RSMo 193.245 prohibits making copies of certified death certificates for official use.

Who Can Get Lincoln County Death Certificates

Missouri law under RSMo 193.255 and 19 CSR 10-10.090 limits who can receive a certified death certificate. The Lincoln County Health Department checks every request. You need ID and a qualifying relationship to the deceased. Not just anyone can request a copy.

Those who qualify include:

• Family members of the deceased, including in-laws and step-relatives
• Funeral directors working on behalf of the family
• Attorneys representing a family member
• Legal guardians with court documentation
• Genealogists who show a family connection

Bring a valid photo ID to the Lincoln County office. A driver's license, passport, or military ID will do. Two alternate forms of identification work if you lack a photo ID. Under RSMo 193.145, all deaths in Lincoln County are filed electronically within five days of the event. This means recent death records are available fairly soon. The eligibility rules protect the deceased person's privacy while still letting people with a genuine need access the information.

Lincoln County Death Certificate Details

A death certificate from Lincoln County contains the deceased person's full legal name, date and place of death, date and place of birth, and both parents' names with the mother's maiden name. The cause of death as determined by a physician or coroner is on the record. So are the deceased person's occupation, last address, and marital status. Burial or cremation information and the funeral home name appear on the certificate too.

Missouri offers a short form and a long form. The short form summarizes the key facts and works for most legal and administrative needs. The long form is a full reproduction of the original record with every field. Genealogy researchers and some court proceedings may require the long form. Ask the Lincoln County health department staff which type fits your situation. RSMo 193.265 sets the fee at $14 for the first copy of either version.

Nearby Counties

Lincoln County is in east-central Missouri north of the St. Louis area. If a death happened near the county border, the record may be on file with a neighboring county health department. Check these nearby areas.