Ste. Genevieve County Death Records

Ste. Genevieve County death records are managed by the county health department on Basler Drive in the town of Ste. Genevieve, Missouri. This small county along the Mississippi River is one of the oldest settled areas in the state, and its health department handles vital records for deaths that occurred locally from 1980 to the present. You can request death certificates in person, by mail, or through the state's online ordering system. Older records dating back to 1910 are available through the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City.

Ste. Genevieve County Health Department

The Ste. Genevieve County Health Department acts as the local registrar for death records. This office can issue certified copies of death certificates for deaths that occurred in Ste. Genevieve County from 1980 forward. The office is at 115 Basler Drive in Ste. Genevieve. You can also reach them by mail at P.O. Box 49, Ste. Genevieve, MO 63670. Call (573) 883-7411 to check hours or ask what documents you should bring along.

For specific information about their birth and death certificate services, visit the Ste. Genevieve County Health Department vital records page. The site explains what forms are needed and how the process works. You will need a valid photo ID. Under RSMo 193.255, Missouri restricts who can get a certified death certificate to family members, legal representatives, funeral directors, and genealogists with a family connection. Staff will verify your identity and your relationship to the person named on the certificate before releasing the record.

Walk-in requests at the Ste. Genevieve County office are usually processed the same day. The office is open during regular business hours on weekdays and closed on state holidays.

How to Get Ste. Genevieve County Death Certificates

You have three main ways to request a death certificate from Ste. Genevieve County. Visiting the health department in person at 115 Basler Drive is the quickest route. Bring your photo ID and fill out the application at the counter. The first certified copy is $14 and each extra copy ordered at the same time is $11. Staff can often have your certificate ready within minutes.

Mail requests work well if you live outside the area. Download the application from the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records and fill it out completely. Include a check or money order for the fee, a copy of your photo ID, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Send the packet to the Ste. Genevieve County Health Department at P.O. Box 49, Ste. Genevieve, MO 63670. Expect a couple of weeks for processing. Mail takes longer than walking in but it saves you the drive to Ste. Genevieve if you live far away.

You can also order online through VitalChek, Missouri's authorized vendor. VitalChek charges a service fee on top of the base certificate cost and ships in about 5 to 7 business days. Call 1-877-817-7363 if you prefer ordering by phone.

Note: Under RSMo 193.245, photocopying a certified death certificate for official use is prohibited.

Ste. Genevieve County Death Record Fees

Ste. Genevieve County follows the Missouri fee schedule under RSMo 193.265. A certified death certificate costs $14 for the first copy. Additional copies ordered at the same time are $11 each. These fees apply regardless of how you order. The local office takes cash, checks, and money orders. VitalChek accepts credit cards but adds processing fees. The certified copy includes the registrar's seal, which is what courts, banks, and government agencies require as proof.

Older Death Records in Ste. Genevieve County

The health department keeps death records starting from 1980. For Ste. Genevieve County deaths between 1910 and 1979, contact the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City. They maintain the central state file going back to January 1, 1910. The same $14 fee applies for those records.

Free digital images of death certificates from 1910 to 1975 are available through the Missouri State Archives death certificate database. Under RSMo 193.225, records older than 50 years transfer to the State Archives and become open to the public. You can search by name, county, and year. These scanned images show the original handwritten certificates and are helpful for genealogy work.

Before 1910, Missouri did not mandate statewide death registration. Some Ste. Genevieve County records from 1883 to 1893 may exist at the Missouri State Archives. Coverage varies because reporting was voluntary. Call 573-751-3280 to check what survives for Ste. Genevieve County from that era.

Who Can Get Ste. Genevieve County Death Records

Missouri law under RSMo 193.255 and 19 CSR 10-10.090 sets clear eligibility rules for certified death certificates. These people can request copies:

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

You must present a valid photo ID at the Ste. Genevieve County Health Department. A driver's license, passport, or military ID all work. If you do not have a photo ID, two alternate forms of identification are accepted. Staff verify your identity and eligibility before they process any request.

Death Certificate Information

A Ste. Genevieve County death certificate contains detailed facts about the deceased person. Under RSMo 193.145, funeral directors and medical certifiers must file the certificate within five days of death using Missouri's Electronic Vital Records system. The document includes the full legal name, date and place of death, date and place of birth, parents' names including the mother's maiden name, cause of death, occupation, and last known residence. Burial details and the funeral home name also appear on the record.

Missouri issues a short form and a long form. The short form is an abstract with the basic facts. The long form is a complete copy of the original certificate. Most legal matters accept the short form, but genealogy research or certain court proceedings may need the long form version. Let the staff know which type you need when you make your request.

The Missouri Death Index provides a free way to search deaths from 1968 to 2022. Use it to verify information before ordering a certified copy from Ste. Genevieve County.

Nearby Counties

These counties neighbor Ste. Genevieve County in southeastern Missouri. If a death happened near the county line, it may have been registered in one of these areas.