Where St. Louis County Marriage and Divorce Records Live
Knowing which office holds the record saves a wasted trip. The Recorder of Deeds at 41 South Central Avenue in Clayton issues marriage licenses and keeps marriage records. The Circuit Clerk and Case.net carry divorce cases from the Family Court division. A certified marriage license proves a marriage. A divorce decree from the court proves a marriage ended.
| Record | Office | Where to Search |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage license | Recorder of Deeds | Marriage copy order form, Recorder of Deeds office |
| Marriage record copy | Recorder of Deeds | In person or by mail to the Clayton office |
| Divorce / dissolution case | Family Court, 21st Judicial Circuit | Case.net, then Circuit Clerk for certified copy |
| Custody / child support | Family Court, 21st Judicial Circuit | Case.net if public; some entries restricted |
The Recorder of Deeds is a Revenue Department office, separate from the courts. The dedicated Recorder of Deeds page covers deeds and other recorded documents in more depth.
How to Apply for a St. Louis County Marriage License
St. Louis County handles marriage-license applications by virtual appointment. Both parties must attend. The application is downloaded, completed and emailed before the appointment. During the appointment, applicants show valid government-issued photo ID such as a driver's license or passport and provide their Social Security number. After the virtual appointment, the county sends pickup instructions for the Clayton office.
- Schedule a virtual appointment through the official St. Louis County marriage-license appointment page.
- Download and complete the marriage-license application.
- Email the completed application before the appointment.
- Both parties attend the virtual appointment together.
- Show valid government-issued ID and provide a Social Security number.
- Follow the county pickup instructions at the Recorder of Deeds office in Clayton.
- Bring payment; the license and keepsake fee is $48.00, with $9.00 per certified copy if needed.
The Recorder of Deeds office is the launch point. A look at the official Recorder of Deeds page confirms the office handles marriage licenses alongside recorded land documents.
The Recorder of Deeds page is the official home for marriage-license services and recorded-document copies in St. Louis County.
St. Louis County Marriage License Fees
The Recorder of Deeds publishes set fees for the license and for copies. Out-of-state mailed payments require a money order. The table below lists the current fee schedule from official county snippets.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Marriage license and keepsake license | $48.00 |
| Certified copy | $9.00 each |
| Certified application copy | $9.00 each |
| Photocopy | $2.00 each |
| Mailing postage | $1.50; add $1.00 for more than three copies |
| Online order service fee | $10.00 service fee plus $9.00 copy fee and postage |
Note: Out-of-state requesters who mail payment must send a money order; personal checks from outside Missouri are not accepted on the copy order form.
Getting a St. Louis County Marriage Record Copy
Marriage records in St. Louis County go back to 1877. To get a copy, use the marriage copy order form and mail or drop it at the Recorder of Deeds. The mailing address is Recorder of Deeds, Attn: Marriage License, 41 South Central Ave, Clayton, MO 63105.
Recorder of Deeds (Marriage)
Attn: Marriage License
41 South Central Avenue
Clayton, MO 63105
A certified marriage copy is the version accepted for name changes, immigration, Social Security and most legal needs. A plain photocopy at $2.00 is fine for personal reference but not for legal proof. Records can also be requested in person at the Clayton office.
How to Search St. Louis County Divorce Records
Divorce records are court records. A dissolution of marriage case is filed in the Family Court division of the 21st Judicial Circuit and is searched through Missouri Case.net at courts.mo.gov/cnet. Family Court was consolidated in 1993 and runs under a one-family, one-judge model, so a divorce and any related custody or support matters often sit with the same division.
- Open Case.net and choose Litigant Name or Case Number search.
- Select 21st Judicial Circuit / St. Louis County, or search statewide if unsure.
- Enter a party name or case number and search.
- Open the case and read the Case Header, Parties and Docket Entries tabs.
- Request a certified copy of the decree from the Circuit Clerk for legal use.
Missouri is a no-fault dissolution state in practical terms. Parties must meet Missouri residency requirements and file in the proper circuit. Divorce filings that involve children, domestic violence, addresses or financial account numbers may have restricted or redacted entries on Case.net.
What a St. Louis County Divorce Record Shows
A divorce case file on Case.net carries the same case structure as other civil matters, plus family-specific entries. The table below maps the common fields to what each shows.
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Case number | Family Court dissolution case identifier. |
| Parties | Petitioner and respondent names and roles. |
| Filing date | Date the dissolution petition was filed. |
| Assigned division | Family Court commissioner or judge handling the case. |
| Docket entries | Petition, service, motions, hearings and the decree. |
| Judgment / decree | The dissolution decree closing the marriage. |
| Restricted items | Child details, financial account numbers and protected addresses. |
The decree is the document that proves the marriage ended. A certified copy comes from the Circuit Clerk. Sealed financial affidavits and child-related exhibits are not public even when the docket is.
St. Louis County Family Court and Related Records
The Family Court division handles dissolution, custody, paternity, child support, modifications and adult abuse. Family court commissioners sit in divisions 61-65, and several judge divisions handle custody and divorce dockets. The administrative judge for Family Court is Hon. Jason D. Dodson in Division 10. Juvenile matters are confidential under RSMo § 211.321, so juvenile and some family entries may not appear in Case.net name searches.
Related records connect across offices. A name change after divorce may need the certified decree. A remarriage needs a new marriage license from the Recorder of Deeds. Estate questions after a death involve the probate division. For the full court structure, see the circuit court page, and for certified copy procedures see the Circuit Clerk page.