Missouri Background Checks

As a “closed records” state, Missouri requires that only a parent, guardian or the individual named on the document is permitted to request a vital record. The exception to obtaining another person’s birth, death, marriage or divorce certficate, such as to use in Missouri background checks, is to show adequate legal proof for requiring the information. The reason for your request of someone else’s vital records should be made clear on your request application.

A form must be obtained from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Bureau of Vital Records, and mailed back, properly filled out with the appropriate fee. If you have questions, it’s best to get these answered first, so that you don’t waste the fee amount when you may not even be eligible to request another person’s documents. At the time of this writing, birth certificate copies are $15, while death certificates, from 1910 to the present, are $13.

Either in person or mail in orders for these certificates that may be used for Missouri background checks are available. Same day service is usually available for in person orders, while mail in vital records requests often take between 3 – 4 weeks. These certificates are certified versions.

Marriage and divorce certificates aren’t available from the Bureau of Vital Records. Instead, only non-certified copies of marriage and divorce records in Missouria are accessible from the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county in which the event took place. Both types of uncertified certificate copies are $15 each.

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
Bureau of Vital Records
PO Box 570
Jefferson City, MO 65101

Birth record information: (573) 761-6378
Death record information: (573) 751-6385

Missouri Criminal Records Background Checks
The Missouri State Highway Patrol manages the Missouri Automated Criminal History System (MACHS) for accessing public records. Name based criminal checks are $10 plus a small processing fee. Misdemeanors, felony charges and court case information, such as that used in Missouri background checks, may be found through the MACHS.

MO Background Check

A Criminal Record Check form must be obtained from the Missouri State Highway Patrol and filled out properly. In addition to name based criminal records searches, there are fingerprint based checks. Fingerprint based searches have a current fee of $20 with a complete fingerprint card. The processing time usually takes about 3 weeks. Missouri background checks for volunteers are $15.25 processed from the FBI.

Cash is not accepted with the form. A check or money order should be made payable to the State of Missouri, Criminal Record System Fund. For either a name based or fingerprint based search, the subject’s full name and date of birth must be submitted as well as a Social Security Number. Other helpful information such as race, sex or known aliases may increase the level of search results achieved.

In person:
The Missouri State Highway Patrol
Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS)
Public Window, Annex Building
1510 East Elm St.
Jefferson City, Missouri
Phone: (573) 526-6153

Mail in:
The Missouri State Highway Patrol
Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS)
PO Box 950
Jefferson City, MO 65102-9500