Where to obtain Jasper County Vital Records

Microfilm Listing by County from the Missouri State Archives
Note: You'll need Adobe Acrobat

Jasper County has two courthouses.
Courthouse burned in 1863 and 1883 with minimal record loss. Carthage is the county seat and is where one courthouse is located. The other courthouse is located in Joplin. The courthouse in Carthage contains most of the genealogical records.

Jasper County Courthouse
Carthage, Missouri 64836
Hours: 8-5, M-F
800-404-0421
Records from 1841
Office of Recorder: deeds, marriages, tax liens, plats, military, etc.
Probate office: wills, estates
Office of Circuit Clerk: civil court records

Jasper County Courthouse
601 Pearl
Joplin, Missouri 64801
Hours: 8-5, M-F
Office of Circuit Court: Some records were burned, mostly survive from 1877.
If looking for divorce or other civil action check both courthouses

Jasper County Archives
125 N. Lincoln
Carthage, Missouri
Phone: (417)359-1100
1861 & 1864 Jasper County Tax Lists

You may write to the courthouse and request documents if you are unable to get there. However, you do need to know names and dates. Also, always include a self-addressed, stamped envelope so that they may send the document and/or their charges for making the copies. The folks in the courthouse are most helpful, but, they are not there to do research - YOU need to know exactly what it is you need before writing them. If you do not, then write to a local genealogy society - they have volunteers who do limited research at very reasonable rates.

Missouri Department of Health
Write to: Bureau of Vital Records
930 Wildwood
PO Box 570
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Telephone (573) 751-6400

Certified copies of Missouri birth and death records and certified statements relating to Missouri marriages and dissolution of marriages are available for a fee of $10.00 (for a five (5) year search. Make your check or money order payable to Missouri Department of Health. Do not send cash. Allow approximately two weeks for processing and receipt.
Most Missouri birth and death records are also available from local county health departments or the St. Louis City or Kansas City Health Departments.

The Missouri Department of Health's Bureau of Vital Records serves as the state archives for vital records. The bureau:

Maintains the central registry of births, deaths, fetal deaths, marriages and dissolution's for the State of Missouri
Prepares new certificates for adoptions and legitimations
Corrects vital records as authorized by state law
Files and issues certified copies of birth and death certificates
Issues certified statements relating to Missouri marriages and dissolutions of marriage

How to obtain a Birth Certificate in Missouri
The Bureau of Vital Records has certificates of Missouri births from 1910 to the present with some delayed filings prior to this date. Please note, in the State of Missouri, birth records are not public records and telephonic verifications are not prov ided. You may obtain a certified copy by: Writing to us or coming in person to the Vital Records Office at the address above.

All requests should include the following information:

First, middle and last name on the certificate.
Full date of birth (month, day, year).
Place of birth (city or county).
Father's first, middle and last name.
Mother's first, middle and maiden last name.
Your relationship to the person whose record is being requested (are you a relative, legal representative or is this your own record.
Explain your reason for requesting the record.

How to Obtain a Death Certificate in Missouri
The Bureau of Vital Records has certificates of Missouri deaths from 1910 to the present. Please note, in the State of Missouri, death records are not public records and telephonic verifications are not provided. You may obtain a certified copy by: Writing to us or coming in person to the Vital Records Office at the address above.
All requests should include the following information:

First, middle and last name of the deceased whose record is being requested
Date of death--month, day and year or, at a minimum, the last date the deceased was known to be alive
Place of death (city or county where the death occurred)
Your relationship to the deceased (are you a relative or legal representative)
Explain your reason for requesting the record (for establishing personal or property rights, genealogy, etc.)

How to Obtain a Certified Statement Relating to Missouri Marriages and Dissolutions of Marriages
The Bureau of Vital Records can provide a certified statements of marriage and dissolution of marriage which have occurred in Missouri from July 1, 1948 to the present. Telephonic verifications are not provided. Information prior to this date may be obtained for marriages from the Recorder of Deeds of the county that issued the license and dissolution of marriages from the Circuit Clerk of the county that issued the decree.

A certified copy of the actual license or decree can ONLY be obtained from that appropriate Recorder or Circuit Clerk's office. You may obtain a certified statement by:
Writing to us or coming in person to the Vital Records Office at the address above.

All requests should include the following information:

First, middle and last name of the bride and groom (include the maiden last name of the bride)
County issuing the license or decree
Date or approximate date the marriage or divorce decree occurred

Graphics created by: