Missouri apostille services and document preparation

Before you start

1. 1Identify the document type and the office that issued it.
2. 2Confirm the destination country's treaty relationship and the receiving authority's requirements.
3. 3Send us a scan for preparation review before committing originals.

Missouri certification starts with the issuing signature

• The Secretary of State authenticates qualifying signatures of Missouri notaries and public officials, including recorders, circuit clerks, judges and the state registrar.
• Obtain a properly certified public record from its issuing office.
• Birth certificates must be certified by the Bureau of Vital Records.
• School copies need the school's certification and the required notarial wording, signature and seal.
• Tell us who issued or signed the document before choosing a submission route.

Birth and death certificates for foreign use

• Missouri vital records are restricted to eligible applicants with a direct and tangible interest.
• The state's birth and death registry generally starts in 1910.
• DHSS recommends long-form records for authentication.
• When ordering through VitalChek, select Apostille/Authentication to request forwarding to the Secretary of State — you must still coordinate final processing and mailing with that office.
• This forwarding option does not mean an apostille is included automatically.

Marriage and divorce: choose the full record when required

• The state issues marriage and divorce statements, with reporting beginning July 1, 1948.
• For a certified marriage certificate, contact the Recorder of Deeds in the county that issued the license.
• For a certified divorce decree, contact the Circuit Clerk in the county that granted it.
• Ask the receiving authority whether it needs the complete certificate or decree before ordering a statement.

Single status and record applications

• Missouri's single-status statement checks recorded marriages on file in Missouri; it is not a nationwide marital-history search.
• The state application asks for prior legal names and, if previously married, divorce dates.
• Mail applications require notarization, applicable supporting documents, fees and a stamped return envelope.
• Notarizing the application is a separate step from authenticating the resulting record.

School records: Missouri State University example

• Missouri State University's Registrar notarizes only documents generated by that office.
• Request an official transcript for mail or pickup; diplomas must be originals or reissued diplomas, not scans or copies.
• Submit the notarization request and identification copy as instructed.
• Notarized documents are returned by mail or pickup, not as emailed scans.
• Allow time for registrar preparation before state processing.
• Other institutions set their own procedures — ask your school's registrar rather than assuming this process applies statewide.

Prepare the state request and return delivery

• The state cover letter requests contact details, document count, destination country and return shipping arrangements.
• Use the current form for payment requirements and include the appropriate prepaid return arrangements.
• Review document preparation separately from shipping: faster transport does not correct an ineligible signature or missing certification.

Destination and federal documents

• Confirm the destination before submission so the correct certificate can be selected.
• Apostille versus further authentication and legalization depends on the destination and applicable treaty relationship.
• Authentication does not guarantee acceptance of the document's contents, format or translation.
• FBI background checks use the federal U.S. Department of State process rather than Missouri's state-document route.
• Florida remote online notarization may be available for eligible private documents, subject to identity, witness, document and recipient requirements. It follows the applicable Florida route and does not turn a Missouri public record into a Florida record.

Missouri document routing

Coordinate your Missouri documents from Miami

• Send your document type, issuing office, destination country and deadline before mailing originals. We can review preparation, coordinate the appropriate process and discuss translations with qualified translators.
• Government processing and delivery are separate from our initial review.

Frequently asked questions

Missouri locations served

Miami Dade Apostille serves clients throughout Missouri by mail. Documents can be sent from anywhere in the state — no in-person visit to our office is required.

• Kansas City
• St. Louis
• Springfield
• Columbia
• Independence
• Lee's Summit
• O'Fallon
• St. Joseph
• St. Charles
• Blue Springs
• Jefferson City
• Joplin

Sources

• Missouri SOS: certification and apostille ↗
• Missouri SOS: apostille cover letter (PDF) ↗
• Missouri DHSS: order a copy of a vital record ↗
• Missouri DHSS: marriage and divorce statement form (PDF) ↗
• Missouri State University Registrar: notarized diploma and transcript ↗