Butler County Birth Certificates
Butler County birth records are available through the Butler County Health Department in Poplar Bluff and through the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City. The local health department issues certified birth certificates for Missouri births from 1920 to the present. Records from 1910 to 1919 are held only at the state level. This page explains how to request a Butler County birth certificate by walk-in, mail, or online order, what it costs, who qualifies, and where to find older historical records.
Butler County Quick Facts
Butler County Health Department - Birth Records
The Butler County Health Department in Poplar Bluff is the primary local source for certified Butler County birth certificates. The office holds Missouri birth records from 1920 to the present and provides walk-in service during regular business hours. Photo ID is required for all requests.
| Office | Butler County Health Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 103 N. Main Street Poplar Bluff, MO 63901 |
| Phone | (573) 785-8478 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Records | Birth certificates, 1920 to present (short form) |
The Missouri DHSS vital records page includes Butler County in its list of local public health agencies providing birth certificate services across the state.
The DHSS page at health.mo.gov provides instructions for requesting birth certificates from county health departments including Butler County, along with downloadable forms and fee information.
Walk-in visitors must show a valid photo ID. Bring the registrant's full name at birth, date of birth, and birth location. Pay the $15 fee at the counter. Certified copies are printed on-site. Mail requests require a notarized application plus a copy of your ID and a $15 check or money order.
Requesting Butler County Birth Certificates
The walk-in option at 103 N. Main Street in Poplar Bluff is the quickest path. Bring your ID, know the birth details, pay $15, and get your certified copy the same day. This works for any Missouri birth from 1920 to the present.
Mail requests take one to two weeks. Download the Missouri vital records request form from the DHSS vital records page, complete it, and get it notarized. Send the notarized form with a photocopy of your ID and a $15 check or money order to: Butler County Health Department, 103 N. Main Street, Poplar Bluff, MO 63901.
Online orders are placed through VitalChek, which processes requests via the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records. VitalChek charges the $15 state fee plus an additional service fee. Delivery is by mail. This is the best option for out-of-state requestors or those who cannot appear in person.
Butler County births from 1910 to 1919 must be requested from the state Bureau of Vital Records. The local health department holds only records from 1920 forward. For very early Butler County records from the 1800s, see the historical records section below.
Who Can Get Butler County Birth Records
Missouri law under RSMo 193.245 restricts certified birth certificate access to eligible requestors. These include:
- The person named on the certificate (if age 18 or older)
- A parent or legal guardian listed on the certificate
- A spouse, adult child, or sibling of the registrant
- An attorney or representative with documented authority
- A government agency with a lawful purpose
People who do not meet these criteria cannot get certified copies of recent records. For Missouri birth records more than 100 years old, public access is generally allowed. Genealogists can request older Butler County records without proving a family connection.
The Butler County Clerk holds some early birth and death registration records from the 1880s. These predate the modern vital records system. Contact the County Clerk in Poplar Bluff for information about what early records are available and how to access them.
Fees for Butler County Birth Records
A certified birth certificate costs $15 per copy. Additional copies of the same record ordered at the same time are $11 each. The fee is set by RSMo 193.265 and applies uniformly at both county and state offices.
Cash, check, and money order are accepted at the Butler County Health Department. Call (573) 785-8478 to confirm credit or debit card acceptance before visiting. Mail requests require a check or money order. Online VitalChek orders require a credit card, with an additional service fee charged by VitalChek.
Fees are non-refundable even if no record is found. Have accurate birth information - full name, correct date, and birth location - ready before you submit a request. An incorrect date or misspelled name can cause a failed search and a lost fee.
State Bureau of Vital Records - Butler County Records
The Missouri Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City holds all birth certificates filed in the state since January 1910. This includes all Butler County births. The state is the only source for the 1910-1919 period. The state also issues long-form certified copies, which include additional original details not found on the short-form copies issued at the county level.
| Office | Missouri Bureau of Vital Records |
|---|---|
| Address | 930 Wildwood Drive Jefferson City, MO 65102 |
| Phone | (573) 751-6387 |
| Records | Birth certificates, January 1910 to present (short and long form) |
The DHSS vital records page has full instructions and downloadable forms for state requests. Mail requests to Jefferson City require notarization and a copy of your ID. Processing can take several weeks at the state level.
Historical Butler County Birth Records
Missouri began consistent statewide birth registration in January 1910. For Butler County births before that date, records are limited but not entirely absent. Butler County, in the southeastern part of the state, has some surviving early registration entries.
The Butler County Clerk holds early birth and death records from roughly the 1880s. These entries were recorded under an early Missouri law that predated the current vital records system. They may contain the child's name, parents' names, and birth date, but the level of detail varies. The County Clerk in Poplar Bluff can tell you what survives for specific years.
The Missouri State Archives in Jefferson City holds microfilmed county records and other historical documents covering Butler County. They also have census records and other materials that can help trace births from the 1800s. The Missouri Digital Heritage platform provides some digitized records online, a useful starting point before requesting physical copies.
The CDC's Missouri vital records reference page provides an overview of what records exist and for which time periods, useful context when researching early Butler County births.
Adoptee Birth Records in Butler County
Under RSMo 193.128, Missouri gives adult adoptees the right to access their original birth certificate. If you are 18 or older and were adopted in Missouri, you can request the pre-adoption birth certificate directly from the Bureau of Vital Records. No court order is required. Biological parents do not have to agree to the release.
To request your original birth certificate for a Butler County birth, write to the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records, 930 Wildwood Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65102. Provide your current legal name, date of birth, and a copy of your photo ID. Pay the $15 fee by check or money order. The original certificate will show the name given at birth and the biological parents' names as they appear in the original filing.
For Butler County births before January 1910, the original record may be held at the county level or at the State Archives. Bureau of Vital Records staff can advise on where to look based on your birth year.
Cities in Butler County
Poplar Bluff is the county seat and largest city in Butler County. Other communities include Neelyville, Qulin, and Fisk. None of these cities meet the population threshold for a dedicated city records page. All Butler County residents request birth certificates through the county health department in Poplar Bluff or the state Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Butler County. Birth records in each are maintained by the local public health agency for 1920-present records and the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records for all records from 1910 forward.