Search Putnam County Birth Records

Putnam County birth records are kept at two levels: the county health department in Unionville holds local records from 1920, and the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City holds all state-registered births from January 1910 forward. Certified copies cost $15 each at both offices. Requests can be made in person, by mail, or online through VitalChek.

Putnam County Health Department Birth Certificates

The Putnam County Health Department in Unionville handles local birth certificate requests for Missouri-registered births from 1920 to the present. You can walk in or call ahead. Staff will ask for a photo ID and the $15 fee. Additional copies of the same record cost $11 each when ordered at the same time.

The Putnam County Vital Records Office serves Unionville and the surrounding communities. The office can only issue records for births that took place in Missouri. If you need a record from another state, contact that state directly.

Note: For records prior to 1920, you must contact the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City.

Missouri Bureau of Vital Records

The Missouri Bureau of Vital Records is the state-level repository for all Missouri birth records from January 1910 forward. This office is the right place to go for older records, long-form certificates, or when the county health department cannot locate a record. The fee is $15 per copy, with $11 for additional copies in the same order.

Mail orders to the state bureau require a completed application form, a photocopy of your ID, and a check or money order payable to Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. You can also use VitalChek to order online with a credit card.

How to Get a Putnam County Birth Certificate

You have a few ways to request a birth record from Putnam County. Pick the method that works best for your timeline and situation.

Going in person to the health department in Unionville is the fastest option for records from 1920 and later. Bring a photo ID, fill out a short form, and pay $15. You can often get the copy the same day.

Mailing a request to the state bureau in Jefferson City takes longer but gives you access to the full range of records from 1910 forward. Fill out the state application form from the DHSS vital records page, include a copy of your ID, and send a check or money order. Allow several weeks for processing.

Ordering through VitalChek online works for state bureau records. You pay with a credit card and can choose the delivery method. There is a service fee on top of the $15 state fee.

Note: Only the person named on the record, parents, legal guardians, or authorized agents can receive a certified copy.

Putnam County Birth Records Image

The Putnam County vital records directory lists contact details and access options for the county health department.

The directory confirms the Unionville office location and the $15 fee for certified birth certificate copies.

Who Can Access Putnam County Birth Records

Missouri restricts access to certified birth certificates. RSMo 193.245 defines who may request a certified copy. Access is limited to the person named on the record, a parent listed on the certificate, legal guardians, adult children or siblings of the registrant, and their attorneys or authorized agents.

If you do not qualify for a certified copy, you may still be able to get genealogical records from older collections. Once a birth record is 100 years old, it becomes available through the Missouri State Archives. You can also search the Missouri Digital Heritage database for digitized older records at no cost.

The CDC vital records guide for Missouri is a good reference for understanding what is available and where to look based on the year of birth.

Missouri Birth Record Statutes

Birth records in Missouri are governed by Chapter 193 of the Missouri Revised Statutes. This chapter sets rules for registration, access, fees, and how to correct errors in a record.

The fee schedule is in RSMo 193.265. Rules on who may access records are in RSMo 193.255. If a birth was never registered, a delayed registration process is available under RSMo 193.105. Adult adoptees seeking their original certificates should review RSMo 193.128.

Cities in Putnam County

Unionville is the county seat and largest community in Putnam County. It does not meet the 100,000 population threshold for a dedicated city records page. Residents of Unionville and surrounding communities request birth records through the county health department or the state bureau in Jefferson City.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Putnam County. Each maintains birth records through its local public health agency for records from 1920 forward and the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records for all records from 1910.