Find Birth Records in Ralls County
Ralls County birth records can be found through the county health department in New London, which holds local records from 1920, or through the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City, which holds all state-registered birth records from January 1910. Both offices charge $15 per certified copy. You can request records in person, by mail, or online through VitalChek.
Ralls County Quick Facts
Ralls County Health Department Birth Certificates
The Ralls County Health Department in New London is the local source for birth certificates issued for Missouri births from 1920 to the present. Bring a valid photo ID and the $15 fee. Additional copies of the same record ordered at the same time cost $11 each. Staff can usually issue copies on the same day you visit.
| Office | Ralls County Health Department |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 248 New London, MO 63459 |
| Phone | (573) 985-7121 |
| Records | Birth certificates, 1920 to present (short form) |
The health department can only issue records for Missouri births. Births in other states must be requested from those states. For Ralls County births before 1920, contact the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records.
Note: Call the health department before visiting to confirm current hours and whether walk-in service is available.
Missouri Bureau of Vital Records
The Missouri Bureau of Vital Records holds all Missouri birth records from January 1910. This state office is the right source for older records, for long-form certificates, or when a local office cannot locate a record. The fee is $15 per copy, with $11 for additional copies in the same order.
| Office | Missouri Bureau of Vital Records |
|---|---|
| Address | 930 Wildwood Drive Jefferson City, MO 65102 |
| Phone | (573) 751-6387 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. |
| Records | Birth certificates, January 1910 to present |
You can mail a request to the state office. Download the application from the DHSS vital records page, include a photocopy of your ID, and send a check or money order. Online orders through VitalChek are also accepted with a credit card.
How to Request a Ralls County Birth Certificate
There are three ways to request a certified birth record from Ralls County. The right method depends on how quickly you need the document and which office holds the record you want.
In person at the New London health department is fastest for records from 1920 forward. You bring your ID, complete a form, and pay $15. Most requests are filled the same day.
By mail to the state bureau works for records from 1910. You need the application form, a copy of your ID, and a check payable to Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Processing takes several weeks.
Online through VitalChek is available for state records. Pay by credit card and select your delivery option. There is a service fee above the state's $15 copy fee.
Note: Certified copies are restricted to the registrant, parents, legal guardians, adult siblings or children, and their authorized representatives.
Older Ralls County Birth Records
Before 1910, Missouri did not have statewide birth registration. The Ralls County Clerk holds some local birth and death records from the 1883 to 1893 period when counties kept their own registers. These older records are not the same as modern certified certificates.
The Missouri State Archives in Jefferson City holds many pre-1910 vital record collections. Much of this material has been digitized and is searchable through the Missouri Digital Heritage website at no cost. FamilySearch also has free online records for Ralls County covering parts of the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The CDC guide for Missouri vital records summarizes what years of records exist and where to find them.
Missouri Laws Governing Ralls County Birth Records
Birth record access in Missouri is governed by Chapter 193 of the Missouri Revised Statutes. This chapter covers registration requirements, who may access records, fees, and how to correct errors.
RSMo 193.245 defines who has the right to request certified copies. RSMo 193.265 sets the fee structure. For births that were never registered on time, a delayed registration process is available under RSMo 193.105. Adult adoptees seeking original birth certificates should review RSMo 193.128.
State Vital Records Reference
The Missouri DHSS vital records page offers the full overview of how to get any Missouri birth certificate, including forms and mailing instructions.
The page covers all Missouri counties and provides the forms needed to request records by mail or in person.
Cities in Ralls County
New London is the county seat and the largest community in Ralls County. The county has no cities that meet the 100,000 population threshold for a dedicated city records page. Residents of New London and other Ralls County communities use the county health department or the state bureau for birth certificate requests.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Ralls 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.