Access Reynolds County Birth Records

Reynolds County birth records can be obtained from the county health department in Centerville, which holds local records from 1920, or from the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City, which holds all state-registered Missouri births from January 1910. Certified copies cost $15 each. You can request records in person, by mail, or through VitalChek online.

Reynolds County Health Department Birth Certificates

The Reynolds County Health Department in Centerville is the local source for birth certificates for Missouri births from 1920 to the present. When you visit, bring a valid photo ID and the $15 fee per copy. Additional copies of the same record, when requested at the same time, cost $11 each. The health department handles only Missouri births.

For births in other states, you need to contact the vital records office in that state. For Reynolds County births before 1920, go to the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City.

Note: Call ahead to confirm office hours before making the drive to Centerville, as hours can vary.

Missouri Bureau of Vital Records

The Missouri Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City is the state-level repository for all Missouri birth records from January 1910 forward. This is the right place for records older than 1920, for long-form certificates, or when the county health department cannot locate a specific record. The fee is $15 per copy, with $11 for additional copies in the same order.

Mail requests to the state bureau require the application form from the DHSS vital records page, a photocopy of your ID, and a check or money order payable to Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Online orders are also accepted through VitalChek.

How to Get a Reynolds County Birth Certificate

There are three main ways to get a certified Reynolds County birth certificate. Each option works a bit differently depending on what you need.

In person at the Centerville health department is the quickest way to get records from 1920 forward. Bring your photo ID, fill out the application, and pay $15. Copies are often ready the same day.

By mail to the state bureau works for records going back to 1910. Send the completed state form, a photocopy of your ID, and a check payable to Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Processing takes a few weeks.

Online through VitalChek gives you access to state bureau records with a credit card. A service fee is charged above the $15 state fee, and you pick your delivery method.

Note: Certified copies are limited to the registrant, parents on the record, legal guardians, adult children or siblings, and their authorized agents.

Older Reynolds County Birth Records

Reynolds County was organized in 1845. Before 1910 there was no statewide birth registration. Some local records from the county-level registration period of 1883 to 1886 may be available through the Reynolds County Clerk or through state archives.

The Missouri State Archives holds pre-1910 vital records for many counties. The Missouri Digital Heritage database has digitized older records you can search at no cost online. FamilySearch also offers free records for Reynolds County going back into the 19th century.

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

Missouri Laws on Birth Records

Missouri vital records are governed by Chapter 193 of the Missouri Revised Statutes. The chapter covers registration, access, fees, and how to correct errors.

Who may request certified copies is defined in RSMo 193.245. Fees are set in RSMo 193.265. Delayed registration for births not recorded at the time is governed by RSMo 193.105. Adult adoptees seeking their original birth certificate should check RSMo 193.128.

State Vital Records Reference

The Missouri DHSS vital records page is the official state resource for all Missouri birth certificate requests.

The page provides application forms, mailing instructions, and fee schedules that apply to Reynolds County and all other Missouri counties.

Cities in Reynolds County

Centerville is the county seat of Reynolds County. The county has a small population and no cities that reach the 100,000 threshold for a dedicated city page. All Reynolds County residents request birth records through the county health department in Centerville or the state bureau in Jefferson City.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Reynolds 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.