St. Louis County Recorder and Clerk
St. Louis County has a split between the court-records clerk and non-court county offices. The Recorder of Deeds handles marriage licenses, certified marriage-license copies, deeds, and recorded instruments. Search snippets identify Gerald E. Smith as Recorder of Deeds. The Recorder of Deeds is at 41 South Central Avenue, Clayton, MO 63105, and the phone number in the research is 314-615-7100. This office is the proper starting point for St. Louis County marriage records and recorded property instruments.
The County Clerk handles county administrative functions and county records that are not filed in court. The research identifies County Clerk Diann L. Valenti at 41 South Central, 1st Floor, St. Louis/Clayton, MO 63105, phone 314-615-5000. County administrative records may fall under the Missouri Sunshine Law when they are public governmental records and no exception applies. Court records, however, should be handled through Case.net and the Circuit Clerk.
Recorder of Deeds
Recorder: Gerald E. Smith
41 South Central Avenue
Clayton, MO 63105
314-615-7100
County Clerk
County Clerk: Diann L. Valenti
41 South Central, 1st Floor
Clayton, MO 63105
314-615-5000
St. Louis County Clerk vs Circuit Clerk
The Circuit Clerk is the court-records office for the 21st Judicial Circuit. That includes civil, criminal, divorce, probate, associate circuit, small claims, and other court case files. The Recorder of Deeds and County Clerk serve different roles. They do not issue certified divorce decrees, keep criminal case files, or certify court judgments. A user looking for a court docket should search Case.net and contact the Circuit Clerk, not the County Clerk.
| Office | Records in Research | Use When |
|---|---|---|
| Recorder of Deeds | Marriage licenses, certified marriage-license copies, deeds, recorded instruments | You need a marriage record or recorded property instrument. |
| County Clerk | County administrative functions and county records not filed in court | You need county administrative or County Council type records. |
| Circuit Clerk | Circuit and associate circuit court case files | You need a court record, certified decree, judgment, docket, or filing. |
That split is especially important for marriage and divorce searches. Marriage licenses are Recorder records. Divorce decrees are Circuit Court records.
St. Louis County Marriage Records
The Recorder of Deeds is the St. Louis County office for marriage licenses and certified marriage-license copies. Missouri requires a marriage license before the ceremony, and the county FAQ says the St. Louis County license is valid for 30 days. The county application process is completed entirely online or by virtual appointment. No walk-ins are accepted. Another county item noted in the research says online marriage licenses became available with the ability to apply and pay virtually.
- Complete the online marriage license application through the Recorder of Deeds.
- Pay for the marriage license through the county process.
- Watch for the confirmation email from the Recorder.
- Complete the required virtual appointment or identity step.
- Use the license within the 30-day validity period.
- Return the signed license after the ceremony so it can be recorded.
- Order certified copies from the Recorder if proof of marriage is needed.
RSMo 451.040 requires the license before marriage and addresses identity verification for online license processes when identity is not verified in person. The Recorder's process and the state rule work together, but the local record is still a St. Louis County Recorder record.
St. Louis County Recorder Fees
The research captured specific marriage-copy fees from the Recorder materials. A certified copy of a marriage certificate is $9.00 per certified copy. Online ordering through Official Records Online costs $9.00 plus a $10.00 service fee, plus delivery and processing charges. The marriage copy order form includes fields for party names, marriage date if known, number of certified copies, requester mailing information, and payment.
| Item | Amount or Source Note |
|---|---|
| Certified marriage certificate copy | $9.00 per certified copy |
| Online marriage copy service fee | $10.00 plus delivery/processing charges |
| Certified marriage application option | Listed on the county copy form, amount not fully captured in research |
| County administrative record copy | Use the custodian's Sunshine Law process |
| Ordinary Sunshine Law paper copy cap | 10 cents per page plus permitted costs under RSMo 610.026 |
Note: Court copy fees and divorce decree fees belong to the Circuit Clerk and were not located in visible official sources.
St. Louis County Copy Request Fields
The Recorder marriage-copy form inventory in the research gives a useful model for non-court copy requests. A complete request should give the office enough facts to locate the record and enough payment and mailing detail to process it. For county administrative records, use the specific custodian's request procedure and identify the document, date range, office, and format needed. For court records, use the Circuit Clerk instead.
| Field Label | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Party names or record title | Yes | Names on a marriage license or the title of an administrative record. |
| Date or date range | Yes, if known | Marriage date, record date, or meeting period helps narrow the search. |
| Copy type | Yes | Certified copy, plain copy, or electronic format when offered. |
| Number of copies | Yes | Needed for copy cost and processing. |
| Requester name and address | Yes | Used for mailing and follow-up. |
St. Louis County Sunshine Records
Missouri's Sunshine Law applies to public governmental records generally. RSMo 610.010 defines public records broadly, and RSMo 610.011 states Missouri's policy favoring open records unless law provides otherwise. RSMo 610.026 sets the ordinary paper-copy fee cap at 10 cents per page, plus permitted staff or research costs. That framework fits non-court county records, including county administrative records, when no exception applies.
Court records are different. Court files use Case.net, the Circuit Clerk, and judicial access rules. Missouri Court Operating Rule 2 governs judicial department records and remote access/redaction. Juvenile, adoption, mental-health, sealed, expunged, and protected records are not ordinary open county records. A Sunshine request to the County Clerk is not the right tool for a sealed court file or certified divorce decree.
Where St. Louis County Records Go
Use the record type to choose the office. Marriage license or marriage certificate: Recorder of Deeds. Deed or recorded instrument: Recorder of Deeds. County administrative record: County Clerk or proper county custodian. Court docket, divorce decree, civil judgment, criminal disposition, probate order, small claims case, or protection order: Circuit Clerk and Case.net. State marriage or divorce statement: Missouri Bureau of Vital Records. Federal case: PACER or the Eastern District federal court.
This office split prevents the most common St. Louis County search error. A person can be in the right county but still ask the wrong clerk. The Recorder of Deeds / County Clerk page is for non-court records. The Circuit Clerk page is for court files. The marriage and divorce records page explains the marriage-versus-divorce split in more detail.