Daviess County Obituary Search

Daviess County obituary records are available through the Recorder of Deeds in Gallatin, the county library, and Missouri state archives. This north central Missouri county has records going back to 1836, and both local offices and online databases hold death certificates, obituary files, and burial information. The Daviess County Historical Society also posts obituaries online. This page walks through every source for searching Daviess County obituary records so you can find what you need quickly.

Daviess County Recorder of Deeds

The Daviess County Recorder of Deeds is at 102 N. Main St., Gallatin, MO 64640. Phone is 660-663-3300 Ext 8. Email is recorder@daviesscountymo.gov. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. They keep birth records from 1883 to 1893, death records from the same period, marriage records from 1836, and land records from 1836. The County Clerk holds the pre-1910 birth and death records. Name-based searches are available. In-person and mail requests are both accepted.

For Daviess County obituary research, the Recorder's marriage and land records can fill in gaps when a death certificate alone is not enough. Marriage records show family connections. Land records help confirm where someone lived. Contact the office for the current fee schedule before visiting or mailing a request.

Daviess County Obituary Collections

The Daviess County Historical Society is at 212 E. Main St., Gallatin, MO. They maintain obituaries posted online since about 2000, along with county and family history collections. They also provide research help. A genealogical society is active in the county as well. If you are looking for a Daviess County obituary from the past two decades, the historical society's online collection is a good place to start. For older records, their physical files include family histories and cemetery records.

The Daviess County Library at 306 West Grand, Gallatin, MO 64640 (phone 660-663-3222) has special collections that include birth and death records on microfilm from 1883 to 1893, a local census for 1876, and a Genealogy Department that does newspaper lookups for specific dates. There is a fee for the newspaper lookup service. The library also has archives of The Chillicothe Constitution Tribune from 1889 to 2009, which covered Daviess County. These newspaper archives are a strong source for finding Daviess County obituary notices from over a century of publication.

Daviess County Death Records Online

The Missouri Digital Heritage portal has free access to pre-1910 birth and death records for Daviess County. The Missouri State Archives death certificate database provides death certificates from 1910 to 1969 for Daviess County. Under RSMo 193.225, records over 50 years old transfer to the archives and are open to anyone. FamilySearch has the Daviess County Death Index from 1883 to 1891 and the Daviess County Birth Index from the same period. USGenWeb Archives provide free transcriptions of vital records, deeds, censuses, and obituaries for the county.

The Missouri Death Index covers Daviess County from 1954 to 2024 with over 3.8 million statewide records. All these databases are free to search. Between the state archives, FamilySearch, and USGenWeb, Daviess County obituary researchers have more online tools than most small counties in Missouri.

Getting a Death Certificate in Daviess County

The Daviess County Health Department is the local registrar for births and deaths in the county. They issue certified copies of death certificates for Missouri deaths from 1980 to the present. For births, they cover 1920 to present. Earlier records must be obtained from the Missouri Department of Health in Jefferson City. Under RSMo 193.255, only people with direct and tangible interest can get certified death certificate copies.

The fee is $14 for the first copy and $11 for additional copies. You can order in person or by mail. Online orders through VitalChek add $11.25. For older records, the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records handles requests. Records over 50 years old are open to anyone, which helps with Daviess County obituary and genealogy research on historical deaths.

Missouri Vital Statistics Resources

The Missouri Bureau of Vital Records tracks vital statistics for all Missouri counties, including Daviess County death records from 1910 onward.

Monthly vital statistics reports can help confirm death counts and trends in Daviess County when you are researching a specific time period.

Public Access to Daviess County Records

Under Missouri's Sunshine Law (RSMo Chapter 610), government records are open for inspection. Vital records have restrictions. RSMo 193.245 limits who can get vital record data. Death records more than 50 years old are open to anyone. A list of deaths on a specific date can be released, but only name and date are included.

For Daviess County obituary research, recent certified death certificates are restricted to eligible parties. Historical records through the state archives, the State Historical Society of Missouri, and local collections like the historical society and library are all open to the public. The USGenWeb project for Daviess County also provides free transcriptions of vital records, deeds, censuses, and obituaries. Genealogists representing a family member may qualify for access to more recent certified records if they provide proper documentation to the health department.

Cities in Daviess County

Gallatin is the county seat and the location of Daviess County government offices. All obituary and vital records for the county are filed through offices in Gallatin. Other communities include Jameson, Lock Springs, and Pattonsburg, but none have separate vital record offices.

Nearby Counties

Daviess County is in north central Missouri. If you are not sure which county holds a record, check the neighboring counties.