Howard County Obituary Records

Howard County obituary records are available at the courthouse in Fayette, through the county health department, and at the Missouri State Archives. Howard County is one of Missouri's oldest counties, created in 1816, and the Clerk of Circuit Court holds records going back to the 1820s. A fire on December 1, 1886 struck the courthouse, but no records were lost. This page covers every source for searching Howard County obituary records and death certificates, from the earliest local files to modern state databases.

Howard County Courthouse Records

The Howard County Courthouse is at #1 Courthouse Square, Fayette, MO 65248. Call them at 660-248-2284. The Clerk of Circuit Court holds an impressive range of records. Birth records go from 1870 to 1955. Marriage and court records start in 1870. Land and burial records date back to 1820. Military and divorce records run from 1900. The Probate Court has probate records from 1835. The County Health Nurse has death records from 1870.

That death record start date of 1870 is unusually early for a Missouri county. Most counties did not begin tracking deaths until 1883 at the earliest. Howard County's long record-keeping history makes it one of the best Missouri counties for tracing early obituary information. The 1886 fire at the courthouse did not destroy any records, which is rare for a county that old.

For Howard County obituary research, the burial records from 1820 are a standout resource. Burial records can confirm death dates and cemetery locations that an obituary alone might not provide. Combined with the death records from 1870, Howard County has one of the deepest local vital records collections in the state.

Howard County Death Certificates

The Howard County Public Health Department is at 600 West Morrison, Suite 7, Fayette, MO 65248. Call them at (660) 248-3100 or fax (660) 248-3275. They issue birth certificates from 1920 to the present at $15.00 each and death certificates from 1980 to the present at $14.00 for the first copy and $11.00 for each extra.

You must be 18 years old to get a certificate. A photo ID is required, or you can show two other forms of ID. Most relatives and official representatives can get copies. Applications are available at the office or can be printed from their website. You can also visit the Missouri Department of Health website for the state application form.

Under RSMo 193.255, certified death certificates require direct and tangible interest. For Howard County obituary research on records more than 50 years old, access rules open up and the public can get copies from the State Archives.

Howard County Obituary at State Archives

The Missouri Digital Heritage website has death certificates for Howard County from 1910 to 1969. Each record links to a scanned image. Under RSMo 193.225, death records more than 50 years old transfer to the Archives. The pre-1910 records database also covers Howard County entries. Both tools are free.

The Missouri Intelligencer from 1819 to 1835 is searchable online at the State Historical Society of Missouri. This newspaper covered Howard County when it was one of the westernmost settled areas in Missouri. Death notices and legal postings in those early issues can help with Howard County obituary research from the earliest days of the county.

University of Missouri digital collections include historical materials related to Howard County and central Missouri obituary research.

FamilySearch has Howard County court and probate records available online. The Missouri Death Index covers Howard County deaths from 1954 to 2024 and is free to search.

Library Resources for Obituary Research

The Fayette Public Library serves the Howard County area. The State Historical Society of Missouri in nearby Columbia holds an extensive Howard County newspaper collection. Since Columbia is close to Fayette, Howard County residents have easy access to this major research institution. Their newspaper archives are one of the best sources for Howard County obituary notices from the 19th and 20th centuries.

The Missouri State Library genealogy guide links to death record databases, Find a Grave, and the Military Gravesite Locator. The Howard County Historical Society in Fayette has extensive historical collections and can assist with local obituary research.

Note: Howard County's proximity to Columbia gives researchers easy access to the State Historical Society's newspaper archives for obituary searches.

Public Access to Howard County Records

Under Missouri's Sunshine Law (RSMo Chapter 610), public records are open for inspection. Vital records have restrictions under RSMo 193.245. Recent death certificates require proof of direct and tangible interest. But death records more than 50 years old are open to anyone. For Howard County obituary research, the State Archives databases, the Missouri Intelligencer collection, and newspaper archives are all available to the public.

Howard County's death records from 1870 and burial records from 1820 are among the oldest local vital records in the state. The fact that the 1886 fire did not destroy any records means Howard County has one of the most complete local record collections in Missouri. Researchers looking for early obituary information will find more here than in most other counties.

Cities in Howard County

Fayette is the county seat and the largest town in Howard County. All obituary and vital records for Howard County residents are filed through county offices in Fayette. The Howard County Public Health Department handles death certificate requests for the area.

Nearby Counties

Howard County sits in central Missouri along the Missouri River. If you cannot find the record you need, check these neighboring counties.