Laclede County Obituary Records

Laclede County obituary records can be found through the courthouse in Lebanon, the Laclede County Genealogical Society, and Missouri state databases. A courthouse fire in 1863 destroyed records between 1849 and 1867, so researchers working on that period will need to rely on other sources. The county has kept marriage records from 1867 and land records from 1863 forward. This guide covers every major source for finding Laclede County obituary records and death information.

Laclede County Courthouse

The Laclede County Courthouse is at 200 N. Adams Ave, Lebanon, MO 65536. The Recorder of Deeds holds land records from 1863 to the present and marriage records from 1867. The Circuit Clerk has court records including probate files. Due to the 1863 courthouse fire, the earliest probate records date from the mid-1860s.

The 1863 fire is the biggest gap in Laclede County records. Most records between 1849 and 1867 were destroyed. If you are looking for a Laclede County obituary or death record from before the Civil War era, you will likely need to turn to church records, cemetery inscriptions, or family bibles. The Laclede County Genealogical Society has done work to recover what they can from that lost period.

Note: Marriage records technically start from 1855, but the surviving records begin at 1867 after the fire.

Statewide death registration began in 1910 under RSMo 193.145. Before that, Missouri tried to collect records between 1883 and 1893. Compliance was poor, and the state repealed those laws. For Laclede County, this means pre-1910 death records are spotty at best. The Missouri Digital Heritage database has whatever pre-1910 records survive from Laclede County. You can search by name or browse all entries for the county. Church archives, cemetery headstones, and newspaper obituaries fill the gaps left by the courthouse fire and the lack of early state registration in Laclede County.

Laclede County Obituary Collections

The Laclede County Genealogical Society is an active group that has published resource books and compiled indexes. Their collections are housed at the Laclede County Library in Lebanon. The society is a key resource for anyone researching deaths and obituaries in Laclede County, especially for the period where courthouse records are missing.

The Laclede County Library in Lebanon has a dedicated genealogy and local history room. You can find county histories, family files, cemetery surveys, and microfilm copies of local newspapers there. The library also has Route 66 historical records, since Lebanon sits along the historic highway. The genealogy room staff can help you get started if you are new to Laclede County obituary research.

The Laclede County Record newspaper has an online obituaries section with over 1,218 results in their database. This is one of the easiest ways to find recent Laclede County obituary notices without visiting an office in person. The paper covers Lebanon and surrounding communities.

State Archives for Laclede County

The Missouri Digital Heritage site has Laclede County will transcriptions from 1869 to 1978 and probate names from 1849. These resources are free to search and can help with obituary research when you need to trace family connections. Pre-1910 birth and death records for Laclede County are also in the database.

The Missouri State Archives death certificate database covers Laclede County deaths from 1910 through about 1974. The full database holds over 2.5 million scanned records from all Missouri counties. You can search by name, county, or year. Each record links to a scanned image of the original certificate showing the full name, cause of death, age, birthplace, parents' names, and burial site. Under RSMo 193.225, death records over 50 years old transfer to the Archives. Copies cost $1 each. The Coroner's Inquest Database at the Archives is also worth checking for Laclede County deaths that needed investigation.

The State Historical Society of Missouri at shsmo.org holds newspaper collections and manuscript archives that cover Laclede County communities along Route 66.

The Missouri Death Index covers Laclede County deaths from 1954 to 2024. It has over 3.8 million statewide records and is free to search.

Death Certificates in Laclede County

The Laclede County Health Department handles vital records requests. Statewide registration in Missouri began in 1910. For deaths before 1910, researchers must rely on church archives, cemetery inscriptions, and newspaper obituaries. The Missouri Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City holds death certificates from 1910 to the present.

Death certificates cost $14 for the first copy and $11 for additional copies. Under RSMo 193.255, you must have direct and tangible interest to get a certified copy. Immediate family and legal representatives qualify. For Laclede County obituary research on older records, death certificates more than 50 years old are open to anyone.

Public Access and Missouri Law

Under the Missouri Sunshine Law (RSMo Chapter 610), public records are open for inspection. Vital records have some restrictions. Recent death certificates need proof of eligibility. But the State Archives, pre-1910 records, the Laclede County Record obituary database, and the genealogical society collections are all open to the general public. The Missouri State Library genealogy guide links to additional free databases for cemetery and death record searches.

Cities in Laclede County

Lebanon is the county seat and largest city in Laclede County. All obituary records and vital records for county residents are filed through offices in Lebanon. The city sits along historic Route 66, which brings in researchers from across the country looking for family history tied to the region.

Nearby Counties

Laclede County is in south-central Missouri. If the person you are looking for may have lived in a neighboring county, check those offices too.