How to Get Married Online in Missouri

By Distant Vows | Updated 2026

If you are trying to figure out how to get married online in Missouri, you will find a system that eliminated its waiting period back in 2007 but still requires both partners to appear in person together at the Recorder of Deeds office in any Missouri county before a license can be issued. Missouri has no waiting period and no residency requirement, and couples can apply at any county in the state regardless of where they live or where the ceremony will take place. However, the in-person requirement and the 30-day license validity window create real scheduling challenges for long-distance and military couples.

By using Utah’s fully legal online marriage system through Distant Vows, Missouri couples can get married online in Missouri entirely virtually and receive a U.S. marriage certificate valid in Missouri and all 50 states. Every week, couples choose Distant Vows to get married online in Missouri without ever visiting a Recorder of Deeds office. If you are comparing how to get married online in Missouri versus other states, you can also review our full guide on how to get married online in all 50 states.

How Missouri Marriage Usually Works if You Don’t Get Married Online in Missouri

Missouri marriages are governed by Missouri Revised Statutes Chapter 451. Marriage licenses in Missouri are issued by the Recorder of Deeds in each county, which is a unique officer title compared to many states that use a circuit court clerk or county clerk. Both applicants must appear in person together at the Recorder of Deeds office and present valid identification. The couple may apply at any county in Missouri regardless of where they live or where the ceremony will take place. There is no residency requirement and no preference for applying in the county of the planned ceremony.

Missouri eliminated its three-day waiting period on August 28, 2007. Once both applicants appear and pay the fee, the license is issued the same day. Fees vary by county, ranging from approximately $50 in St. Louis City and Jackson County to $100 or more in other counties. Some counties include a certified copy of the license in the fee; others charge separately. The license is valid for 30 days from the date of issuance and may be used for a ceremony anywhere in Missouri. If the license is not used or is lost, it must be returned to the issuing Recorder of Deeds office. There are no refunds on unused, lost, or destroyed licenses.

Missouri requires two witnesses at the ceremony. Unlike most states, Missouri places no minimum age on witnesses, meaning a child may legally witness a marriage ceremony. The person performing the ceremony must complete the license and return it to the issuing Recorder of Deeds office within 15 days after the ceremony. Under Missouri Revised Statutes section 451.100, authorized officiants include any clergyman in good standing with a church or synagogue in Missouri, active or retired, and any judge, including a municipal judge. Missouri law does not authorize Notaries Public or online-only officiants to solemnize marriages. Missouri does not recognize common-law marriage.

One important distinction specific to Missouri is that the Recorder of Deeds issues a marriage license and records a certified copy of that license after the ceremony. The actual marriage certificate that most couples display is considered a souvenir under Missouri law and is not the document used for name changes or legal purposes. For a name change with the Social Security Administration, Missouri’s Driver License Bureau, or other agencies, couples need a certified copy of the marriage license, not the printed certificate. St. Louis City explicitly requires that any applicant divorced within the last 30 days wait until that period has elapsed before applying for a new license.

Documents, Waiting Period, and Age Requirements in Missouri

Effective August 28, 2025, under Missouri Revised Statutes section 451.090, applicants must be at least 18 years old to marry. Under the same statute, individuals who are 16 or 17 may obtain a license with the in-person consent of one parent or legal guardian. The consenting parent or guardian must appear at the Recorder of Deeds office with valid photo ID and, if applicable, proof of custody. Applicants who have been appointed a legal guardian require the guardian to appear with certified guardianship paperwork.

Recorder of Deeds offices across Missouri list the following as standard requirements at the time of application:

Valid government-issued photo ID for each applicant, such as a driver’s license, state ID, passport, military ID, or certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate. Some counties require the ID to include the applicant’s date of birth. Foreign-issued documents in languages other than English must include a properly acknowledged English translation.
Social Security numbers for both applicants. Most counties accept the number verbally or from memory; some require the Social Security card. Foreign nationals without a U.S. Social Security number must sign a written certification at the office.
The date the most recent marriage ended for any previously married applicant. Some counties accept this information verbally; others require a certified copy of the divorce decree or death certificate.
For applicants divorced within the last 30 days, St. Louis City requires waiting until 30 days after the divorce is finalized before applying. Cass County and other counties advise applicants to confirm with their attorney whether a waiting period applies under the terms of their specific divorce decree.
The name and phone number of the person who will perform the ceremony, required by some counties including Boone County at the time of application.

Are Online Weddings Allowed Directly if You Want to Get Married Online in Missouri?

Several Missouri counties, including Boone County and St. Louis City, allow couples to begin the application online before visiting the Recorder of Deeds office. Boone County’s online pre-application can speed up the in-person visit, but the couple must still appear together in person to complete and sign the application. Missouri law provides no mechanism to issue a license without both parties appearing in person at the Recorder of Deeds.

Missouri also does not provide a mechanism for a ceremony to be completed entirely by video under a Missouri license. Proxy marriages are not permitted, and both parties must be physically present at the ceremony. Missouri’s authorized officiants are limited to clergy in good standing with a Missouri church or synagogue and judges, with no provision for Notaries or online officiants. These restrictions, plus the 30-day license window, are why couples who want to get married online in Missouri choose Utah’s system through a live video ceremony and use their Utah marriage certificate in Missouri instead.

4 Steps to Get Married Online in Missouri with Distant Vows (Through Utah)

With Distant Vows, the same four-step process applies whether you want to get married online in Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee, or Oklahoma. The legal engine is always Utah’s online marriage system, which allows couples to apply for a license and hold a ceremony entirely over video while still being recognized nationwide.

Step 1 – Verify Your Eligibility

First, you confirm that you and your partner meet basic Utah requirements and complete Distant Vows’ quick intake form. Typically, you both must be 18 or older, not currently married to anyone else, and able to join a live video call together. This foundation lets couples who want to get married online in Missouri do so fully under Utah law, which Missouri must recognize.

Confirm you are legally free to marry, whether single, divorced, or widowed.
Gather valid government-issued photo IDs, such as a Missouri driver’s license, state ID, passport, or military ID.
Make sure you have a stable internet connection and a device with audio and video so you can comfortably get married online in Missouri.

Step 2 – Choose Your Package and Ceremony Date

Next, you choose a Distant Vows package and select a ceremony date and time that works for your schedule in Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, Columbia, St. Charles, or anywhere else. You can keep the ceremony short and simple or personalize it with vows, readings, and guests watching online as you get married online in Missouri.

Select a basic legal-only ceremony or a more personalized experience.
Pick a time that works for your time zone and any guests joining from Missouri or overseas.
Tell us if you need witness support, custom vows, religious or civil wording, or language options.

Step 3 – Apply for Your Utah Online Marriage License

After you pick your date, you complete a Utah online marriage license application. Utah County’s system lets you submit everything digitally, including your information, ID uploads, and signatures. You never have to visit a Recorder of Deeds office, you face no 30-day expiration pressure, and you do not need to locate a Missouri-licensed clergyman or judge, because the license is issued by Utah even though your goal is to get married online in Missouri.

Fill out the secure Utah County application form online from your home in Missouri or anywhere in the world.
Upload clear images of your IDs and any requested documents, such as divorce decrees if applicable.
Respond to any brief follow-up from the Utah clerk if they need clarification before issuing the license.

A Utah online marriage license is valid for 32 days from the date it is issued, and Distant Vows schedules your ceremony within that 32-day window so your marriage is properly created under Utah law.

Step 4 – Attend Your Online Ceremony and Get Your Certificate

On your wedding day, you and your partner join a live video ceremony with a Utah-licensed officiant. Two adult witnesses are required and they can join from anywhere in the world. If you do not have friends or family available, you can invite them at no charge, or use our witness service for a small fee.

Join from your home in Missouri or from anywhere in the world, as long as you are both on the same live video call.
Participate in a real-time ceremony where you exchange vows and say your “I dos.” This is the moment you actually get married online in Missouri, even though the legal ceremony is taking place under Utah law.
After the ceremony, your officiant files the certificate in Utah and you receive your official Utah County marriage certificate digitally and, if requested, by mail.

Missouri Recorder of Deeds System vs Online Utah Marriage

Before you decide how to get married online in Missouri, it helps to compare the two approaches side by side. The table below shows the key differences between the traditional Missouri Recorder of Deeds process and using Distant Vows to get married online in Missouri through Utah.

Feature	Traditional Missouri Marriage	Get Married Online with Distant Vows (Utah)
Issuing office	Recorder of Deeds in any Missouri county. Both applicants must appear in person together. No residency or county-of-ceremony requirement.	Utah County online application. No office visit required anywhere in Missouri or Utah.
In-person requirement	Both applicants must appear together at the Recorder of Deeds and sign the application in person. Some counties allow online pre-application to speed up the visit, but in-person appearance is still required.	No in-person visits required. Everything is completed online.
Waiting period	None. Eliminated August 28, 2007. License issued the same day as application.	No waiting period. Utah license issued after online review and Distant Vows schedules your ceremony within the 32-day validity window.
License validity	30 days from issuance. Valid anywhere in Missouri. Unused licenses must be returned; no refunds.	Utah license valid for 32 days. Ceremony can be attended from Missouri or anywhere in the world.
Post-divorce wait	St. Louis City requires 30 days after divorce finalization before applying. Other counties advise checking with an attorney about divorce decree terms.	Utah does not impose a post-divorce waiting period.
Authorized officiants	Limited to clergy in good standing with a Missouri church or synagogue, and judges. Notaries Public and online-only officiants are not authorized under Missouri law.	Distant Vows officiants are licensed under Utah law. No Missouri-specific authorization is required.
Witnesses	Two witnesses required. Missouri sets no minimum age for witnesses; children may legally serve as witnesses.	Two adult witnesses required under Utah law. Distant Vows can provide them if needed.
Certificate vs license	The printed marriage certificate is a souvenir under Missouri law, not a legal document. The certified copy of the marriage license is required for name changes and legal purposes.	Your Utah County marriage certificate is a legal document accepted by SSA, DMVs, USCIS, and all government agencies.
Valid in Missouri	Yes.	Yes, and in all 50 states once properly issued and filed in Utah, because Missouri recognizes marriages that are valid where they were performed.
International use	May require apostille or legalization depending on the foreign country’s rules.	Utah certificates can receive an apostille for use in many countries, even if you get married online in Missouri. Learn more at Distant Vows apostille services.

Military Couples in Missouri

Missouri’s two primary military installations anchor opposite ends of the state’s strategic value to the U.S. defense posture. Whiteman Air Force Base, located near Knob Noster in rural Johnson County approximately 60 miles east-southeast of Kansas City, is the home of the 509th Bomb Wing and every one of the 19 operational B-2 Spirit stealth bombers in the U.S. Air Force inventory. Whiteman is the only B-2 base in the world.

For soldiers at Fort Leonard Wood or airmen at Whiteman who want to get married online in Missouri but whose partners are stationed elsewhere or deployed, the in-person Recorder of Deeds requirement creates a real scheduling barrier. Getting both partners to the same county office during business hours on a common day off, within the 30-day license window, is difficult around deployment cycles and training rotations. Utah online marriage removes that barrier entirely for couples who want to get married online in Missouri. Both partners join a live video ceremony from wherever they are, making it easy to get married online in Missouri even during deployments or training cycles. You can read more at Distant Vows for Military Couples.

Immigration and Long-Distance Couples in Missouri

Missouri is home to approximately 300,000 foreign-born residents, representing about 4.9 percent of the state’s total population, below the national average but growing steadily. The state’s immigrant community is concentrated in the Kansas City and St. Louis metropolitan areas, with Mexico as the largest single country of origin at roughly 15 percent of all foreign-born residents. China, India, Vietnam, and Bosnia and Herzegovina round out the top five countries of origin according to the American Immigration Council’s analysis of American Community Survey data.

For binational couples who want to get married online in Missouri and where one partner remains abroad, Missouri’s Recorder of Deeds in-person requirement is a real barrier that the Utah route removes. When you get married online in Missouri through Utah, your partner can be anywhere in the world. The Utah County certificate is accepted by USCIS for spousal visa and green card applications. If you need your marriage recognized in another country, Distant Vows can help with an apostille. You can learn more at Distant Vows apostille services.

Couples researching international marriage recognition may also want to read our guide on whether getting married online affects immigration cases.

Using Your Utah Certificate in Missouri

After you get married online in Missouri through Utah, your Utah County marriage certificate is your primary legal document for updating your records. Missouri agencies accept any valid U.S. marriage certificate and do not require it to be Missouri-issued.

Change your name with the Social Security Administration first. Missouri’s Driver License Bureau checks SSA records for name changes, so updating SSA before visiting the bureau prevents delays.
Update your Missouri driver’s license or state ID through the Missouri Driver License Bureau. This step is the same whether you used a Missouri license or chose to get married online in Missouri through Utah.
Adjust your name and marital status with banks, employers, schools, and insurance providers.
Use your certificate for USCIS spousal visa and green card applications. The Utah County certificate works the same as any Missouri-issued document for immigration purposes when you get married online in Missouri through Distant Vows.

One clear advantage of the Utah route for couples who get married online in Missouri: your Utah certificate is a certified legal document from day one recognized by every government agency. Under the Missouri system, the printed marriage certificate is a souvenir, not a legal record. The document needed for name changes and legal purposes is a certified copy of the marriage license purchased separately from the Recorder of Deeds. The Utah certificate eliminates this distinction entirely.

Many couples who get married online in Missouri also use their Utah County certificate to complete a legal name change. You can learn more in our guide on how to change your name after getting married online.

Related Online Marriage Guides

If you are researching how to get married online in Missouri or nearby states, you may also want to read:

FAQ: Getting Married Online in Missouri

Is it legal to get married online in Missouri?
Missouri recognizes marriages valid where they are performed. When you choose to get married online in Missouri through Utah’s system, your marriage is valid in Utah and must be recognized in Missouri even though the ceremony happens over video. Missouri’s own requirements about in-person Recorder of Deeds appearances, Missouri-licensed officiants, and in-state ceremonies apply only to Missouri marriage licenses, not to marriages legally performed in Utah.

Do we still need to visit the Recorder of Deeds?
No. If you choose the Utah online route, your license is issued by Utah County. You do not need to visit any Missouri Recorder of Deeds office. Every couple who chooses to get married online in Missouri through Distant Vows completes the entire process digitally, with no in-person steps anywhere.

What is the difference between a Missouri marriage certificate and a marriage license?
Under Missouri law, the Recorder of Deeds issues and records a marriage license. The printed marriage certificate that many couples display is considered a souvenir and is not a legal document. For name changes at the Social Security Administration, Missouri Driver License Bureau, and other agencies, you need a certified copy of the marriage license from the Recorder of Deeds. When you get married online in Missouri through Utah, your Utah County marriage certificate is a legal document accepted by all government agencies, with no license-versus-certificate distinction to worry about.

Can Notaries Public perform marriages in Missouri?
No. Missouri Revised Statutes section 451.100 limits authorized officiants to clergy in good standing with a Missouri church or synagogue and judges, including municipal judges. Notaries Public are not authorized to solemnize marriages in Missouri. Online-only officiant services operating under Missouri law alone would not be valid. The Utah online route uses officiants licensed under Utah law, so no Missouri authorization is required.

Does Missouri require a waiting period after divorce before remarrying?
Most Missouri counties do not impose a formal waiting period, but St. Louis City explicitly requires 30 days after a divorce is finalized before applying for a new license. Other counties advise applicants to consult their attorney about whether the terms of the divorce decree itself impose any restrictions. Utah does not impose a post-divorce waiting period, so couples who want to get married online in Missouri quickly after a divorce will find the Utah route significantly faster.

Can military couples at Fort Leonard Wood or Whiteman AFB get married online in Missouri?
Yes. Both partners join the ceremony by video from wherever they are. A soldier at Fort Leonard Wood on a training cycle, or an airman at Whiteman deployed overseas, can participate from any location while the other partner remains in Missouri or elsewhere. No Recorder of Deeds visit is required. You can read more at Distant Vows for Military Couples.

Can same-sex couples get married online this way?
Yes. Missouri’s ban on same-sex marriage was struck down as part of the Supreme Court’s Obergefell v. Hodges ruling on June 26, 2015, making same-sex marriage legal across the state. Same-sex marriages are treated the same under Utah and federal law, so same-sex couples who want to get married online in Missouri through Utah and receive the same legal certificate as any other couple.

How fast can we get married online from Missouri?
Many couples complete all four steps and receive their digital certificate within a few days. Rush options are available for couples who need to get married online in Missouri on a tighter timeline. Whether you are in St. Louis, Kansas City, or rural Pulaski County, the process to get married online in Missouri is identical. Whether you are in Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, Joplin, or rural Pulaski County near Fort Leonard Wood, the steps to get married online in Missouri are identical.

For details on Missouri’s traditional process for couples who choose not to get married online in Missouri, Missouri’s official marriage and divorce page and your county Recorder of Deeds provide official guidance. For couples who want to get married online in Missouri without visiting a Recorder of Deeds office or navigating Missouri’s officiant restrictions, Distant Vows handles everything remotely.

Ready to Get Married Online in Missouri?

If you are ready to get married online in Missouri, Distant Vows makes the process simple. Every week, couples across the state choose to get married online in Missouri through our four-step system walks you from eligibility to your official U.S. marriage certificate, with licensed Utah officiants, witness support, and clear guidance at every stage.

Start today, choose your date, and let us handle the legal details so you can get married online in Missouri without leaving home. Every week, couples from Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, Columbia, Joplin, and across the Show-Me State choose Distant Vows to get married online in Missouri. You can begin by completing our intake form at get married online.

Get Married Online – Book Your Virtual Wedding Now