Please carefully read the information on this page and use the form below to complete your request.

This form is NOT FOR GENEALOGICAL PURPOSES. It is for legal citizenship-related requests only.

For GENEALOGY research, please see the Genealogy Resources Page. 

Requesting Records From Open Or Closed Parishes

The Office of Archives and Records issues certificates from closed parishes and a few open parishes. If you are requesting a certificate from a closed parish, please continue reading and fill out the form below. A list of closed parishes can be found here. The Archives reserves the right to refuse access to records. The Archives holds the pre-1900 sacramental records of a few open parishes, including:

• Basilica of St. Louis, King of France (Old Cathedral) in St. Louis, Founded 1766
• St. Ferdinand in Florissant, Founded 1788
• Ste. Genevieve in Ste. Genevieve, Founded 1759
• Sts. Peter and Paul in St. Louis, Founded 1849

If you require a record from an open, active parish, please contact that parish directly. Contact information can be found here. Note that open parishes have authority over their own records; they may or may not issue documents for citizenship-related purposes.

Canadian Citizenship (Requesting Records before 1759/1760): If the record you are seeking predates Ste. Genevieve’s sacramental records (1759/1760), check the parishes in Illinois, which has the oldest French settlements in the area. The earliest parishes in present-day Illinois are at Kaskaskia, Cahokia, and Prairie du Rocher. A missionary priest may have celebrated sacraments in present-day Missouri and recorded them at the parish in Illinois. Sacramental records in the now-Diocese of Belleville in Illinois were microfilmed and are available on Family Search. The St. Clair County Genealogical Society has a guide to the records on their website at https://stclair-ilgs.org/church-records/. If you locate a records at a parish in Illinois, contact that parish directly or the Diocese of Belleville (https://www.diobelle.org/canonical-affairs/archives) to issue a sacramental certificate to you.

Italian Citizenship: If your ancestors were Italian, it is recommended you check the following parishes first:

• St. Bonaventure (1872-1883)
• Our Lady Help of Christians (1900-1975)
• St. Charles Borromeo (1900-1982)
• St. Ambrose (1903- present)

Requesting Records 1919 And Prior

For records 1919 and prior, you must know the parish name and date of the sacrament. Archives staff will not conduct searches for records. Instructions on how to find sacramental records is on our Genealogy Resources Page.​ 

If the record is dated 1919 or earlier, fill out the request form below with the following information:

1. Correct date of the sacrament, parish name, and volume and page number of the register in which the record. Research should be done prior to requesting the record. Find instructions on how to find sacramental records at the Genealogy Resources Page.
2. A screenshot or PDF of the digitized microfilm page from Family Search. Find instructions on locating the image at the Genealogy Resources Page.
3. Full names of all recorded parties involved:
   • For baptisms, provide the names of the baptismal recipient, father’s full name, mother’s first name and maiden name, the celebrant, and witnesses.
   • For marriages, provide the names of the bride, groom, each of their fathers, each of their mothers with maiden name, the celebrant, and witnesses.
4. If you require additional information not on the form but represented in the sacramental record, please indicate this in the “Notes” field on the form.

NOTE: For records in this time period, variations in the spelling of names is a common occurrence. Names were often Latinized, Anglicized, or spelled incorrectly. A statement is added to the certificate regarding spelling variations.

Requesting Records 1920 And Later

Records of baptism or marriage may be released to a third-party requestor for citizenship purposes if the person(s) named in the record is deceased. If the record is dated 1920 or later, you will need to provide the following documentation to obtain a sacramental certificate or notarized document:

1. A copy of the death certificate of the person(s) named in the record. To request a marriage certificate, both parties named in the record must be deceased. The requestor must provide death certificates for both parties.
2. Copies of the birth/baptismal/marriage certificates that prove that the requestor is a descendant of the person named in the record. To request a marriage certificate, provide proof of relationship to one of the persons named in the record.
3. Photograph ID (driver’s license or state ID) of the requestor.

All additional documentation may be sent to archives@archstl.org, fax 314-792-7029, or by mail to Archdiocese of St. Louis Archives, 20 Archbishop May Drive, St. Louis MO 63119-5738.

Do I Request A Sacramental Certificate Or Notarized Document?

You must check with the appropriate foreign consulate to determine whether they will accept a sacramental certificate or require a document with an apostille. Each country’s consulate will have different requirements. You may request one or both. Each document is $25.

Sacramental Certificates: A sacramental certificate is a Church-certified document that is signed and dated with the embossed seal of the Archdiocese of St. Louis.

Notarized Documents and Apostilles: An apostille or public notary signature cannot be affixed directly to the sacramental certificate, which is an ecclesiastical document. An apostille is a specific form of authentication that is made by a state’s Secretary of State. If requested, Archives staff will issue you a Missouri-notarized affidavit for a sacrament. You can then use the notarized document to apply for an apostille with the State of Missouri. Archives staff does not work directly with the state and cannot advise on the process of obtaining an apostille from a state. Before you request the notarized affidavit from us, please check with the Missouri Secretary of State: https://s1.sos.mo.gov/business/notary/notary/certify.

Directions, Payment,  And Identification

• Please submit one form per person per sacrament (i.e. baptism or marriage).
• When the request is received, Archives staff will notify you if there are any issues with the request. If there are no detected issues, staff will simply mail the document(s) to the address you have provided on the sacramental request form online.
• Document(s) will be mailed within 4-5 weeks.
• Each document, whether a sacramental certificate or a notarized affidavit, is $25. If you request both a certificate and a notarized affidavit for a single sacrament, the total would be $50.

Payment can be made via credit card or check, made out to the Archdiocese of St. Louis Archives:

• Pay online with your credit card after submitting the form below. Click the “Submit Online Payment” button after you submit the form.
• Call us to relay your credit card information over the phone.
• Mail payments to: Archdiocese of St. Louis Archives, 20 Archbishop May Drive, St. Louis MO 63119-5738.

YOU MUST SUBMIT A COPY OF YOUR PHOTO ID (State or Driver’s license, front of ID only) along with this request by one of the following methods:

• Attaching a digital image of the ID to the form below.
• Emailing a digital image of the ID to archives@archstl.org.
• Faxing a copy of the ID to 314.792.7029.
• Mailing a copy of the ID to Archdiocese of St. Louis Archives, 20 Archbishop May Drive, St. Louis MO 63119-5738.

Please fill out the form with complete information. Staff will contact you if there are any issues with the request.

Citizenship-Related Request Form

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Closed Parish *Choose ParishAll Saints – University CityAnnunciation – St. Louis CityAscension / St. Paul – NormandyAssumption – HerculaneumAssumption – St. Louis CityBasilica of St. Louis, King of France (pre-1940, Old Cathedral)Blessed Teresa of Calcutta – FergusonCorpus Christi – JenningsCure of Ars – ShrewsburyGood Shepherd – FergusonHoly Angels / Our Lady of the Angels – KinlochHoly Cross – St. Louis CityHoly Family – St. Louis CityHoly Ghost – BerkeleyHoly Ghost – St. Louis CityHoly Guardian Angels – St. Louis CityHoly Innocents – St. Louis CityHoly Trinity – St. AnnImmaculate Conception – ArnoldImmaculate Conception – MaplewoodImmaculate Conception – St. MaryImmaculate Conception – St. Louis CityImmaculate Conception / St. Henry – St. Louis CityImmaculate Conception – West AltonImmaculate Heart of Mary – St. Louis CityMary, Queen of the Universe – LemayMost Blessed Sacrament – St. Louis CityMost Holy Name of Jesus – St. Louis CityMost Holy Rosary – St. Louis CityMost Holy Trinity – St. Louis CityMost Holy Trinity (Slovak, closed 1982) – St. Louis CityMost Precious Blood – St. Louis CityNativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary – BelgiqueNativity of Our Lord – St. Louis CityNorth American Martyrs – FlorissantNotre Dame de Lourdes – WellstonOld Cathedral (pre-1940, Basilica of St. Louis, King of France)Our Lady Help of Christians – St. Louis CityOur Lady of Covandago – St. Louis CityOur Lady of Czestochowa – St. Louis CityOur Lady of Fatima – FlorissantOur Lady of Good Counsel – Bellefontaine NeighborsOur Lady of Good Counsel – St. Louis CityOur Lady of Loretto – Spanish LakeOur Lady of Mercy – HazelwoodOur Lady of Mount Carmel – St. Louis CityOur Lady of Perpetual Help – St. Louis CityOur Lady of Sorrows – St. LouisOur Lady of the Presentation – OverlandOur Lady of the Rosary – ClaryvilleOur Lady of the Rosary – Spanish LakeOur Lady of the Holy Cross – Saint LouisSacred Heart of Jesus – St. Louis CitySt. Adalbert – St. Louis CitySt. Agnes – St. Louis CitySt. Aloysius – Spanish LakeSt. Aloysius Gonzaga – St. LouisSt. Andrew – LemaySt. Ann – St. Louis CitySt. Ann’s Hospital (and Home) – St. Louis CitySt. Ann Shrine (Visitation) – St. Louis CitySt. Augustine – St. Louis CitySt. Augustine – St. Louis City (1371 Hamilton)St. Barbara – St. Louis CitySt. Barnabas – O’FallonSt. Bartholomew – HazelwoodSt. Bernadette – LemaySt. Bernard – St. Louis CitySt. Blaise – Maryland HeightsSt. Bonaventure – St. Louis CitySt. Boniface – PerryvilleSt. Boniface – St. Louis CitySt. Bridget of Erin – St. Louis CitySt. Casimir – Hathaway ManorSt. Casimir – St. Louis CitySt. Catherine of Alexandria – CoffmanSt. Catherine of Alexandria – RiverviewSt. Catherine of Siena – PagedaleSt. Charles Borromeo – St. Louis CitySt. Christopher – FlorissantSt. Columbkille – ByrnesvilleSt. Columbkille – St. Louis CitySt. Cronan – St. Louis CitySt. David – ArnoldSt. Dismas – FlorissantSt. Dominic SavioSt. Edward – St. Louis CitySt. Elizabeth – St. Louis CitySt. Elizabeth, Mother of John the Baptist – St. Louis CitySt. Engelbert – St. Louis CitySt. Ferdinand – Florissant (pre-1940)St. Francis of Assisi – LuebberingSt. Francis of Assisi – Portage des SiouxSt. Francis De Sales – St. Louis CitySt. Frances Xavier Cabrini – JenningsSte. Genevieve – Ste. Genevieve (pre-1935)St. George – AfftonSt. Gregory – St. AnnSt. Hedwig – St. Louis CitySt. Henry – St. Louis CitySt. Jerome – St. Louis CitySt. John Bosco – Creve CoeurSt. John Paul II – AfftonSt. John the Apostle – BismarkSt. John the Apostle and Evangelist – St. Louis CitySt. John the Baptist – St. Louis CitySts. John and James – FergusonSt. Joseph – St. Louis CitySt. Joseph Home for Boys – St. Louis CitySt Joseph National Lithuanian – St. Louis CitySt. Jude – OverlandSt. Kevin – St. AnnSt. Kevin – St. Louis CitySt. Lawrence O’Toole – St. Louis CitySt. Lawrence the Martyr – BridgetonSt. Leo – St. Louis CitySt. Liborius – St. Louis CitySt. Louis, King of France (pre-1940, Basilica)Saint Louis University Desloge HospitalSt. Louise de Marillac – JenningsSt. Lucy – St. Louis CitySt. Luke the Evangelist – Richmond HeightsSt. Malachy – St. Louis CitySt. Mark – St. Louis CitySt. Mary of Victories – St. Louis CitySt. Martin de Porres – HazelwoodSt. Mary’s – BridgetonSts. Mary and Joseph – St. Louis CitySt. Matthias – LemaySaint Matthew the Apostle – St. Louis CitySt. Michael – St. Louis CitySt. Nicholas – St. Louis CitySt. Patrick – St. Louis Convention CenterSt. Patrick – University CitySt. Patrick – St. Louis City (6th and Biddle)St. Paul – BergerSt. Paul – St. Louis CitySt. Paul the Apostle – Pine LawnSts. Peter and Paul – St. Louis City (pre-1940)St. Peter Claver – KinlochSt. Philip Neri – St. Louis CitySt. Pius X – Glasgow VillageSt. Rita – Vinita ParkSt. Robert Bellarmine – Saint CharlesSt. Roch – St. Louis CitySt. Rose of Lima – St. Louis CitySt. Rose Philippine Duchense – FlorissantSt. Sabina – FlorissantSt. Sebastian – St. Louis CitySt. Simon of Cyrene – St. Louis CitySt. Stanislaus Kostka – St. Louis CitySt. Stephen of Hungary – St. Louis CitySt. Teresa of Avila – St. Louis CitySts. Teresa and Bridget – St. Louis CitySt. Thomas More – Bel RidgeSt. Thomas of Aquin – St. Louis CitySt. Thomas the Apostle – FlorissantSt. Timothy – AfftonSt. William – Woodson TerraceTransfiguration – FlorissantVisitation/St. Ann – St. Louis CityWashington University Catholic Student Center

I am requesting the sacrament of *

• Baptism
• Marriage

The option to choose the type of document (sacramental certificate or notarized affidavit) is further below in the form.

Image/Screenshot of Register Page from Family Search (NOT an index page) *

Drag & Drop Files, Choose Files to Upload

Follow the directions above (#2) under “Requesting Records 1919 and Prior” to find the digitized microfilm image from the original register on Family Search.

Volume of Sacramental Register/Book *

Does the front of the book have a register volume (ex. 1, 2, III, IV, etc.) or year span (ex. 1766-1781, or 1814-1823)?

Page Number of Record in the Sacramental Register/Book *

Is there a page number in the top or bottom corner of the page? And/or, is there a number next to the individual record?

Name on Record and Sacrament Data

Primary person for whom you are requesting a record.

Name on Record (use maiden name, if applicable) *

First

Last

Birthdate *

Father's Name *

First

Last

Mother's Name (use maiden name, if present) *

First

Last

Date of Sacrament *

Name of Celebrant *

The celebrant is the priest or deacon who performed the sacrament.

Name(s) of the Witness(es) *

Witnesses may also be called sponsors, godparents, best man or maid of honor.

For Marriage Requests, please also provide:

Name of Spouse (Use maiden name for women)

Name of Spouse's Father

First

Last

Name of Spouse's Mother

First

Last

Other Notes Or Clarifications

You may include other information about the sacrament, identification of the person, information about your request, etc.

Notes

Your Contact Information

Document(s) will be mailed to the address you provide below.

Your Name *

First

Last

Your Relationship to the person named in the record *

Purpose of Request *

Daytime Phone *

Email *

Mailing Address *

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State / Province / Region

Postal Code

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Attach an Image of Your Photo ID

Drag & Drop Files, Choose Files to Upload You can upload up to 5 files.

YOU MUST SUBMIT A COPY OF YOUR DRIVER’S LICENSE along with this request by email, mail, fax or attaching it here. We only need the FRONT of your ID. PLEASE NOTE: If requesting the certificate of a third party, additional documents may be necessary and can be attached here.

Ordering Documents

Document(s) will be mailed to the address you provided above.

I am ordering the following document(s): *

• Sacramental Certificate ($25)
• Missouri-Notarized Affidavit ($25)
• BOTH a Sacramental Certificate and Notarized Affidavit ($50)

Payment Method *

• Online Payment (Pay the fee at the “Donation” screen after you click submit.)
• Mail a check (Note that certificate will not be sent until payment is received.)
• Call us at 314-792-7020 to relay your credit card information over the phone, or discuss other payment options.

The record will not be released without PHOTO ID, PAYMENT, and documents of PROOF OF RELATIONSHIP (if after 1920).

Agreement *

• I attest that the requested document(s) will only be utilized for citizenship-related purposes.

Submit