The certificate of dissolution of marriage is a Missouri vital records form, numbered MO 580-0716 and VS-800, that the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) prints for recording a marriage decree. It collects details about both parties, the marriage, the petitioner and attorney, the decree and the certifying court official. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the original PDF and the agency's forms page are published by the Missouri DHSS Bureau of Vital Records.
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What is MO 580-0716 (VS-800)?
The Certificate of Dissolution of Marriage is a Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) form, printed as MO 580-0716 (5-2021) VS-800, that records the parties, the marriage and the court decree when a marriage is dissolved, legally separated or annulled.
The form is organized in numbered items. Items 1 to 9 describe the first party and items 10 to 18 the second party, including name, name prior to first marriage, Social Security number, residence, date of birth and birthplace. Items 19 to 24 cover the marriage: where and when it took place, the date the couple last lived in the same household, and the number of children under 18 in the household as of that date. Items 25 to 27 identify the petitioner and the petitioner's attorney.
The decree block, items 28 to 36, records the date the marriage was dissolved, the type of decree (Dissolution, Legal Separation or Annulment), the date recorded, physical custody of children under 18, child support, the county of decree, the title of the court, and the signature and title of the certifying official. Items 37 to 40 collect, for each party, the number of this marriage, how and when any previous marriage ended, race and education.
The printed form tells the reader to type or print in permanent black ink and refers to the Certificate of Dissolution of Marriage Handbook for instructions. The Bureau of Vital Records also asks that forms on its applications and forms page be completed with capitalized text.
Who needs to file MO 580-0716 (VS-800)?
The form is built around the people and offices it names, so it is used by whoever prepares the record of a Missouri marriage decree:
- The two parties. The form identifies a first party and a second party and asks for each one's name, Social Security number, residence, date of birth, birthplace and marriage history.
- The petitioner. Item 25 records whether the petitioner was the first party, the second party, both (joint) or someone else, to be specified.
- The petitioner's attorney. Items 26 and 27 take the attorney's name and address.
- The certifying official. Item 35 is the signature of the certifying official and item 36 the title of the certifying office, next to the county of decree (item 33) and the title of the court (item 34).
The form covers three decree types: dissolution, legal separation and annulment. It does not say who must submit it or who may sign for someone else, so use the Certificate of Dissolution of Marriage Handbook named on the form for those questions.
When to file MO 580-0716 (VS-800)
The form is completed once a decree of dissolution, legal separation or annulment exists to record: item 28 asks for the date the marriage was dissolved, item 29 for the type of decree and item 30 for the date recorded. No separate due date is printed on the form, so check the Certificate of Dissolution of Marriage Handbook that the form names for any timing rule.
Gather the dates before you start. Item 23 asks for the date the couple last lived in the same household, and item 24 counts children under 18 as of that date.
How to fill out MO 580-0716 (VS-800)
Complete the case and file numbers
At the top, enter the CASE NUMBER and the STATE FILE NUMBER in the boxes provided, where you have them. Type or print in permanent black ink, using capitalized text.
Enter the first party's information
Items 1 to 9: first, middle and last name, last name prior to first marriage if different, Social Security number, residence city, state, ZIP code and county, date of birth, and birthplace (state or foreign country).
Enter the second party's information
Items 10 to 18 repeat the same details for the second party: name, prior last name if different, Social Security number, residence, county, date of birth and birthplace.
Describe the marriage
Items 19 to 22: city, county, state or foreign country and date of this marriage. Item 23: the date the couple last lived in the same household. Item 24: the number of children under 18 in the household as of that date, or None.
Identify the petitioner
Item 25: mark 0 for First Party, 1 for Second Party, 2 for Joint or 3 for Other, and specify the other person where the form asks.
Add the petitioner's attorney
Item 26: type or print the attorney's name. Item 27: the street and number or rural route, city or town, state and ZIP code.
Record the decree details
Item 28: the date the marriage was dissolved. Item 29: the type of decree: 0 Dissolution, 1 Legal Separation or 2 Annulment. Item 30: the date recorded.
Enter custody and child support
Item 31: the number of children under 18 whose physical custody was awarded to the first party, second party, joint or other, or mark No Children. Item 32: mark who child support was awarded to, or 4 for no child support awarded.
Name the county and court
Item 33: the county of decree. Item 34: the title of the court.
Complete the certifying official block
Item 35 is the signature of the certifying official and item 36 the title of the certifying office. Leave the signature to that official.
Enter marriage history and background
Items 37 to 40, for each party: number of this marriage; if previously married, how the last marriage ended (2 Death, 3 Divorce, dissolution, or annulment) and the date by month and year; race; and highest grade completed.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check that each item matches the decree and that the first and second party entries are not swapped. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and follow the Certificate of Dissolution of Marriage Handbook and the agency's channels from there.
How to submit MO 580-0716 (VS-800)
The form prints no mailing address, portal or appointment rule, so the channel is not stated on the document itself. What it does show is who completes the final block: item 35 is signed by the certifying official and item 36 gives the title of the certifying office.
- Instructions: the form refers to the Certificate of Dissolution of Marriage Handbook.
- Agency forms page: the Missouri DHSS Bureau of Vital Records lists its applications and forms at https://health.mo.gov/vital-records-registries/vital-records/vital-records-applications-forms.
- Completing the form: print or type in permanent black ink; the agency page asks for capitalized text.
FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the agency's channels.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Printing the form in blue or erasable ink; the form says to type or print in permanent black ink.
- Entering text in lowercase when the Bureau of Vital Records asks that forms be completed with capitalized text.
- Counting children in item 24 as of the wrong date; the count is for children under 18 in the household as of the date in item 23.
- Mixing up the two parties, for example listing the second party's data in items 1 to 9, which are reserved for the first party.
- Choosing the wrong code in item 29; it takes one type of decree: Dissolution, Legal Separation or Annulment.
- Filling in item 38 when a party was not previously married; it applies only "if previously married".
- Ignoring the Certificate of Dissolution of Marriage Handbook, which the form names for instructions.
Frequently asked questions
What is a certificate of dissolution of marriage in Missouri?
It is Form VS-800 (MO 580-0716), a Missouri DHSS form that records the parties, the marriage and the court decree. It covers a dissolution, a legal separation or an annulment, and ends with the certifying official's signature and the title of the court.
Can I fill out the certificate of dissolution of marriage online?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service, not the Missouri DHSS, and does not file the form; follow the agency's channels and the Handbook named on the form.
Where are the instructions for Form VS-800?
The form says "for instructions, see Certificate of Dissolution of Marriage Handbook." The Missouri DHSS Bureau of Vital Records also lists its applications and forms on its website, and asks that forms be completed with capitalized text.
What types of decree does the form cover?
Item 29 offers three: 0 Dissolution, 1 Legal Separation and 2 Annulment. Item 28 records the date the marriage was dissolved and item 30 the date the decree was recorded.
Who signs the certificate of dissolution of marriage?
Item 35 is the signature of the certifying official, and item 36 is the title of the certifying office. The form prints no other signature line, and it does not say that either party must sign.
What goes in item 24 on Form VS-800?
The number of children under 18 in the household as of the date in item 23, the date the couple last lived in the same household. The form also has a None option for households with no such children.
Does the form ask for Social Security numbers?
Yes. Item 3 asks for the first party's Social Security number and item 12 for the second party's. Each party's block also asks for residence, county, date of birth and birthplace.
What ink should I use on the printed form?
Permanent black ink. The form says to type or print in permanent black ink, and the Bureau of Vital Records adds that applications and forms should be completed with capitalized text.
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