St. Charles County Recorder of Deeds offering fully online marriage license process

The St. Charles County Recorder of Deeds office now is one of two offices in the State of Missouri beta testing a new system that enables the processing of electronic marriage license applications without the need for either applicant to appear at the office in person.

“This updated system adds convenience for all marriage license applicants, but especially residents who currently are out of the area or otherwise cannot both visit our office in person during regular business hours,” says Mary Dempsey, St. Charles County Recorder of Deeds.

To be eligible to complete the marriage license application electronically, both applicants must be at least 18 years of age and at least one of the applicants must be a resident of St. Charles County. Couples can find a link to the secure application and a list of qualifications and required documentation at sc-

cmo.org/MarriageLicense.

After completing the standard online application, both applicants must each provide an electronic signature and upload a copy of their passport, driver license or other stateissued identification. Once identification documents are verified with security questions and the application is processed, the marriage license can either be picked up at the office by an applicant or delivered by mail. Applications for marriage licenses must be completed within 30 days prior to the ceremony. If applicants are having the license delivered, the recorder office recommends completing the process more than 48 hours prior to the ceremony to ensure it will arrive in time.

Marriage licenses must be paid for at the time of application. There is an initial cost of $58, plus a $5 verification fee for the electronic process, and an added service fee if paying with credit card. Additional, varying charges apply to have the license delivered via FedEx. Applicants do have the option to pay for and pick up licenses at the County’s Administrative Building, 201 North Second Street in St. Charles.

A self-addressed, stamped envelope also is provided for the officiant to mail the license back to the Recorder of Deeds within 15 days of the ceremony. Once returned, staff records the license and mails a certified copy and keepsake version to the couple.

“I am excited and proud for our office to be one of the first in Missouri to navigate this fully online process for issuing marriage licenses,” Dempsey says. “This is just one piece of our strategy to make the services we provide more efficient and more convenient for our constituents.”

For more information, email recorder@sccmo.org, or call 636-949-7505.

Delta Dental of Missouri awards $730,931 in oral health grants

To help meet the dental health needs of children and adults, Delta Dental of Missouri – the state’s leading dental benefits provider – recently awarded $730,931 in oral health grant funding to 22 organizations in support of oral health initiatives and educational programming in Missouri and in South Carolina, where it also does business. This funding completes the second cycle of the nonprofit company’s annual mission giving efforts. During cycle one earlier this year, Delta Dental of Missouri awarded $481,327 in grants to 16 organizations for a combined total of more than $1.2 million in oral health grants for 2022.

“Many of our neighbors throughout the state face challenges in getting dental care,” said Rob Goren, president and chief executive officer at Delta Dental of Missouri. “By donating to a variety of organizations that align with our mission to improve oral health, we’re able to help thousands of children and adults get vital dental treatment and services to enhance their overall health and quality of life.”

The oral health grants most recently awarded in Missouri include:

• Vivent Health – AIDS Resource Center

(St. Louis) – received $50,000 to provide dental care to people who are uninsured or underinsured and living with HIV.

• Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (Statewide) – received $50,000 for the Missouri Dental State Loan Repayment Program to address dental provider shortages by encouraging providers to serve in HPSAs in exchange for loan repayment assistance.

• The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital (St. Louis) – received $40,000 to address the dental needs of patients with transplants or head or neck cancer and the continued specialized management of oral health to support patients’ long-term health.

• Give Kids A Smile (St. Louis) – received $40,000 to provide comprehensive treatment, preventive care and oral health education at no cost for children who are underserved and at risk.

• We Care Mobile Dental Foundation (St. Louis) – received $25,000 to provide care to individuals with low incomes in assisted living facilities, nursing homes and adult daycare centers.

• Rural Parish Clinic (St. Louis) – received $25,000 to expand its program that provides free dental care through a mobile dental unit to individuals who are uninsured and living in poverty in rural areas.

Delta Dental of Missouri also awarded $344,296 in grants to nine organizations in South Carolina.

Delta Dental of Missouri will begin accepting applications for the first grant cycle of its 2023 Oral Health Grant Program in January. To be eligible for an oral health grant from Delta Dental of Missouri, applicants in Missouri must first complete a letter of inquiry through the online application system at https://www.deltadentalmo.com/AboutUs/ oral-health-grant-program, which includes program guidelines and application instructions. Applicants must be considered taxexempt under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or be a public or governmental entity, such as a public school or health department, and serve the people of Missouri.