Birth and Death Certificates

How to Order Birth & Death Certificates

To ensure your privacy and avoid unauthorized high fees, please only use the official ordering methods listed below. VitalChek and VRO are the only third-party vendors officially contracted and approved by the State of Montana.

⚠️ Consumer Alert: Third-Party Websites

Some private companies charge high fees to “help” you apply for certificates. These companies are not affiliated with Montana Vital Records. If you have used an unauthorized vendor and are unsatisfied, you may file a consumer complaint online with the Montana Department of Justice.

Choose Your Ordering Method

1. Order Online (Credit Card)
Montana Vital Records partners with the following secure vendors to provide online ordering. Please note that additional service fees will apply for credit card transactions.

2. Order by Phone (Credit Card)
To place a credit card order over the phone, please contact our partner, VitalChek:
Call Toll-Free: 1-888-877-1946

3. Order by Mail (Check or Money Order)
To order by mail, please download and complete the appropriate application and include your payment.

Birth Certificate Mail-In Application

Death Certificate Mail-In Application

Mail to:
Montana Vital Records
PO Box 4210
Helena, MT 59604.

4. Order In-Person
You may visit any local County Clerk & Recorder’s office in Montana to purchase a birth or death certificate, regardless of which Montana county the event occurred in.

⚠️ Important Note on “Long Form” Certificates
If you require a Long Form birth certificate (often needed for dual citizenship or tribal enrollment), you cannot obtain this from just any county. You must request it from one of the following:

  • The State Vital Records Office in Helena.

  • The County Clerk & Recorder in the specific county where you were born.

Check Your Order Status

Processing times vary based on current staffing and workload. If you have already placed an order and would like to check the status:

Note: For security reasons, applications are not accepted via email.

General Questions?

Our team is happy to assist you with questions regarding birth or death certificates, as well as marriage and divorce index information.

Montana Office of Vital Records
Phone: 406-444-2685, option 2
Email: HHSVitalRecords@mt.gov

Which Ordering Method is Right for Me?

Feature Online (VitalChek/VRO) By Mail In-Person
Best For... Speed and convenience. Lower cost / No service fees. Same-day service.
Payment Method Credit or Debit Card. Check or Money Order. Varies by County.
Processing Time Fastest. Expedited shipping options available. Standard. Subject to mail and office workload. Immediate. Available during office hours.
Additional Fees Yes (Service & Shipping fees). No (Standard certificate fee only). Varies by County.
Where to Order VitalChek or VRO Download Application Local Clerk & Recorder

 

 

Birth/Death Certificate Requests FAQ

There are three ways you can request a birth or death certificate:

  1. Mail- You can fill out a paper application and mail it to our office. Please attach a photocopy of the front and back of your photo ID and include the fee appropriate to the number of copies you are ordering.
  2. Online- We have an affiliated third-party company that takes orders using a credit or debit card. You can find them at VitalChek.com. Once there, fill out the necessary information. For security purposes you may be required to provide them with a picture of your photo ID or other documentation.
  3. In-Person- You can go into any local County Clerk and Recorders office and request your certificate in person! You will need to bring a current/valid photo ID with you and will fill out the application in person once you arrive.

All certificates cost $16. This includes birth and death certificates, certified and informational copies, and abstract and long form versions.

Please send an email to HHSVitalRecords@mt.gov and include the following:

  • How the request was made (paper application or online and if online, include the website and order number)
  • When the request was made
  • Full name on requested certificate

What you are needing is what we call a long form. When requesting, please note that a long form is needed, and one will be issued to you in place of the abstract version we typically issue.

Our office does not complete Apostilles. When requesting your certificate, please let us know you are needing an Apostille for your certificate. We will mail the certificate to the Secretary of State once issued and their office completes the Apostille. Please note that they have a $10 fee for these, and you will need to contact their office beforehand so that they know your request will be coming. Please do not combine our payment with theirs if sending a check or money order. You can reach their office at 406-444-1877.

We cannot take cards over the phone. To pay with a card, please head over to VitalChek

You can provide us with a few alternatives:

  1. You can have your paper application notarized, affirming that you are you.
  2. You can provide a couple of alternative forms of ID so long as one includes a signature. An example of this is a signed social security card, a signed debit/credit/atm card, a signed fishing license, a signed traffic ticket, a DD214.  The other forms can include a copy of your car registration/insurance, doctor/medical record, utility bill with your current address, voter registration card.

You can ask an authorized family member, such as your parent, grandparent, child, or spouse, to request it for you. They would need to provide proof of relationship to you, such as copies of their own birth certificates or marriage license.

In the state of Montana, free certificates are not provided. Please order a certificate using one of the ways stated above.