Montana
How to Get a Montana Death Certificate (2026 Guide)
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited June 14, 2026). · 4 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
Montana death certificates are issued by the Montana Office of Vital Records and every local County Clerk & Recorder. Each certified or informational copy costs $16. Any applicant who completes an application, proves their identity, and states a reason for the request may obtain a copy.
How Do You Get a Death Certificate in Montana?
You get a Montana death certificate from the Montana Office of Vital Records, part of the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS), or from any local County Clerk & Recorder office. Montana lets you buy a certificate from any county, regardless of where the death occurred.
There are four ways to request a copy. Each requires a completed application, valid identification, and the $16 fee per copy.
In person at a county office
Visit any County Clerk & Recorder office in Montana. Bring a current, valid photo ID and complete the application on-site. In-person requests are typically filled the same day.
By mail to the state
Download the death certificate application, complete it, and mail it to: Montana Vital Records, PO Box 4210, Helena, MT 59604. Include an enlarged, legible photocopy of both sides of your photo ID (or have the application notarized) and a check or money order payable to "Montana Vital Records."
Online or by phone through VitalChek
Montana's contracted vendors, VitalChek and VitalRecordsOnline (VRO), accept orders online; VitalChek also takes orders by phone at 1-888-877-1946 using a credit or debit card. VitalChek and VitalRecordsOnline are the only third-party vendors officially contracted and approved by the State of Montana.
Who Is Eligible to Request a Montana Death Certificate?
Montana issues a certified death certificate to any applicant who completes the application, establishes their identity, and lists a reason for needing the copy. Death records in Montana are more openly available than birth records.
Common applicants include immediate family members, the personal representative or legal guardian of the estate, and anyone with a documented legal interest such as an attorney or insurer. You must sign the application and provide acceptable proof of identity.
To establish identity, provide a legible copy of both sides of a valid driver's license or other government photo ID with a signature, or have the application notarized. If you do not have a signed photo ID, you may submit two other forms of identification, at least one of which carries a signature.
Montana Death Certificate Cost and Processing Time
A Montana death certificate costs $16 per copy. This single price applies to certified copies, informational copies, and both abstract and long-form versions. There is no discounted rate for additional copies, so each copy you order is $16.
If the record cannot be found, a record search costs $10 for any five-year period, plus $1 for each additional year searched. An apostille, handled through the Secretary of State, adds a $10 fee.
Processing times vary based on current staffing and workload at the Office of Vital Records, so mailed requests should allow extra time. In-person requests at a County Clerk & Recorder office are usually completed the same day. VitalChek orders may offer faster handling for an added vendor fee.
Certified vs Informational Copy in Montana
Montana offers two kinds of death certificate, and both cost $16. A certified copy is the official legal document used to settle an estate, claim life insurance, close financial accounts, transfer property, and handle Social Security or veterans benefits.
An informational copy contains the same record data but is intended for personal and family-history use rather than legal transactions. It is not accepted as proof of identity or for most official purposes.
Choose a certified copy if any agency or institution requires an official record. Choose an informational copy only when you simply need the information for your own records.
How to Get Additional or Replacement Copies
To get additional or replacement copies of a Montana death certificate, submit another request through the same channels and pay $16 for each copy. Montana does not offer a reduced price for extra copies, so order the number you expect to need up front.
If a certificate is lost or damaged, request a fresh copy the same way you ordered the original. Estate administration, insurance claims, and property transfers often each require their own certified copy, so families commonly order several at once.
For questions or to check an order's status, contact the Office of Vital Records at 406-444-2685 (option 2) or HHSVitalRecords@mt.gov.
| Item | Montana |
|---|---|
| Issuing office | Montana Office of Vital Records (DPHHS) and County Clerk & Recorder offices |
| First-copy fee | $16 |
| Additional-copy fee | $16 each (no discount) |
| Processing time | Varies by workload; in person usually same day |
| Eligibility | Any applicant who completes the application, proves identity, and states a reason |
Disclaimer: This page provides general information, not legal advice. Fees, eligibility rules, and processing times change. Always verify current requirements with the Montana Office of Vital Records before submitting a request.
Sources
This page draws on the Montana Office of Vital Records (DPHHS) birth and death certificate guidance, its official fee schedule, and the state death certificate application.
For the broader picture, see Montana Death Records and the Death Records by State hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a Montana death certificate?
A Montana death certificate costs $16 per copy. The same $16 fee applies to certified copies, informational copies, and both abstract and long-form versions, with no discount for additional copies.
How long does it take to get a Montana death certificate?
Processing times vary with the Office of Vital Records' staffing and workload, so mailed requests should allow extra time. In-person requests at any County Clerk & Recorder office are usually completed the same day.
Who can get a Montana death certificate?
Montana issues a certified copy to any applicant who completes the application, establishes their identity, and states a reason for the request. This commonly includes immediate family, estate representatives, guardians, and parties with a legal interest.
Can I get a Montana death certificate online?
Yes. Montana's approved vendors VitalChek and VitalRecordsOnline (VRO) accept orders online; VitalChek also takes orders by phone at 1-888-877-1946 using a credit or debit card. VitalChek and VitalRecordsOnline are the only third-party vendors officially contracted by the State of Montana.
What is the difference between a certified and informational copy?
A certified copy is the official legal document used for estates, insurance, and benefits. An informational copy holds the same data but is for personal or genealogy use and is not accepted for legal transactions. Both cost $16.
How do I get extra copies of a Montana death certificate?
Submit another request through any of the same channels and pay $16 per copy. Montana offers no reduced rate for additional copies, so families often order several certified copies at once for estate, insurance, and property needs.
Updates
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources
The Law Behind This Article
This article rests on the statutory provisions below, held in our own legal record and retrieved from the official source. Tap a section to read the operative text.
Montana Code Annotated, Title 50
§ 50-15-121Copies From System Of Vital StatisticsIn forcecited in 6 of our articles
50-15-121. Copies from system of vital statistics. (1) Except as provided in subsections (6) and (7), the department and county clerk and recorders shall, upon receipt of an application, issue a certified copy or copies of a vital record or a part of a vital record to the registrant, the registrant's spouse, children, parents, or guardian, or an authorized representative. Other individuals may obtain certified copies when the individual demonstrates that the record is needed for the determination or protection of the individual's personal or property rights. The department shall adopt rules to further define those who may obtain copies of vital records filed under this chapter. (2) All applications, forms, and procedures used in the issuance of certified copies of vital records in the state must be uniform and prepared or approved by the department. All certified copies must contain security features that deter the document from being altered, counterfeited, duplicated, or simulated without ready detection that there have been these changes to the document. (3) Each copy issued must show the date of filing.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-09-04 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at mca.legmt.gov
Also relied on in: Are Cause of Death Records Public? How to Find One, Free or Paid, Montana Adoption Records: The Three Rules for Releasing an Original Birth Certificate, Montana Birth Certificate: Fees, How to Order and Who Is Eligible
Sources and References
- Montana Office of Vital Records - Birth and Death Certificates(dphhs.mt.gov).gov
- Montana Office of Vital Records - Fee Schedule(dphhs.mt.gov).gov
- Montana Death Certificate Application(dphhs.mt.gov).gov
- Montana DPHHS Vital Records(dphhs.mt.gov).gov