North Dakota Death Records: Are They Public + How to Get One

North Dakota is a hybrid-record state for death certificates. Anyone may buy a certified informational copy, but only a relative, an authorized representative, or someone with a property or legal interest can get the complete record showing cause of death and Social Security number. There is no fixed waiting period for the public informational copy.

Are Death Records Public in North Dakota?

North Dakota death records are partly public. The state treats vital records as confidential under the Health Statistics Act, but it lets anyone buy a certified informational copy of a death record. That informational copy confirms the fact of death and basic demographic details. It does not include the cause of death or the Social Security number.

Under North Dakota Century Code section 23-02.1-27, the complete death record stays restricted. Only certain people may obtain it. This two-tier approach is why North Dakota counts as a hybrid state rather than a fully open or fully closed one.

There is no built-in "open after 25 or 50 years" rule in North Dakota law. Because an informational copy is already available to the public, the state does not need a time trigger to release a redacted version. The full record with cause of death simply remains limited to eligible requesters.

For a national comparison, see our Death Records by State guide.

Who Can Request a North Dakota Death Record?

Anyone may request a certified informational copy of a North Dakota death record. That copy is the version available to the general public, attorneys, researchers, and genealogists who do not qualify for the full record.

The complete death record, which includes the cause of death and the Social Security number, may be issued only to a narrower group. Under NDCC 23-02.1-27, that group includes:

• A relative (spouse, parent, guardian, child, grandparent, grandchild, or genetic sibling)
• An authorized representative acting on behalf of an eligible person
• A funeral director reporting the facts of death
• A licensed physician researching family medical history
• The child fatality review board
• A person with a personal, real, or property interest that depends on information in the record
• Anyone presenting an order from a court of competent jurisdiction

North Dakota Vital Records requires proof of identification from the requester before releasing any certified copy. If you are unsure which ID documents qualify, contact the Vital Records office directly before you submit your application.

How to Get a North Dakota Death Certificate

You order North Dakota death certificates through Health and Human Services, Vital Records, in Bismarck. You can apply online, by mail, or pick up an online order in person.

The fee is $15.00 for the first certified copy and $10.00 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. You must include proof of identification and, if you are requesting the complete record, documentation of your relationship or interest.

Here is how each method works:

• Online: Use the secure ordering portal at the Health and Human Services Vital Records site. Online orders are typically the fastest option.
• Mail: Send a completed application, payment, and a copy of your ID to the address below.
• In-person pickup: Place an online order and select the web order pickup option.

Once the office receives your application, certified copies are usually mailed within 3 to 5 business days, not counting return mail time.

The mailing address is:

North Dakota Health and Human Services, Vital Records 600 East Boulevard Avenue Bismarck, ND 58505-0250 Phone: (701) 328-2360

Fees and processing times can change, so confirm current details on the state office's page before you send payment.

Is the Cause of Death Public in North Dakota?

No. In North Dakota, the cause of death is not public. It appears only on the complete death record, which is restricted to eligible requesters such as relatives, authorized representatives, and people with a property or legal interest.

The informational copy that the general public can buy omits both the cause of death and the Social Security number. North Dakota also offers a "facts of death" copy that includes the Social Security number but still excludes the cause of death, which can help attorneys and estate administrators who need the number but not the medical cause.

If your question is about medical-cause and manner-of-death access more broadly, our explainer on whether cause of death records are public covers how states differ. Autopsy reports follow their own rules, which we cover in Are Autopsies Public Records?.

How Far Back Do North Dakota Death Records Go?

North Dakota's statewide death registration dates to the early 1900s. The Legislative Assembly created the Bureau of Vital Statistics in 1907 to register all births and deaths across the state, so reliable statewide death records generally begin around that period. Earlier, scattered records may exist but are far less complete.

Older historical death records and indexes are held by the State Historical Society of North Dakota, State Archives, which the public can contact for genealogical research. Access rules for very old records are looser than for recent certified copies because the privacy interest fades over time.

On the national side, there is no federal death-records database that the public can search. The CDC's National Center for Health Statistics confirms that death records are issued by the states, not the federal government. The Social Security Administration's public Death Master File is the closest national index, but under the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 it excludes any death that occurred within the last three calendar years. For births, see our companion guide on whether birth certificates are public records.

Disclaimer: This page provides general legal information about public records access in North Dakota, not legal advice. Eligibility rules, fees, and processing times change, and individual situations vary. Always confirm current requirements with the North Dakota Vital Records office or a qualified attorney before relying on this information.

Sources

This article cites North Dakota Health and Human Services, the North Dakota Century Code, the CDC National Center for Health Statistics, and the Social Security Administration; full citations are listed below.