How to Get a Montana Death Certificate (2026 Guide)

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.

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.