Montana, vital records
The Montana DPHHS Office of Vital Records issues birth and death certificates through state and county offices. Certified marriage and divorce records come from the clerk of the district court in the county where they were filed.
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Vital records
DPHHS office that issues Montana birth and death certificates through state and county offices. It issues no marriage or divorce records but keeps a searchable index.
Open official site Montana Office of Vital RecordsState agencies
DPHHS Child Support Services page on establishing paternity and on the Putative Father Registry for men who intend to claim a parental interest in a child.
Open official site Montana paternity and putative father registryVital records
Federal summary for ordering from Montana: the state office has birth and death records since late 1907 at $16 a copy, and marriage indexes since July 1943 but no certified marriage copies.
Open official site CDC, Where to Write for Montana vital recordsVital records
DPHHS unit that analyzes Montana birth and death data and publishes statistical reports. It does not issue certificates; copies come from the Office of Vital Records.
Open official site Montana Vital Statistics Analysis UnitState agencies
The official Montana State Archives since 1969, holding state government records and manuscript collections that can be searched through its finding aids.
Open official site Montana Historical Society, archival collectionsVital records
National Center for Health Statistics links to every state and territory vital records office, with fees and mailing addresses. The federal government itself issues no certificates.
Open official site CDC, Where to Write for Vital RecordsVital records
National Center for Health Statistics data on births and deaths in the United States, such as leading causes of death and life tables. It publishes statistics, not copies of records.
Open official site CDC, National Vital Statistics SystemFederal
Social Security Administration form to apply for an original or replacement card or to correct your record. It generally asks for your birth certificate as proof of age.
Open official site SSA, Form SS-5, Social Security card applicationGuide
The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Office of Vital Records, keeps indexes to locate divorce decrees since July 1943 but does not issue certified copies of them. It performs a search, $10 for the first five years and $1 for each additional year, to identify the county and date. Certified copies of the decree, with the property distribution and support terms, come from the Clerk of District Court in the county where the divorce was granted. The federal Where to Write listing for Montana is at cdc.gov and the state office at dphhs.mt.gov/vitalrecords.
Guide
Record guide
At a glance
More Montana records on this site: Montana public records, Free Background Checks.
Straight answers
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No. The CDC is explicit: 'The Federal Government does not maintain files or indexes of these records.' Every U.S. vital record is kept by the state where the event occurred.
A certified copy has a raised seal and is accepted by SSA, passport offices, and courts. An informational copy is marked 'Informational, Not a Valid Document to Establish Identity' and cannot be used for legal ID.
It varies by state, but a mail order to a state vital records office is typically 4, 8 weeks. Walk-in county clerk requests can be same-day. Online orders through VitalChek add a separate processing time on top of the state's.
Most states limit certified copies to the registrant, immediate family, and legal representatives. Informational copies are generally available to anyone after a waiting period defined by state law.
You should have a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA, form FS-240). Replacements come from the U.S. Department of State, not from a state vital records office.
All states
Every state page lists that state's official vital record sources, each opened and verified.