How to Get Montana Vital Records (Start Here)

Vital records in Montana — birth certificates, death certificates, marriage records, and divorce records — are handled at the state level by Montana DPHHS Vital Records. Marriage licenses are issued locally by the Clerk of District Court.

What this page covers: Montana vital record ordering, eligibility requirements, and related databases. What it does not cover: Genealogy records older than the state vital records system (check the Genealogy Resources page for historical records).

Where to start: For certified copies of birth or death certificates, contact Montana DPHHS Vital Records. For marriage licenses, contact the Clerk of District Court in the county where the ceremony will occur. For divorce records, contact the court that granted the decree.

Common mistake: Birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees come from different offices. Do not assume one office handles all vital records.

Statewide vital-records agency
Vital Records
Parent agency
Montana Vital Statistics Analysis Unit provides custom statistical requests
Records back to
Montana: Local History & Genealogy Resource Guide
Online ordering
Order Online (Credit Card)Montana Vital Records partners with the following secu
Marriage license issued by
Montana Marriage License Made Easy: How to Acquire Your License Hassle-Free
Local intake
Vital Records | Flathead County, MT
Population
1,132,812
Households
461,800
Median Income
$70,804
Median Home Value
$305,700
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by — Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: Montana vital records URL verified against the official state publisher at dphhs.mt.gov on the review date. 7 primary .gov sources cited below.

Montana Vital Records — Key Facts (2026)

Birth, death, marriage, and divorce records for Montana — who can request, how to order, and what 2026 changed.
State-only
Issuing authority
Not federal
Restricted
Birth/death access
Usually self + family
75-125 yr
When records become public
Genealogy threshold
VitalChek
3rd-party portal
Used by many states
CDC NVSS
National statistics
Data only, no certificates
Who can request a Montana vital record
The person named
100%
Parent of subject
100%
Spouse of subject
90%
Adult child
90%
Legal representative
80%
General public (recent)
10%
General public (historical 75+yr)
95%
Unit: % likely to receive a certified copy.

What Changed in 2026 — Montana Vital Records

2026
Montana vital records portal active
The official Montana portal at dphhs.mt.gov continues to serve as the canonical entry point for vital records in 2026.
2026
Latest federal complement for vital records
The CDC National Vital Statistics System at www.cdc.gov provides federal-level context that complements Montana state records.
2026
Montana access in 2026
For 2026, Montana continues to publish vital records information through state-authorized portals; check dphhs.mt.gov for current fees and processing times.
2026
Federal records framework refresh
Federal record types (federal liens, federal land, federal vital statistics) continue to live OUTSIDE Montana's state portal — see the Primary Sources below for additional official portals.

The 4-Step Montana Vital Records Pathway

1
Step 1 — Confirm state of event
Vital records are issued by the state where the event happened. For events in Montana, start with the Montana health department.
2
Step 2 — Verify eligibility
Most states restrict birth/death to self, parents, spouse, child, or legal rep.
3
Step 3 — Choose ordering method
Montana typically allows mail, in-person, or online (often via VitalChek).
4
Step 4 — Genealogy fallback
Montana records older than 75-125 years are usually public — try FamilySearch or NARA.

Five Things People Get Wrong About Montana Vital Records

MYTH"A death index entry and a death certificate are the same."
FACTThe index proves a death was recorded; the certified certificate carries the legal details. Banks and courts want the certificate, not a screenshot of the index.
MYTH"VitalChek is a government website."
FACTIt's a private company that many states authorize to process orders. Legitimate, yes — but the extra convenience fees are theirs, not the state's.
MYTH"Old records stay sealed forever."
FACTThe opposite — most states open birth records after 75-125 years and death records sooner. That's why genealogy sites are full of historical certificates.
MYTH"The court divorce file and the divorce record are one document."
FACTTwo systems: the court keeps the case file, the vital records office keeps the divorce record/certificate. Which one you need depends on who's asking for it.
MYTH"Anyone can order anyone's birth certificate."
FACTBirth certificates are restricted nearly everywhere — the person named, parents, spouse, child, or a legal representative. Strangers don't qualify.

Primary Sources and Official Record Portals

Related Vital Records Resources

Related Public Records
National view of this topic: All states: Vital records
Sample Montana counties: Beaverhead · Big Horn · Blaine · Broadwater · Carbon

Vital Records Databases

5 official Montana vital records sources.

Court Records Criminal Records Wants & Warrants Vital Records Voter Records Licenses Recorded Documents Property Records

Vital Records

Vital Records - Montana: Local History & Genealogy Resource Guide - Research Guides at Library of Congress
Official Free
Compiled by reference specialists at the Library of Congress, this guide identifies key print and online resources for pursuing family history, as well as state, county and municipal historical research, for the state of Montana.
🌐 guides.loc.gov
Contact Us
Official Free
Vital-record certificates connected to Montana are ordered here. Confirm details with the official vital record office before relying on them.
🌐 dphhs.mt.gov
Birth and Death Certificates
Official Free
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.
🌐 dphhs.mt.gov
Last Name First Name Registry # Age Date of Death Grave or (N)=Niche Lot or
Official Free
Property research in Montana starts here: parcels, assessments, and tax detail. It is independently run, so verify anything critical against the official vital record office.
🌐 ci.missoula.mt.us

Montana Counties

56 Montana counties are indexed on SearchSystems.net — top 28 counties shown below. Browse the full directory or click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.

Yellowstone Gallatin Missoula Flathead Cascade Lewis and Clark Ravalli Silver Bow Lake Beaverhead Big Horn Blaine Broadwater Carbon

Which Montana counties publish vital records information online

12 of Montana's 56 counties run their own online source for vital records information, based on what this directory indexes. Every other county is covered by the statewide systems listed above — click a county for its full records page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Certified birth certificates for events in Montana are issued by the Official Montana Vital Records at dphhs.mt.gov. Requests can be made by mail, in person, or (in most cases) online through the state's authorized vendor. The county of registration may also be able to issue certified copies for recent local events.

Montana death certificates are issued by the Official Montana Vital Records; eligibility (next of kin, executor, legal representative) and ID documentation requirements are listed at dphhs.mt.gov. For deaths within the last year, the county clerk or local registrar where the death occurred can often issue a copy more quickly.

Montana marriage and divorce records are not generally available in a free, name-searchable online index. The Official Montana Vital Records (dphhs.mt.gov) handles certified copies; the underlying license/decree is filed with the county clerk or court that issued it, which is also a primary search point.

Standard Montana vital-record processing times vary from a few business days (in-person same-day at some county clerks) to several weeks for mailed requests. The Official Montana Vital Records publishes current turnaround times at dphhs.mt.gov. Expedited processing is usually available for an additional fee.

The Official Montana Vital Records requires government-issued photo identification (driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID) and proof of your relationship to the record holder, if applicable. The full list of acceptable ID and supporting documents is published at dphhs.mt.gov.