Montana Vital Records: The 2025 Guide
Complete information for requesting certified vital records in Montana — office address, current fees, processing times, county shortcuts, and step-by-step instructions for birth certificates, death certificates, marriage records, and divorce decrees.
Montana Vital Records Office
Montana Vital Records — Contact
Address: P.O. Box 4210, Helena, MT 59604
Phone: 406-444-2685
Website: dphhs.mt.gov
Fees: Birth $12 | Death $12 per certified copy
Standard mail processing: 2–4 wks
Birth Certificates in Montana
Montana has a small population and processes vital records at moderate speed. The $12 fee is reasonable. Montana county clerk and recorder offices hold marriage records and can assist with vital records for their counties.
To request a certified birth certificate by mail: download the official request form from dphhs.mt.gov, complete it with the registrant's full name at birth, date of birth, county of birth, and both parents' full names (including mother's maiden name). Attach a photocopy of your government-issued photo ID. Include a check or money order payable to the Montana vital records office for $12 per copy. Mail to the address above.
Faster option: Yellowstone County (Billings) Clerk and Recorder: 217 N. 27th St., Billings — 406-256-2785. Cascade County (Great Falls): 415 2nd Ave. N., Great Falls — 406-454-6800. Lewis and Clark County (Helena): 316 N. Park Ave., Helena — 406-447-8346.
For the complete birth certificate request guide including eligibility rules, handling missing records, and what to do when a record contains an error, see our complete birth certificate guide.
Death Certificates in Montana
Death certificates in Montana are $12 per certified copy, issued by the same vital records office. For an estate, order at least 10–15 certified copies when the funeral home files — each bank, insurance company, and government agency requires its own original. See our estate copy calculator for a personalized count, and our guide on getting a death certificate before or right after the funeral for urgent timelines.
Deaths older than 50 years are public record in Montana — anyone may request a copy. Requests for more recent deaths require proof of an eligible relationship.
Marriage Records in Montana
Marriage licenses in Montana are issued at the county level by the County Clerk and Recorder. To get a certified copy of a marriage certificate, contact that county office directly. If you don't know which county issued the license, the Montana vital records office can search the statewide marriage index. See our marriage certificate guide for the full process.
Divorce Decrees in Montana
Divorce decrees are court documents held by the clerk of the county court where the divorce was filed — not by the state vital records office. Contact the county court clerk to request a certified copy of the final divorce decree. The Montana vital records office can usually identify the county if you don't know it. See our divorce decree guide.
Public Access Rules for Genealogy
In Montana, birth records become publicly accessible to anyone after 100 years from the birth year. Death records become publicly accessible after 50 years. Within those windows, certified copies are restricted to eligible requestors — immediate family members, legal representatives, and authorized parties. For genealogy research on records within the restricted window, demonstrate your direct-line relationship using a chain of birth certificates and death certificates. See our genealogy research guide for full details.
Frequently Asked Questions
For birth and death certificates, in-person at a county-level office in the county where the event occurred is consistently the fastest option — typically same-day or next-day. Call ahead to confirm walk-in hours. For out-of-state requestors who cannot travel, online ordering through VitalChek (where available) is typically faster than standard mail. Yellowstone County (Billings) Clerk and Recorder: 217 N. 27th St., Billings — 406-256-2785. Cascade County (Great Falls): 415 2nd Ave. N., Great Falls — 406-454-6800. Lewis and Clark County (Helena): 316 N. Park Ave., Helena — 406-447-8346.
At minimum 10–12 certified copies for a typical estate. More if there are multiple properties, multiple financial institutions, or business interests. Each institution that retains a copy (banks, insurers, courts, DMVs) consumes one certified original. Re-ordering after the fact means another 2–4 wks wait at $12 per copy. Use our estate copy calculator for a personalized breakdown by institution.
Contact the Montana vital records office at 406-444-2685 to request the amendment/correction form. Minor clerical errors are corrected administratively with supporting documentation (hospital birth records, baptismal records, school records) plus an amendment fee. More significant changes may require a court order. See our birth certificate correction guide for the full process.