How to Find Montana Death Records

Prior to 1895 there were no legal requirements for keeping death records in Montana. At that time the registration of deaths was the responsibility of clergymen, coroners, physicians, sextons, and undertakers. In 1895 the Legislative Assembly passed a law requiring all physicians to keep a register of all deaths. All existing pre-1907 death records are filed with the county clerk in the county where the person died. Registration of deaths on the state level began in 1907. By 1910 the registration of deaths reached about 90 percent. It was not until about 1915 that the registration of Montana deaths became reasonably complete.

Next Step: When did the death occur?

Death Records

Choose a time period:

Learn more about U.S. Death Records

Deaths before 1907

Before 1907, Montana counties recorded a few deaths. In most cases, you must search substitute records to locate your ancestor’s death date and place.

Records that give death information:
Cemetery Records Newspapers Probate (wills, etc) Tax Records	Church Records Census Bible Records

For deaths that exist during the time period, try the following online collections:

Montana Death Databases - Includes Index Only
	Montana County Deaths, 1860-2007	FamilySearch - Free; Index of deaths from the State of Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Office of Vital Statistics in Helena.
	Montana Death Index 1868-2011	Ancestry - ($); Free at FamilySearch centers. Index provided by the Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services.
Montana Death Databases - Includes Images Only
	Montana County Births & Deaths, 1840-2004	FamilySearch - Free; Images of county birth and death records acquired from county courthouses. The collections consist of registers and certificates from Broadwater, Deer Lodge, Jefferson, Lewis and Clark, Powell and Silver Bow counties.

Can't find your ancestor online in the index?		Tips for searching online indexes
No death record for your ancestor?		Other records with death information

Return to top: Choose another death year

Deaths after 1907

Statewide registration of deaths began in 1907 in Montana, but was not widely complied with until 1910.

STEP ONE: Find Death Information

Montana Death Database - Includes Index Only
	Montana County Deaths, 1860-2007	FamilySearch - Free; Index of deaths from the State of Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Office of Vital Statistics in Helena.
	Montana Death Index 1907-2015	Ancestry - ($); Free at FamilySearch centers. Index provided by the Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services
	Montana State Death Registry Index Pre-1954 & 1954-2002	Montana State Genealogical Society - Free; Index of deaths from the State of Montana Bureau of Vital Statistics. The index is categorized by smaller spans of years.
Montana Death Database - Includes Images Only
	Montana County Births & Deaths, 1840-2004	FamilySearch - Free; Images of county birth and death records acquired from county courthouses. The collections consist of registers and certificates from Broadwater, Deer Lodge, Jefferson, Lewis and Clark, Powell and Silver Bow counties.
Social Security Death Index (SSDI) United States Social Security Death Index U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 ($) U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, Incomplete ($).
Can't find your ancestor online in the index?		Tips for searching online indexes
No death record for your ancestor?		Other records with death information

STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate

With full names, dates and places of an event, you can order a copy of the birth certificate for a fee from the Montana Department of Health or VitalChek.

If you do not want to order the death record, there are other records with death information you can search.