How to Find Montana Death Records

How to Find United States Death Records Montana Deaths

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: Before 1907 1907 to the present Death year unknown

Learn more about U.S. Death Records

Deaths before 1907

Before 1907, 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 collection:

STEP ONE: Find Birth Information

Montana Birth Databases - Includes Digital Images Only
	Montana County Births, 1840-2004	FamilySearch - Free; browse image collection; incomplete; no index
Can't find your ancestor online in the index?		Tips for searching online indexes
No birth record for your ancestor?		Other records with birth information

STEP TWO: Obtain the Record

With approximate death year and place, you may be able to obtain a death record from the appropriate county clerk.

Return to top: Choose another death year

Births after 1907

Statewide registration of births began in 1907 in Montana. Currently, there are no online indexes to Montana births from 1907 to the present.

STEP ONE: Find Birth Information  

Montana Birth Databases - Includes Digital Images Only
	Montana County Births, 1840-2004	FamilySearch - Free; browse image collection; incomplete; no index
Can't find your ancestor online in the index?		Tips for searching online indexes
No birth record for your ancestor?		Other records with birth 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 Public Health & Human Services or VitalChek.

Restrictions for ordering Montana birth certificates:
To obtain a copy of the birth certificate, you must be:

• The person on the certificate 14 years or older
• The parent or grandparent of the person on the certificate
• The spouse of the person on the certificate
• The child of the person on the certificate
• The legal guardian of the person on the certificate
• Anyone who has legal interest in the certificate

NOTE: A copy of the birth certificate cannot be obtained by anyone except those listed above.

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

Return to top: Choose another birth year

Related Wiki Articles

• Learn more about U.S. Birth Records
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• United States Vital Records
• Locating United States Vital Records
• United States Death Records
• United States Marriage Records