How to Find Montana Birth Records: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 13:11, 13 November 2017

United States US Vital Records How to Find United States Births Montana Vital Records Montana Births

Montana statewide registration of births began in 1907 with general compliance by 1920.

Next Step: When did the birth occur? [edit | edit source]

Choose a time period to search for your ancestor's birth record:

Births before 1907[edit | edit source]

Before 1907, counties recorded a few births. Delayed birth records also exist. In most cases, you must search substitute records to locate your ancestor’s birth date and place.

Records that give birth information:
Death Records Cemetery Records Newspapers	Church Records Census Military Records

For births that exist during the time period, try the following online collection:

STEP ONE: Find Birth Information[edit | edit source]

Montana Birth Databases - Includes Digital Images Only
Montana County Births, 1840-2004	FamilySearch - Free; browse image collection; incomplete; no index - images also available at Ancestry.com ($) or for FREE at Family History Libraries/Centers.
Montana, Birth Index, 1870-1986	($), or FREE at Family History Libraries/Centers.
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[edit | edit source]

With approximate birth years and places, you can locate birth records from the appropriate county court clerk. A list of counties is available online.

Delayed birth records are kept at the Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services.

There are no restrictions on these records.

Return to top: Choose another birth year

Births after 1907[edit | edit source]

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 [edit | edit source]

Montana Birth Databases - Includes Digital Images Only
Montana County Births, 1840-2004	FamilySearch - Free; browse image collection; incomplete; no index
Montana, Birth Index, 1870-1986	($), or FREE at Family History Libraries/Centers.
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[edit | edit source]

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.