Get a ertified Montana Death Certificate

A certified copy of a Montana death certificate costs $12 from the Montana DPHHS. Additional copies ordered at the same time cost $10 each. Expedited processing and shipping options may be available for additional fees.

Yes. Montana death certificates can be ordered online through the Montana DPHHS vital records office or through authorized third-party services. You will need to provide the decedent’s full legal name, date of death, place of death, and your relationship to the deceased.

Montana restricts death certificate access to eligible requestors such as a spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, legal representative, or funeral director. If requesting on behalf of an eligible party, you may submit a notarized affidavit or sworn statement confirming your authorization. A Power of Attorney (PoA) document is also accepted as valid proof of legal authority to request the record.

An officially certified death certificate from the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) will have unique security features to ensure its authenticity. The appearance of an official death certificate may vary depending on the year of issue, but it will contain essential details confirming the individual's identity at the time of death. Official death certificates from Montana typically feature the state seal, the individual's name, the date and place of death, and the state registrar’s signature. They are printed on secure, tamper-resistant paper with watermarks and other security elements. The DPHHS issues these certificates to state guidelines, and all counties follow these secure issuance procedures.

• Full Name of the Decedent: The full legal name of the person whose death is being recorded.
• Date of Death: The exact date and time of death of the individual.
• Place of Death: The city, county, and state where the death occurred, along with the specific facility or location.
• Cause of Death: The immediate and underlying causes of death, as certified by the attending physician or medical examiner.
• Medical Certification Information: Includes details about who certified the death, such as the attending physician or coroner, and any contributing medical factors.
• Demographic Information: The deceased's age, sex, race, ethnicity, marital status, education level, and occupation.
• Disposition Details: Information about the method of disposition (burial, cremation, etc.), the date and place of disposition, and the funeral home or director responsible.
• Informant Information: The name and relationship of the person providing personal details of the deceased.
• Social Security Number: The Social Security number of the deceased.

The process for amending a Montana death certificate varies depending on the type of changes required. By law, the original record cannot be altered; an addendum is created to document the corrections. The Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) provides a straightforward procedure for correcting or amending death certificates. For any questions, call 406-444-9039. To correct or amend a death certificate, you will typically need to provide the following:

1. A completed, notarized Affidavit for Correction of a Vital Record.
2. Supporting documentation: depends on the type of correction or change being requested.
3. The appropriate fee(s): There is no charge when requesting a change within the first year of the record. After a year, the fee is $41.00.

Apostilles may be ordered from the Montana Secretary of State by mail or with VRO only.

You need an apostille when you file documents with a foreign government. It is a special certificate that verifies the authenticity of vital records for international use and is acceptable in countries that are part of the Hague Convention.

We offer comprehensive apostille services for death certificates across all 50 US states. Governments and organizations acknowledge the service, which is legally valid in over 100 countries. VRO’s service comes with expert support, costs $149 (plus government fees), and can be accomplished online in just three steps.

To manually obtain an apostille for a Montana death certificate, follow these steps:

1. Obtain a Certified Copy of the Death Certificate: Request a certified copy from the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS).
2. Complete the Apostille Request Form: You can complete the Montana Secretary of State's Apostille Request Form on the Secretary of State's website.
3. Prepare Supporting Documentation: Include a certified copy of the death certificate and any other required documents specified by the Montana Secretary of State. Note: Montana can only apostille certified copies issued within the last five years. If your document is older, you must get a new certified copy.
4. Pay the Required Fee: Include a check or money order for the apostille processing fee of $10.00 per document/notary, payable to the Montana Secretary of State. Cash is not accepted. (Online payments accepted via credit/debit card at biz.sosmt.gov)
5. 1. Submit the Application by Mail or In-Person: Mail the completed Apostille Request Form, supporting documents, pre-paid addressed shipping label, and payment to the Montana Secretary of State's office.
   2. In-person submissions are accepted by appointment only. Call (406) 444-1877 to schedule after documents are mandatorily pre-checked. Free notarization services are available. Documents can be picked up when ready (usually within two business days) or mailed using your pre-paid shipping label/envelope.
      

Standard Delivery:

Express Courier (UPS, FedEx):

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