North Dakota Vital Records

North Dakota Vital Records are official documents or records generated and maintained by government authorities to record the key life events of individuals in the state. These records include birth certificates, death certificates, marriage, and divorce records, documenting births, deaths, marriages, divorces, and related events. These records are compiled by local registrars and clerks of court at the county level and then forwarded to the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, under its Division of Vital Records.

Under the North Dakota Public Records Law, not all vital records are public information open to the general population. Some, such as birth and death records, are considered confidential. The state Health Statistics Act defines and governs what vital records are and the creation and maintenance of such records in North Dakota. Under this act, the state register determines who may obtain copies of these records, the requesting them, and any accompanying fees.

Public Access to North Dakota Vital Records

Not all North Dakota Vital Records are public information; some are classified as confidential under the North Dakota Public Record Law and are only open to certain authorized persons. Under North Dakota Century Code § 23€‘02.1€‘27, records of births, deaths, and fetal deaths, including any filings, data, and information relating to these events, are considered confidential and are not released unless authorized. The state balances genealogical, historical, and public interest values with privacy by making older records public and accessible to anyone.

Birth records in North Dakota are confidential until 125 years after the birth. Only certain authorized persons may request a certified birth record before it is 125 years old. These persons include the person named on the record if they are at least 16 years old, the parents named on the record, an authorized representative, a homeless youth agency, or a person with a valid court order.

A certified copy of a complete death record containing information such as social security numbers and cause of death may be issued to a limited set of applicants. This includes relatives of the deceased, their authorized representatives, coroners, medical examiners, and funeral directors, persons with tangible legal interests, and persons with a valid court order. The state also issues informational death records that do not include confidential information, such as cause of death or Social Security Numbers, to the general public.

Marriage and divorce records are also typically considered vital records. However, these records are generally considered public information and can be obtained from the counties where these events occurred. However, confidential information may be removed or redacted. Although the North Dakota Division of Vital Records does not provide certified copies of marriage and divorce records, it serves as a source of information for where these records can be obtained at the county level.

North Dakota maintains an archive of older vital records useful for historical and genealogical research at the State Historical Society of North Dakota (SHSND).

Types of Vital Records Available in North Dakota

The Division of Vital Records and other government agencies maintain several types of Vital Records in North Dakota, including the following.

Birth Records: Records of live births are available as certified copies; they also maintain records of births that resulted in stillbirth or fetal deaths.

Death Records: Records of people who pass away in North Dakota, recording details of the death, including date, place, and cause of death. The division offers certified copies with full details and informational copies with confidential information removed.

Marriage Records: These are the records of the marriages that occurred in the state and are maintained by the clerk in the county where the marriage license was issued.

Divorce Records: The state keeps records of all divorces and annulments that are heard in its courts. Such records are maintained by the county clerk or the court where the divorce case was heard. Record seekers may obtain full certified copies of the marriage decree or short abstracts containing only a summary of key information.

North Dakota Birth Records

The Division of Vital Records provides access to North Dakota Birth Certificates. The birth certificate is only available as certified copies, and these records are considered confidential information; therefore, only authorized parties may request them. A typical birth certificate will contain details of the birth, including the full name of the child, the child's sex or gender, the date of birth, the place of birth, and the full names of both parents. This information is sometimes referred to as the legal facts of birth.

The state registrar of the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for generating and maintaining these records. Section 23-02.1-13 of the Health Statistics Act outlines the registration requirements for birth records in North Dakota and instructs the state registrar to file a birth record for every birth that occurs within the state.

Birth records only become public information after 125 years; until then, only an authorized person may obtain a certified copy. To get a birth certificate in North Dakota, an authorized individual must contact the Division of Vital Records. Record requests can be made via various methods, including in person, by mail, or online.

North Dakota Death Records

The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Vital Records, is responsible for issuing North Dakota Death Certificates. A death certificate generally contains the following information.

• Personal details of the deceased, including their name, age, birthdate, gender, and address.
• The date and place of death
• The facts surrounding the death, such as time, manner, and cause of death
• Social security details
• Medical information, if applicable

Dakota offers three types of death records. A complete certified death record, a certified copy of the death record with the facts of death, and a certified informational copy for the general public without the facts of death. The first may only be obtained by the deceased's relatives, their authorized representatives, someone with a court order, or a funeral director. The second form may be issued to any of the previously mentioned parties or a lawyer who requires one for legal issues. The informational copy is available to the general public, but it only contains demographic information and does not include details of death or social security information.

To find death records in North Dakota, record seekers must contact the Division of Vital Records and submit a request online, by mail, or in person. Death records may also be available on the Public Death Index, provided on the vital records office website.

North Dakota Marriage Records

North Dakota Marriage Records are documents that record the union of people within North Dakota. Typically, a marriage certificate in North Dakota contains details of the marriage, including the names of the couple, the date, the location, and other relevant information about the occasion. It provides legal proof of marital status and is used during legal processes, such as verifying identity, effecting name changes, spousal benefits, immigration, and historical or genealogical research. A valid marriage certificate serves as a legal document and is accepted by most government agencies, courts, employers, and other institutions.

Marriage records are typically generated and maintained by the clerk in the county where the marriage ceremony was held. There are no confidentiality laws like those that affect birth and death records. Anyone who completes the county's request process and pays the applicable fees may obtain the marriage record.

North Dakota Divorce Records

North Dakota Divorce Records, in the context of vital records, are a basic record in the form of a registration or certificate that confirms a divorce occurred. The document will contain basic information about the divorce, such as the spouses' names, the date and county where it occurred, a case number, and minimal identifying information. On the other hand, a North Dakota divorce decree is a court-issued document that serves as the final judgment in a divorce case. It is generated and maintained by the North Dakota Family Court in the county that heard the case and may contain all the terms of the divorce, including asset division, child custody terms, and spousal support.

In North Dakota, both types of records are issued at the county level; the divorce decrees are maintained by the clerk of the District Courts responsible for the county where the case was heard. Record requests can be made in person at the court locations. A divorce decree may also be available online via the North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry.

How to Order Vital Records in North Dakota

Interested parties may order North Dakota vital records via the sources provided in the Division of Vital Records section of the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services. Birth records and death records are the types of vital records directly available; marriage and divorce records must be obtained from their custodians at the county level. Vital records can be ordered from the Division of Vital Records through the following methods and steps.

In-Person Appointment: To order a North Dakota birth or death record in person, record seekers must call ahead to book an appointment on (701) 328-2360. Call to speak with staff and book an appointment at the Vital Records Unit. At the appointment, individuals will be required to submit a completed Request for a Certified Copy of a Birth or Death Record. The form must be completed and submitted along with either one form of primary identification or two forms of secondary identification, as indicated on the forms. The forms may also be notarized as an alternative to showing identification.

Mailed Orders: Vital records can be ordered by downloading the Birth or Death Record request forms and mailing them to the office at:

North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services

The form must be mailed along with either one form of primary identification or two forms of secondary notification. Alternatively, it may be notarized before being sent. Payment in the form of a check or money order must accompany all mailed requests.

Online Orders: North Dakota vital records can also be ordered online using the department's Secure Online Ordering System. Users are required to create a login account using a valid email and password. Once logged in, follow the instructions to request vital records from the division online. In-person pick-ups can be selected as a delivery option during the online request process. The office will email the requester with a location and directions to pick up the record as soon as it is ready.

Note: To pick up a record in person, the requester must provide the ID they used during the request for identity verification.

Certified copies of birth and death records from North Dakota cost $15 for the first copy and $10 for each extra copy. Payment during orders is acceptable in the form of a check or money order made payable to the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services (ND DHHS).

The department will issue a certified raised-seal paper copy for each copy that is paid for. Once an order is completed or received at the office, it is typically mailed within 3 to 5 business days, not counting mailing time. Requests are sent out via USPS First Class Mail, unless the requester specifies they require expedited options and provides the funds for such services. Requesters may contact the office to inquire about same-day services and in-person pick-ups.

Certified copies cannot be requested or sent out by fax or email. Anyone with inquiries may contact the Division of Vital Records by calling (701) 328-2360 or emailing vitalrec@nd.gov.

Who Can Request North Dakota Vital Records?

North Dakota vital records eligibility is determined by the instructions set down in the Health Statistics Act, in section 23-02.1-27. The act lists who can access vital records in North Dakota. Certified copies of birth certificates can be obtained by the person named in the record, their parents, authorized representatives, or someone with a valid court order. Certified death records may be issued to a relative, authorized representative, and other authorized parties, such as licensed physicians, coroners, medical examiners, and funeral directors. Marriage and divorce records are available from the county clerks in the county where they occurred.

Record Type	Eligible Requestors	Required Documents	Official Source Link
Birth Certificate	- Registrant (if at least 16 years old) - Parents/Legal Guardians - Authorized representatives - Individuals with a court order - Homeless Youth Agencies	Must present ID during request; one primary or two secondary forms of identification are required.	Birth Records are available from the Division of Vital Records of the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services.
Death Certificate	- Immediate Relatives - Authorized representatives - Individuals with documented legal interest, doctors, coroners, funeral directors, etc. -The general public may obtain informational copies	Three versions of the death record are available: a full record, a record with facts of death, and an informational copy without facts of death or social security information. -ID required or request form notarized	Death Records are available in person, online, or by mail from: North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services Vital Records Unit 600 East Boulevard Avenue, Dept 325 Bismarck, ND 58505-0250
Marriage Record	-Certified copies are only accessible by the couple and their representatives -Non-certified informational copies may be issued to the general public	-ID is typically required, but exact requirements may vary by county	Marriage Records may be obtained from the county clerk for the location where the marriage occurred.
Divorce Record	- Anyone	-ID is generally required during requests. -Exact requirements may vary by county	Divorce Records may be requested from the clerk at the county court where the divorce was settled.

Processing Times for North Dakota Vital Records Requests

North Dakota vital record processing times will typically depend on several factors. These include the request method, record type, method of return, accurate applications, size of request, and type of request (standard or archive search). On the North Dakota Vital Records webpage, the official processing time is listed as 3 to 5 business days, excluding the time it takes to mail the record. The following factors affect how long it takes to get vital records in North Dakota.

• Request Method: Mailed requests have to travel to the head office and be manually verified for ID and payment, which takes more time, especially if there are any errors or missing information. North Dakota vital records requests made using the online system tend to be processed more quickly than mailed requests. The system also eliminates the risks of misplaced or damaged mail and lost packages due to wrong addresses. Paying for expedited services also speeds up processing time.
• Type of Request: For standard requests for birth and death records, the vital records office states that requests should allow 3 to 5 working days for processing the orders. For less common or more complex orders, such as old records from the archive, corrections, or amendments, processing time may be delayed.
• Method of Return: For standard return by mail, the time taken to receive the record is 3 to 5 working days, plus any mail time. However, for online orders where the web order pickup in person is chosen as the delivery method, records may be ready for pickup in as little as two hours, depending on office business hours and staff availability.
• Accuracy of Application: Submitting a complete and accurate application with the correct ID and payment will speed up requests. Applications with incomplete forms, unclear or invalid ID, or missing details will likely be delayed while office staff reach out.
• Office workload: Like most government agencies, demand for vital records services fluctuates. If there is a surge in orders or a backlog, processing time may slow down. The 3 to 5 business-day timeframe usually assumes a normal office workload. Special circumstances, such as pandemics, natural disasters, and office holidays, may also affect processing time.

Record Type	Factors That Influence Processing Time	Considerations
Birth Certificate	- Request method (online, mail, in-person) - Verification of eligibility and ID - Volume of requests or office workload	- Online requests may be faster. Requesters may select in-person pick up for a quicker processing time - The type and age of the certificate may affect processing time. Old records in the archive take longer to obtain.
Death Certificate	- Inclusion of cause-of-death information. Type of death record required. - Method of submission	- Providing payment or prepaid envelopes for expedited services, such as UPS or FedEx, will speed up processing time - Additional fees may be required
Marriage Record	- Obtained from the county clerk - Whether a search is required - Request method. If in person, online, or by mail	- Procedures and timeframes may vary by county - Certified copies may take longer than informational copies
Divorce Record	- Court Clerk retrieval procedures - Complexity and size of the case - A request made in person or online may be faster than mail.	- Timelines vary by court and county - Divorce records may be requested online for quicker service

Fees for Obtaining Vital Records in North Dakota

Vital records fees in North Dakota will vary depending on the particular service required. Certified copies of North Dakota birth certificates and death certificates cost $15 for the first copy and $10 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Payment is accepted by check or money order made payable to the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services (ND DHHS). Records of fetal death and court-ordered name changes also cost $15 per copy.

The cost of North Dakota Marriage and Divorce records varies depending on the County and the type of records. Divorce decrees will typically cost more than a divorce certificate, as they are a full divorce judgment and may have many pages. Some counties may charge per-page fees depending on the size of the record.

How to Search Vital Records Online in North Dakota

The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, Vital Records Division, offers online record requests via the Secure Online Ordering system. Users are required to create a login account on the system using a valid email address and a password, and follow the instructions to order. Users receive a shopping cart where they can enter their requests for birth or death records, select the delivery method, and pay for the record online by card. Death records can also be found using the online Public Death Index on the Vital Records Division website.

Marriage and divorce records can be looked up only using the North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry. This online database allows users to look up marriages, divorces, and annulments online from county district courts all over the state. Record searches can be conducted using specific criteria, including name, case status, filing date, and case type.