Are Birth Records Public in Montana?
According to Montana Code Annotated Title 50, Chapter 15, uncertified or informational copies of Montana birth records can be provided to interested members of the public. However, persons seeking certified birth records will need to satisfy the state’s eligibility requirements to be able to access them. Montana birth records remain confidential until at least 30 years after the birth occurred.
What are Birth Records in Montana?
Montana birth records are records of births that occur within the state. A birth record documents information about a person’s birth including, the date and place of birth. Other data in a Montana birth record include the person’s name, gender, race, mother’s maiden name, and the parents’ full names. Montana birth records are vital records that make up a critical part of the state’s vital statistics and contribute to the management of public health programs.
The Vital Records Office of the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) is home to birth records occurring from 1907 to date. A certified copy of a Montana birth record can be used for the following:
- School registration
- Personal identification
- Proof of citizenship
- Obtaining a passport
- Applying for social security
- Driver’s license application
How to Find and Request Birth Records Online in Montana
The DPHHS Office of Vital Records makes no provision for anyone to look up or obtain birth records online. Some third-party vital records providers offer interested persons online avenues to process birth record requests but usually charge additional fees for such services. They also provide expedited services. However, the Office of Vital Records does not guarantee the authenticity of birth records obtained via most of these independent vendors.
Considered open to citizens of the United States, public records are available through both traditional, government sources, and through third-party websites and organizations. In many cases, third-party websites make the search easier as they are not limited geographically or by technological limitations. They are considered a good place to start when looking for a specific record or multiple records. In order to gain access to these records, interested parties must typically provide:
- The name of the person listed in the record. Juveniles are typically exempt from this search method.
- The last known or assumed location of the person listed in the record. This includes cities, counties, and states.
While third-party sites offer such services, they are not government-sponsored entities, and record availability may vary on these sites when compared to government sources.
How to Get Birth Records in Montana
Montana birth records are not publicly available unless they have been registered for over 30 years. Qualified persons can obtain certified copies of birth records in Montana by requesting via mail or in person from/at the DPHHS Office of Vital Records.
How to Request Montana Birth Records by Mail
Qualified individuals should complete the Birth Certificate Application Form and attach legible copies of valid government-issued photo IDs with the applications. Completed applications must be enclosed with proof of payment and mailed to the State Vital Record Office.
A requester’s photo ID must bear their signature, and the acceptable ones include:
- Driver’s License
- State ID Card
- Passport
- Military ID Card
- Tribal ID Card
If an applicant is unable to provide a valid photo ID, they must provide two other forms of secondary identification documents. One of such documents must have the signature of the requester. Acceptable secondary identity documents include:
- Car registration/Insurance
- School ID card
- Doctor/Medical record
- Library card
- Fishing license
- Insurance record
- Pay stub
- Utility bill with requester’s current address
- Traffic/ Pawn ticket
- Voter registration card
- Yearbook
A requester can also use a Notarized Statement as proof of identity to obtain a certified copy of a birth certificate in Montana. Alternatively, a registrant who does not possess any of these forms of identification can ask a family member who has one to obtain a copy of their birth record.
How to Request Montana Birth Records in Person
For walk-in requests, applicants should visit the Vital Records Office with completed applications. They must, however, attach valid photo identification and make applicable payments using the recommended channels.
Where Can I Find Birth Records in Montana?
Interested persons can obtain certified copies of birth records from the DPHHS Vital Records Office. The Montana Vital Records Office is the custodian of all birth records from 1907 to date in the state. Birth records are also available at the County Clerk and Recorders’ Offices in the city or county where the births occurred.
An applicant can request a certified copy of a birth record from the State Vital Records Office by submitting a completed Birth Certificate Application in person or by mail at/to:
Office of Vital Records
Department of Public Health and Human Services
111 North Sanders Street Room 6
P.O. Box 4210
Helena, MT 59604
An applicant must ensure to attach proofs of identity and payment of applicable fees for mail-in requests.
How to Get Birth Records From a Hospital in Montana
Birth records are not maintained by the hospitals in Montana. Persons interested in obtaining Montana birth records should inquire from the DPHHS Office of Vital Records.
How Long Do Hospitals Keep Birth Records in Montana?
While there are no statutory requirements for the length of time a hospital can keep birth records, most hospitals hold records of births for up to 25 years. However, hospitals do not process requests for these records, this is primarily the responsibility of the state vital records office.
Can Anyone Get a Copy of a Birth Certificate in Montana?
The provisions of 50-15-121 MCA and 37.8.126 ARM specifies persons who are eligible to access birth records. In Montana, a birth record is closed to public inspection and cannot be accessed by the public until 30 years after the registrant’s date of birth. Persons that can obtain such a record include:
- The person named on the birth record (must be at least 14 years old)
- The spouse or children of the person named on the record (with proof of relationship)
- The parents or grandparents (with evidence of relationship)
- A legal guardian or relative of the person named on the certificate (with proof of guardianship)
- Anyone who can provide appropriate documentation showing a direct and genuine interest in the record
Some family members of the person named on a birth record are not qualified to request certified copies of a registrant’s birth certificates. They include step-relatives, aunts, uncles, in-laws, divorced spouses, cousins, and adoptees’ natural parents.
How Much Does a Birth Certificate Cost in Montana?
A certified copy and an informational copy of a Montana birth certificate cost $12 and $10, respectively. The cost of additional copies of the same certificate in the same order is $5 each. This applies to both certified and informational copies of Montana birth certificates. In Montana, a requester can pay a search fee of $10 to confirm the availability of birth records. The payment covers a five-year search but each additional year searched attracts a $1 fee. These fees are non-refundable even if a requested record cannot be found. The Office of Vital Records accepts checks and money orders (payable to Montana Vital Records) as means of payment for Montana birth certificates.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Birth Certificate in Montana?
In Montana, mail-in birth record requests are processed within two to three weeks from the day they are received from the applicants by the Office of Vital Records. Requesters can call the Office of Vital Records on (406) 444-2685 to track their requests.
How to Expunge Your Birth Records in Montana
Montana does not expunge birth records. Expungement is the legal process of permanently destroying or deleting a person’s record. An expunged record cannot be accessed by the members of the public.
How to Seal Your Birth Records in Montana
Adoption birth records are considered confidential and are automatically sealed by law in Montana. The court seals and files an adoptee’s original birth certificate, certificate of adoption, and other adoption documents after finalizing an adoption. This restricts the general public from inspecting or copying such birth records. Access, however, can be granted to eligible persons upon presenting an order of the District Court that finalized the adoption.
How to Unseal Your Birth Records in Montana
A sealed birth record in an adoption file typically contains non-identifying and identifying information. In Montana, non-identifying information is accessible by an adoptee, adoptive or birth parent, and an extended relative of an adoptee or birth parent. The Department of Public Health and Human Services or any other authorized agency can disclose identifying information to specific individuals such as:
- A court-appointed confidential intermediary
- An adoptee seeking to be enrolled in or become a member of an Indian tribe
- Authorized personnel during a federal child and family services review
The requirement for unsealing adoption records in Montana depends on the adoptee’s date of adoption. Montana adoption law specifies three categories of access, which includes:
- Persons adopted at least 30 years ago can obtain their original birth certificates via written requests. Exceptions exist where birth parents have requested that records should only be released by order of the court
- Persons adopted less than 30 years ago but before October 1, 1997, can only obtain their original birth certificates by court orders
- Persons adopted on or after October 1, 1997, can forward written requests to obtain their birth certificates, but they must be at least 18 years old to do so. Adoptees whose birth parents have filed disclosure vetoes to restrict access to birth records can petition the District Courts. The court will issue an order to unseal such birth records
Generally, an adoptee age 18 years and older or an adoptive parent can request a Montana Certificate of Adoption containing the following information
- The date of adoption
- The state of adoption
- The adoptee’s date of birth
- The full names of each adoptive parents
- The name of the adoptee as provided in the decree
Birth parents who have filed written disclosure vetoes may notify the Vital Records Office in writing if they wish to revoke their decisions at any time. To unseal a birth record kept in an adoption file, an adoptee must attach valid proof of identity with a written request and submit them at:
Office of Vital Records
Department of Public Health and Human Services
111 North Sanders Street
Room 6
P.O. Box 4210
Helena, MT 59604
