North Dakota death records may be ordered from the Department of Health Vital Records Office. The state issues certified copies of records ordered in person, by mail, by fax, or online. You can also order a copy of a record from an independent website which can access the requested information from an online database.
Who Can Order ND Death Records
Death records may only be issued to a relative of the deceased, a legal representative acting on behalf of the deceased’s estate, or a funeral director who took care of the final arrangements. This information may also be released to the Child Fatality Review Board or as directed by a court order.
A death record may also be issued to a licensed attorney who requires the information for a bona fide legal purpose. When certified copies of the death record are issued to members of the public, they do not include the deceased’s Social Security number or the cause of death.
ID Required to Order Death Records in ND
Proof of identity must be included with requests for a death certificate.Accepted forms of ID include:
• Driver’s license or state-issued identification
• US Military ID card
• US issued Permanent Resident card
• US Passport or Visa
• Bureau of Indian Affairs Tribal ID Card
If you do not have one of these forms of ID listed above, you also have the option of using any 2 of the following:
• Social Security Card
• Recent utility bill or bank statement (less than three months old)
• Pay stub indicating name, SSN, and name and address of employer
• Vehicle registration (current year)
• IRS tax return (from prior year)
Fee for ND Death Records
The fee for a first copy of a death record is $5.00. Each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time will cost $2.00.
Order North Dakota Death Record in Person
In-person orders may be placed by going to the Vital Records Office, which is located at:
600 East Boulevard Avenue
Room 118
Bismarck, ND 58505
Counter services available between 7:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. CST. In many cases, the certified copy can be provided within a few minutes.
Order ND Death Records by Mail
Mail orders should be sent to:
Division of Vital Records
600 E. Boulevard Ave. – Dept. 301
Bismarck, ND 58505-0200
Checks or money orders should be made payable to ND Department of Health. You can also pay by credit card by providing the card number, expiration date, and card type when placing your order.
Order North Dakota Death Records Online
Online orders for death records are processed through a secure Internet application. Once the order has been submitted, you will be issued a receipt number and give instructions on how to forward your identification by fax or e-mail.
Order ND Death Records by Fax
North Dakota accepts orders for death records by fax. Send your request to (701) 328-1850 and include your credit card number, expiry date, and the card type when making your request.