Certified Copies in Montana: Where and What It Costs
Certified copies
Ordering Certified Copies in Montana
Where to order a certified vital record or corporate record issued in Montana, what it costs, what the office requires, and what happens to it afterwards.
- Birth certificate
- $16.00
- Death certificate
- $16.00
- Marriage
- $10.00 search for the first five years, $1.00 per extra year; no certified copies
- Divorce
- $10.00 search for the first five years; no certified copies
Vital records
Issued by: Montana Office of Vital Statistics
Post to: Office of Vital Statistics, MT DPHHS, 111 N Sanders, P.O. Box 4210, Helena, MT 59604
Verify current fees: 1-406-444-2685
| Record | Certified copy |
|---|---|
| Birth | $16.00 |
| Death | $16.00 |
| Marriage | $10.00 search for the first five years, $1.00 per extra year; no certified copies |
| Divorce | $10.00 search for the first five years; no certified copies |
What Montana requires
- Certified marriage and divorce copies come only from the Clerk of District Court in the county.
- You must send a clear, readable copy of BOTH sides of your current government ID with signature.
- Records from late 1907; marriage and divorce indexed from July 1943.
Corporate records
A certificate of good standing and certified copies of formation documents for a Montana entity come from Montana Secretary of State, Notary and Certifications Division, normally online and often the same day.
Montana Secretary of State, Notary and Certifications Division
- Order from the state where the entity was formed, not where it trades.
- A certificate of good standing is a statement of current status. A certified copy of the articles is a different product; if a foreign authority asks for the formation documents, you need the latter.
- Ask for a certified or exemplified copy. A plain download from the state website carries no seal and cannot be authenticated.
What happens next
Once you hold the certified copy, authentication in Montana goes through Montana Secretary of State, Notary and Certifications Division, at $10.00 per apostille.
Questions people actually ask
Where do I order a Montana birth certificate?
From Montana Office of Vital Statistics. Post to Office of Vital Statistics, MT DPHHS, 111 N Sanders, P.O. Box 4210, Helena, MT 59604. A certified copy is $16.00.
Does the Montana Secretary of State issue birth certificates?
No. Vital records come from the health department; the Secretary of State handles corporate records and, in most states, the apostille. They are separate offices with separate fees.
What will Montana reject?
Certified marriage and divorce copies come only from the Clerk of District Court in the county.
Can I have it apostilled straight away?
Yes, and that is the right order. Order the certified copy first, then send it for authentication. Do not sign, stamp or laminate it in between, and do not open a sealed envelope.
This guide is published by a private document processing service. It is not legal advice and we are not a government agency. Requirements change without notice, so confirm anything critical with the mission before you post documents.
