Vital Records in Bismarck, ND: Eligibility, Fees, and Requests

To get a certified copy of a birth, death, marriage, or divorce record from the Bismarck vital records office, apply in person, by mail, or online through VitalChek to the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services Division of Vital Records at 600 E. Boulevard Ave., Dept. 325, Bismarck, ND 58505-0250. A certified birth or death certificate costs $15, and every request needs a legible copy of your unexpired government-issued photo ID.¹

What the Bismarck Office Holds

The state Division of Vital Records in Bismarck maintains birth and death records for events that occurred anywhere in North Dakota. Marriage and divorce are a different story. Marriage records are typically filed with the county recorder where the license was issued, and divorce records originate from the district court that granted the decree. The Bismarck office can assist with marriage searches, but if you need a certified copy quickly, the county or court that handled the event is usually the faster route.

Who Can Request a Copy

North Dakota keeps vital records confidential, and eligibility is narrower than many people assume.

A certified birth record can be issued to the person named on the record (if at least 16), a parent named on the record, an authorized representative, a homeless youth agency, or by court order. If the person on the record is deceased, a relative can also request a copy. For this purpose, “relative” means a current or surviving spouse, parent, legal guardian, child, grandparent, or grandchild.²

A complete death record, which includes cause of death and Social Security number, goes to a broader group that includes relatives, authorized representatives, funeral directors, licensed physicians, genetic siblings researching family medical history, and anyone with a personal or real property interest tied to the record.² An informational death record, which omits cause of death and Social Security number, is available to the general public.

If someone eligible wants another person to pick up a certified copy for them, that designee needs a one-time authorization completed on a specific state form and notarized before a notary public.³ The state registrar can ask for proof of relationship at any point, so bring documentation of your connection to the person on the record.

What You’ll Need to Apply

Have the key facts ready before you start. For a birth certificate: the full legal name on the record, date of birth, city or county of birth, and both parents’ names including the mother’s maiden name. For a death record: the decedent’s full name, date of death, and place of death. For marriage or divorce: both parties’ names and the date of the event.

Every request has to include a legible photocopy of a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID that shows your full name, date of birth, and expiration date. A state driver’s license or U.S. passport both qualify.¹ Expired ID will be rejected. Check the date before you mail anything.

Fees

Payment goes by check or money order made out to “ND DHHS.” VitalChek orders accept credit cards but add their own processing fee.

Birth certificate: $15 per certified copy.⁴
Death certificate: $15 for the first copy, $10 for each additional copy ordered at the same time.⁵
Record amendment: $15 to process the amendment, which does not include a certified copy of the updated record.⁶

Marriage and divorce fees are set by the county recorder or district court clerk and typically run $10 to $20 per certified copy, though amounts vary.

How to Submit Your Request

In Person

Walking into the office at 600 E. Boulevard Ave., Dept. 325 in Bismarck is the fastest option. Bring your completed application, photo ID, and payment. Same-day or a few-business-day turnaround is common, depending on volume. Call (701) 328-2360 or email vitalrec@nd.gov to confirm current hours before you go.⁷

By Mail

Download the application from the DHHS website, fill it out, and mail it with your photo ID copy and check or money order to:

Vital Records
600 E. Boulevard Ave., Dept. 325
Bismarck, ND 58505-0250⁷

Expect several weeks for mail requests, depending on current processing volume. Make sure every name on your form matches prior legal documents exactly. Misspellings are the most common cause of delay.

Online Through VitalChek

North Dakota’s authorized online ordering runs through VitalChek.⁸ The service accepts credit cards and confirms your delivery address on screen. Expect to pay more than you would by mail because of the added processing fee; the tradeoff is faster transmission to the state office.

Correcting or Amending a Record

Misspellings, wrong dates, and post-legal-change updates all go through the amendment process. For a court-ordered name change, mail four items to the vital records office: a certified copy of the court order (showing the current name, new name, and date of birth), the court’s confidential information form if those details aren’t in the order itself, a completed and notarized Birth Record Amendment Application (Form SFN 60183), and the $15 amendment fee. If you also want a certified copy of the amended record, include a separate request form and another $15.⁶

Important distinction: if your name changed because of marriage, don’t amend your birth certificate. A certified copy of your marriage record paired with your original birth certificate is how you show the name change to other agencies.⁶

If a Birth Was Never Registered

North Dakota allows a delayed registration when a birth that happened in the state was never recorded. Any birth record filed one year or more after the date of birth is marked “delayed” and shows the processing date, with a summary of the supporting evidence noted on the face of the record.⁹

Expect to submit at least two independent documents establishing your full name at birth, date and place of birth, and parents’ names. Baptismal records, early school records, census records, hospital records, and military discharge papers are commonly accepted. If the state registrar finds the documentation insufficient, you’ll get an explanation and a chance to correct it. If you can’t, you have the right to petition a court for a judicial determination of the birth facts.⁹

One hard limit: a delayed birth record cannot be registered for a person who is deceased if more than one year has passed since their date of birth.⁹

Penalties for False Statements

Knowingly making a false statement on any report, certificate, or application required under North Dakota’s vital records law is a Class C felony.¹⁰ A Class C felony carries up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.¹¹ The same penalty applies to anyone who knowingly supplies false information intended for use in preparing a record or amendment.

1
Health and Human Services North Dakota. Certified Copies of Birth by Mail
2
North Dakota Legislative Branch. North Dakota Code 23-02.1 – Health Statistics Act
3
North Dakota Department of Health. North Dakota Century Code 23-02.1-27 – Authorization to Receive a Certified Copy
4
Health and Human Services North Dakota. Certified Copies of Birth Records
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Health and Human Services North Dakota. Certified Copies of Death Records
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Health and Human Services North Dakota. Court Order Name Change
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Health and Human Services North Dakota. Contact Vital Records
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VitalChek. North Dakota Vital Records (ND) – Order Certificates
9
North Dakota Legislative Branch. North Dakota Century Code Title 23 Health and Safety 23-02.1-15
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North Dakota Legislative Branch. North Dakota Code 23-02.1-32 – Penalties
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North Dakota Legislative Branch. North Dakota Century Code Title 12.1 Criminal Code 12-1-32-01