North Dakota vital records
The North Dakota Vital Records Unit is the vital records office for North Dakota.1 It issues certified birth certificates and death certificates23. It does not issue marriage certificates or divorce records; this page shows who does.45 Local offices also issue certified copies.4
On this page
Current notices from the office
- Processing: allow 5-7 business days after receipt, not counting return mail1
Records and where to get them
| Record | Who issues it | Years held | First copy | Shortest published time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth certificate | North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, Vital Records Unit2 | 1870 to today2 | $156 | – |
| Death certificate | North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, Vital Records Unit3 | 1881 to today3 | $157 | – |
| Marriage certificate | County office where the license was purchased and filed4 | 1925 to today (state marriage index data)8 | $59 | – |
| Divorce records | County clerk (Clerk of Court) or recorder in the county where the divorce was decreed5 | 1949 to today (state collection of divorce reports from county courts)8 | – | – |
Birth certificate
- Ways to order
- Online, by mail, in person
How to get a North Dakota birth certificate
Death certificate
- Ways to order
- Online, by mail, in person
How to get a North Dakota death certificate
Marriage certificate
- Who holds it
- Certified marriage copies come from the county, not the state Vital Records Unit4
- Older records
- North Dakota State Archives (State Historical Society of North Dakota) for marriage data before 1925; certified copies from the county8
- Ways to order
- At a local office
How to get a North Dakota marriage certificate
Divorce records
- Who holds it
- The state Vital Records Unit does not issue divorce copies but can help identify the county5
- Older records
- County where the divorce was filed; the State Archives holds civil/divorce case files for over half of the counties8
- Ways to order
- At a local office
How to get North Dakota divorce records
Local offices
- Local offices issue certified copies
- Yes4
- Which offices
- County Recorder or Clerk of Court (varies by county; Cass County lists the County Treasurer, Grand Forks County lists Tax Equalization for marriage records)4
- Any office for any county
- No: use the office for the place the event happened4
- Directory
- Official list of local offices4
Access rules and the law
- Who may get certified copies
- Closed: birth and death records are confidential. Birth records become open after 125 years; informational death copies (no cause of death or SSN) are available to the public.10
Laws and rules the office cites
- NDCC chapter 23-02.1 (Health Statistics Act)10
- NDCC 23-02.1-27 (Disclosure of records)10
- NDCC 23-02.1-29 (Fees)10
- N.D. Admin. Code ch. 33-04-15 (Fees for copies and searches)11
- N.D. Admin. Code ch. 33-04-13.1 (Disclosure of records)12
- NDCC chapter 14-03 (Marriage contract)13
The state office
- Office
- North Dakota Vital Records Unit1
- Phone
- (701) 328-23601
- [email protected]1
- Mailing address
- Vital Records Unit, 600 E. Boulevard Ave., Dept. 325, Bismarck, ND 58505-02501
- Appointments
- Required1
- Website
- Official website2
Questions people ask
How much do birth and death certificates cost in North Dakota?
What is the phone number of the North Dakota vital records office?
North Dakota Vital Records Unit: (701) 328-2360.1
Where do I get a marriage certificate in North Dakota?
County office where the license was purchased and filed (County Recorder or Clerk of Court, varies by county). Certified marriage copies come from the county, not the state Vital Records Unit.4
Where do I get divorce records in North Dakota?
County clerk (Clerk of Court) or recorder in the county where the divorce was decreed. The state Vital Records Unit does not issue divorce copies but can help identify the county.5
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from these official sources, checked on November 6, 2026. Tap a source number next to a fact to read the exact words.
- ND HHS Vital Records homeNorth Dakota Department of Health and Human Services
- SFN 8140 Request for Certified Copy of a Birth Record (10-2025)North Dakota Department of Health and Human Servicesdated October 1, 2025
- SFN 5531 Request for Certified Copy of a Death Record (10-2025)North Dakota Department of Health and Human Servicesdated October 1, 2025
- Certified Copies of Marriage RecordsND HHS Vital Records
- Certified Copies of Divorce RecordsND HHS Vital Records
- Certified Copies of Birth RecordsNorth Dakota Department of Health and Human Services
- Certified Copies of Death RecordsNorth Dakota Department of Health and Human Services
- SHSND State Archives: Vital RecordsState Historical Society of North Dakota, State Archives
- Burleigh County Recorder: Marriage InformationBurleigh County Recorder
- NDCC chapter 23-02.1 Health Statistics ActNorth Dakota Legislative Branch
- NDAC 33-04-15 Fees for Copies and SearchesNorth Dakota Legislative Branchdated July 1, 2022
- NDAC 33-04-13.1 Disclosure of RecordsNorth Dakota Legislative Branch
- NDCC chapter 14-03 Marriage ContractNorth Dakota Legislative Branch