North Dakota Birth Records

North Dakota first required the registration of births effective July 1, 1893, when the legislature enacted its initial vital records law. While some records from 1870 exist in county courthouses, full compliance with the 1893 mandate was not consistently enforced until the 1920s.

North Dakota birth records are the official documents issued by the state confirming a live birth. North Dakota issues two primary types of birth certificates, each serving distinct purposes:

• Certified Copies: The certified copy of a birth record, also called an authorized copy, is the official, legally valid birth document. It is signed by the state registrar and carries a raised or embossed seal. North Dakota only issues the full birth certificate -the long-form birth certificate.
• The Long-Form Birth Certificate: It is a detailed version of a birth certificate, containing comprehensive information about a registrant's birth. The long-form birth certificate includes the child's full name, birth date, place of birth, parents' names, birthplaces, nationality, and occupation. The birth certificate also contains information and the signature of the attending medical personnel, certificate number, filing date, and the official signature and seal of the issuing office. The long-form birth certificate is required for all legal and governmental processes.
• Informational Copies: The informational copy of a birth record is a non-certified birth record. It contains detailed information about a live birth; however, it is printed on plain paper and lacks the official seal of the state. Therefore, informational copies are not valid for legal purposes. They are best suited for personal use, school projects, and genealogy research.

How To Order a North Dakota Birth Certificate?

The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services Vital Records Unit provides access to certified copies of birth certificates issued from 1870 to the present. You may order the record by mail, in person, or online. Online requests for certified copies of North Dakota birth certificates are made through an independent service provider. The vendor charges an extra fee to process and ship the document.

Persons ordering the document by mail or in person may complete the Request for Certified Copy of a Birth Record form. Provide all relevant information, including a copy of a valid government-issued photo ID and the fees with the application form. If ordering the record by mail, include a self-addressed, stamped envelope with the request. It costs $15 to purchase a certified copy of North Dakota's birth certificate. Requesters may send the record request to:

Birth certificates issued before 1893 are accessible at the County Clerk's office where the birth was recorded or at the State Historical Society of North Dakota.

Are Birth Records Public in North Dakota?

North Dakota treats birth records as confidential vital records. Under state law, birth records are not considered public records and are restricted from public inspection and copying to protect personal privacy. To this end, only persons eligible under North Dakota laws may obtain certified copies of birth certificates.

Who Can Order A Birth Certificate in North Dakota?

Per state law, only persons with a direct and tangible interest in the birth record may obtain certified copies of North Dakota birth certificates. Authorized persons include:

• The person named on the certificate must be at least 16 years old
• The parents are named on the birth record
• Legal guardian with proper court documents
• Spouses, children, or siblings with proof of relationship
• Authorized representatives with a notarized authorization form
• Persons with a court order
• Law enforcement agencies

How Long Does it Take to Get A North Dakota Birth Certificate?

Birth certificate requests ordered by mail from the North Dakota Vital Records Units are typically processed within 7-10 business days, excluding return mail time. Online requests through the third-party services are processed within 3-5 business days.

Expedited processing for requests made online attracts an extra fee ranging between $25 and $65, depending on the preferred shipping method. Priority shipping makes the document available within 1-3 business days, while persons who pay for the rush processing can expect the document the next day. In-person pick-up makes the document available on the same day.

Where Can I Find North Dakota Birth Records Free?

Certified copies of North Dakota birth records are restricted to eligible persons who must pay a fee to obtain the document. However, non-eligible persons may still access informational copies of birth records without a fee from other resources.

The National Vital Records Archives provides a free online directory listing each state's vital record office, including North Dakota's. It shows where to apply for informational birth records and the years covered by each office.

FamilySearch.org provides free access to indexed entries and scanned original birth record images of North Dakota's birth records from 1893 to 2005. The platform also includes a county-level guide detailing the years of birth records available, usually from the 1870s to the 1920s.

Ancestry.com is a genealogy platform that provides access to the North Dakota index from 1872 to 1900. In addition, you may access birth record information, such as registrant name, county of birth, and birthdate information, on the platform from 1893 to 1950. The platform requires a paid subscription. However, most public libraries in North Dakota offer free on-site access to Ancestry Library Edition.

PublicRecords.us aggregates public records from multiple state, county, and other public domain sources to provide a robust database of vital records, including North Dakota birth records. The platform offers a searchable index of North Dakota birth entries, including name, birthdates, and county of birth. Access to detailed birth information may require a minimal fee.

When Would I Need My North Dakota Birth Records?

A certified North Dakota birth certificate is the foundational proof of your identity, citizenship, parentage, and age. It is a critical document that is essential for many life events, including:

• Applying for a U.S. passport
• Obtaining a state-issued ID or driver's license
• Applying for a marriage license
• Enlisting in the U.S. Armed Forces
• Enrollment in public or private schools, colleges, and universities
• Applying for or replacing your Social Security Card
• Establishing parental rights during adoption
• Changing your legal name
• Accessing government assistance
• Establishing your eligibility to work
• Proving familial relationships when claiming assets or estates
• Confirming parentage during divorce in child custody cases
• Accessing tax and insurance benefits

How Much is A Replacement Birth Certificate in North Dakota?

If your birth certificate becomes illegible, defaced, destroyed, missing, or stolen, you may obtain a replacement birth certificate. Ordering a replacement birth certificate follows the same process as obtaining a certified copy of the birth certificate.

Replacement birth certificates may be ordered by mail, online, or in person at the North Dakota Vital Records Unit. Download and complete the Request for Certified Copy of a Birth Record form to replace a North Dakota birth certificate. A complete application requires a copy of a valid government-issued photo ID, proof of relationship, if not the registrant, and the fees. Persons ordering the document by mail may include a self-addressed stamped envelope with the application. It costs $15 to replace a birth certificate in North Dakota.

When Can the Public Access North Dakota Birth Certificates?

North Dakota treats birth records as confidential vital records for the first 125 years from the birth date. Per state law, only eligible persons may order certified copies of the birth certificate during the restriction period. However, once 125 years have elapsed, the birth certificate becomes a public record, open to the general public for viewing and requesting without having to prove eligibility.

How To Correct an Error on a North Dakota Birth Certificate?

North Dakota permits corrections or amendments to the following details on a birth certificate:

• Wrongly spelled names, including first, middle, or last names of the registrant or parents
• Incorrectly recorded date of birth
• Misrecorded sex and gender at the time of birth
• Incorrectly recorded place of birth, including hospital, city, and county
• Omitted information, such as a middle name
• Change in parental information requires a court order

The steps to correct a birth certificate depend on whether the error is identified within 1 year of birth (correction) or one year after (amendments). To correct a birth certificate, submit a written request to the State Vital Records Unit. The parents listed on the birth record must agree to the correct information and submit the verification form issued at the hospital to correct the wrong information. In addition, return the certified copy with the error with your application. There is no fee required to correct a birth certificate issued within one year.

For amendments, birth certificates issued after one year, complete the Request for Certified Copy of a Birth Record form. Include documents supporting the accurate information, such as baptismal records, school records, or medical records, a copy of a valid government-issued photo ID, and the fees. It costs $15 to amend a birth certificate issued after the first year.

Does North Dakota Provide Non-binary Birth Certificates?

No. North Dakota does not provide a non-binary "X" or gender-neutral marker on its birth certificates. North Dakota laws and administrative policies limit gender markers to "Male" or "Female". State law bans the non-binary option on birth certificates and mandates that all birth records reflect the biological gender assigned at birth.