North Dakota Death Records

The age-adjusted death rate in North Dakota is 755.5 per 100,000 residents, and it is lower than the national average of 805.6 per 100,000 people. Recent trend indicates a falling mortality rate in the state, with an average of 7,179 deaths recorded annually. North Dakota began statewide recording of deaths in 1881. However, there was no full compliance until after 1920. As a result, most records of deaths in the state between 1881 and 1920 are largely incomplete.

The most common form of death records in North Dakota is the death certificate. It contains varying information about a death event, and it is legal proof of a person's death. Generally, when someone dies in North Dakota, the original death certificate is prepared by the funeral director and medically certified by a medical professional, after which it is filed with the state's Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Certified copies of a North Dakota death certificate become available for issuance once the original death certificate is filed. A certified copy of a death certificate is a copy that has been verified by a government seal.

North Dakota issues three different types of certified copies of death records. These are:

• A Certified Copy of a Complete Death Record - This is a full death record that contains the deceased's social security number and the cause of death. It may be accessed by a decedent's close relative, a funeral director, an authorized representative, or by a court order.
• A Certified Informational Copy of a Death Record - This includes all the demographic data about the deceased. It does not have the social security number or the cause of death.
• A Certified Copy of a Death Record with Facts of Death - This includes the deceased's social security number, but does not have information about the cause of death.

How Do I Get a Certified Copy of a Death Certificate in North Dakota?

Certified copies of North Dakota death certificates are issued by the Vital Records Office of the state's Department of Health and Human Services. Eligible persons may submit death certificate (certified copies) requests in any of the following ways:

• Order Online - To order certified copies of a North Dakota death certificate online, initiate the request through the DHHS Secure Online Ordering of ND Birth and Death Records Portal. After creating an account, fill out the form with the necessary information and upload the required documents before submitting the request. Online orders are usually processed in less than 2 hours. Requesters who intend to pick up their orders at the Vital Records Office may select "Web Order Pickup" in the shipping method while filling out the online form. However, they must go with the ID used in their applications to enable the Vital Records employees to verify them as the rightful individuals to pick up the orders.

• Order By Mail - Follow these steps to request certified copies of a death certificate by mail in North Dakota:

  • Download and fill out the Request for Certified Copy of a Death Record Form.

  • Include a legible photocopy of a valid ID that includes the requester's full name, expiry date, and date of birth. Acceptable valid primary IDs include a driver's license, tribal ID, U.S. Passport, Military ID, U.S. Visa, and U.S permanent resident card. A requester who does not have an acceptable form of ID may have their application form notarized, or they may provide a legible photocopy of two of the following documents:

    • Social services card
    • Bank statement
    • Utility bill
    • DD Form 214
    • Social security card
    • Motor vehicle registration card
    • Tribal enrollment card
    • Paycheck stub or W-2 (only one can be used)
• Pay the appropriate fee and include a money order or check in the amount. The check or money order should be made payable to the ND DHHS. The first certified copy of a death certificate in an order is $15, while each additional copy costs $10.

• Submit the completed request form and all other requirements to the DHHS at:

  North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services

  Vital Records

  600 East Boulevard Avenue, Dept. 325

  Bismarck, ND 58505-0250

  Once the Vital Records Office receives an application for certified copies of a North Dakota death certificate, it takes about 7 to 10 days to process the request, after which the copies are mailed out to the requester. However, requests submitted that include UPS return or FedEx return shipping are typically processed the next working day for overnight shipping. This costs an additional $16.

Are North Dakota Death Records Public?

Per Section 23-02.1-27 of the North Dakota Century Code, death records are confidential and may not be publicly disclosed except as otherwise authorized by law. Certain individuals and entities are, however, authorized to obtain certified copies of complete death records. On the other hand, certified copies of informational death records are publicly available and may be accessed by anyone. However, such copies may not contain Social Security numbers or the cause of death.

Who Can Request an Original Death Certificate in North Dakota?

Original death certificates cannot be accessed by anyone in North Dakota. They are typically filed with the state's Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), where copies are issued to members of the public. Generally, anyone may request certified copies of informational death certificates in the state, but not everyone can request or obtain certified copies of a complete death certificate.

Under North Dakota law, the following persons or entities may request certified copies of a complete death certificate (with the cause of death and Social Security number):

• A relative, including the deceased's current or surviving spouse, child, parent, genetic sibling, legal guardian, grandchild, or grandparent
• A funeral director
• A licensed physician
• Medical Examiner
• Coroner
• Any individual with a personal or real property interest that depends on the information in the complete death certificate
• The Commissioner of Veterans' Affairs (for a death certificate of a person who served in the United States Armed Forces)
• Any person with an order of a court of competent jurisdiction

How Long Does It Take to Get a Death Certificate in North Dakota?

Obtaining a copy of a death certificate in North Dakota typically takes about 7 to 10 business days, as long as the original death certificate is already filed with the state's Vital Records Office. Generally, an original death certificate is filed with Vital Records within 10 days after the death of a person in the state. Where a death certificate is filed within 10 days after the death of a person (which is what typically happens with natural deaths), any eligible or interested person may be able to get a copy of the death certificate within a few weeks after the death of the person.

However, when the cause of death cannot be determined by a healthcare professional within 10 days after death, as is the case with unusual and suspicious deaths, there is usually a delay in the medical certification of the death. In many of those cases, autopsies are required to determine the cause and manner of death. Until this is determined, the original, complete death certificate cannot be prepared or filed with the North Dakota Vital Records Office.

Generally, death investigations in the state can be complex, and the timeline for having a complete autopsy report varies, depending on several factors. This typically takes anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks, but may be longer than 8 weeks in certain cases. The complexity of a case and the types of tests required influence how long it takes to obtain a final autopsy report. Additionally, if there is an ongoing police investigation regarding a death event, there may be an additional delay in having a final autopsy report. These factors generally extend the timeline of getting a copy of a North Dakota death certificate after a person's death for a death that requires an autopsy before certification.

Can I View North Dakota Death Records Online for Free?

To view North Dakota death records online for free, consider using resources like Ancestry.com or FamilySearch.org. While these sites require account registration, they offer free access to some old death records in the state. Although the details may vary, each record in the collections will include deceased persons' personal information, the place of death, and the date of death. Similarly, reliable third-party sites like NorthDakotapublicrecords.us have collections of death records in the state. However, users are often charged a small fee to use their services.

Substitute records can also be a valuable source of information regarding deceased persons in North Dakota, and they are usually accessible for free. These include obituaries, cemetery records, mortuary records, church records, probate records, tax records, memorial cards, court records, and newspapers.

When Would You Require A Death Certificate in North Dakota?

A death certificate is required for several purposes in North Dakota, including the following:

• Preparing for a funeral.
• Canceling a deceased person's credit cards.
• Terminating a decedent's subscription to various utility services, including telephone bills.
• Notifying some government agencies and private entities about someone's death. These include the Social Security Administration (SSA), insurance companies, and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
• Notifying a deceased's creditors about the passing of the person.
• Transferring a decedent's assets to other individuals as stipulated in the will.
• Filing insurance claims.
• Filing a petition to receive continuing pension payments, veteran's benefits, and Medicaid benefits (where applicable).
• Closing a deceased person's bank accounts and transferring control of financial accounts to designated beneficiaries.

How Many Death Certificates Do I Need in North Dakota?

The number of death certificates needed by anyone in North Dakota varies, depending on the specific circumstances. In most cases, experts recommend getting 8 to 12 copies of a death certificate in the state, as they are believed to be enough to address all legal and administrative purposes after a person's death. When determining the actual number of copies of a death certificate to get in North Dakota, consider the number of transactions requiring them, the level or size of assets in the name of the deceased person, and the number of government agencies or private entities that require a copy for specific purposes.