How Do I Get a Death Certificate in North Dakota?

Death certificates in North Dakota are issued by the North Dakota Department of Health - Division of Vital Records. Online ordering is available. Most funeral homes also assist families with ordering certificates at the time of death.

Standard processing in North Dakota takes 3-5 business days after receipt, plus return mail time. Funeral homes typically handle initial certificate orders at the time of death.

In North Dakota, death certificates can be requested by: Complete death record (cause of death + SSN): relative, authorized representative, genetic sibling researching family medical history, funeral director, coroner/medical examiner, a person with personal or real property interests depending on the record, or by court order, Facts-of-death record: anyone eligible for the complete record, or a licensed attorney needing it for a bona fide legal determination, Informational death record (no cause of death or SSN): the general public. Requesters typically need to provide Primary or secondary forms of identification and Completed application.

The North Dakota Department of Health - Division of Vital Records has death records from 1881 to present.

The number of certified copies depends on the deceased's accounts and assets. Banks, insurance companies, government agencies, and retirement plans each typically require an original certified copy. Most families need between 8 and 15 copies. The North Dakota estate settlement plan lists each step of the estate settlement process to help determine the right number.