North Dakota Vital Records

Portal:North Dakota

Births and Deaths
In North Dakota, statewide registration of births and deaths began in 1907 and was generally complied with by 1924. You can obtain copies by writing to:

Division of Vital Records State Capitol 600 East Boulevard Avenue, Dept 301 Bismarck, ND 58505-0200 Telephone: 701-328-2360 Fax: 701-328-1850 Email: vitalrec@nd.gov Internet: http://www.health.state.nd.us/vital/contacts.htm

The Division of Vital Records also has some files dating from 1893 and delayed registrations of births from 1941.

A searchable Public Death Index is available from the Department of Health. A surname search can be made. Searches can only be for a ten year period beginning in 1881

The Family History Library has not copied any of the vital records from the state. An inventory and description of the history and availability of the records is Guide to Public Vital Statistics Records in North Dakota, (Bismarck, North Dakota: Historical Records Survey, 1941; Family History Library book 978.4 V23h; film 1036526 item 3).

Marriages and Divorces
Statewide registration of marriages began in 1925. You can obtain copies of marriage records by writing to the division of vital records, or locate the contact information for individual counties.

Before statewide registration, individual towns or counties issued marriage licenses and recorded marriages. Write to the office of the judge of the county court or the clerk of the district court for these records. In counties with less than 15,000 population, the judge of the county court serves as the clerk of the district court.

Divorce proceedings are usually kept by the district court for each county. Contact individual county recorders to order divorce records, or write to them for copies or information.

The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Collection includes some North Dakota marriage and death records for Barnes, Burleigh, and Towner counties (Family History Library films 859737-40).