How to Find North Dakota Birth Records
Finding North Dakota Birth Records[edit | edit source]
North Dakota became a state in 1889, and was created from the Dakota Territory. In 1893 a state law was enacted requiring registration of births. This law was repealed in 1895 and then reenacted in 1899. When the State Department of Vital Records was formed in 1923 all prior records kept by the counties were to be sent to the state. Birth records from 1893 can be obtained from the Department of Vital Records.
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Next Step: When did the birth occur? [edit | edit source] |
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Births Before 1893[edit | edit source]
Before 1893, few births were recorded by the county or state. You must search substitute records to locate your ancestor’s birth date and place. To search for a birth that may have occurred before 1893 contact the clerk of District Court in the county where the event occurred. For contact information to the County Clerks click here.
| Records that give birth information: | ||
You may also search other records with birth information.
Births from 1893 to Present[edit | edit source]
In 1889, the state of North Dakota was created from the Dakota Territory. In 1893 a state law was enacted requiring registration of births. This law was repealed in 1895 and then reenacted in 1899. During this time period there are few records.
When the State Department of Vital Records was formed in 1923 all prior records kept by the counties were to be set to the state. Birth records from 1893 can be obtained from the Department of Vital Records. For contact information to the County Clerks click here.
Currently there are no indexes to North Dakota birth records. You must locate birth dates in other records which provide birth information.
| Records that give birth information: | ||
You may also search other records with birth information.
American Indian Agency Records[edit | edit source]
1880-1942 Births, marriages and deaths, Standing Rock Agency. Bureau of Indian Affairs. FHL Films 1,204,876 and 1,021,936 FHL film first film 1204876
Obtain the Certificate[edit | edit source]
With an exact date (from a death certificate, Social Security Death Index, or cemetery record), you can order a copy of the birth record for a fee from the following locations:
| To Order Birth Certificates | |||
| From County of Birth | From ND Dept. of Health State Office | ||
| Pros | Cons | Pros | Cons |
| May be less expensive and faster than ordering from the state | County websites can be more difficult to use | Offers a search of the state index for an additional fee | May be more expensive than ordering from the county |
Restrictions for persons ordering birth records:
To obtain a copy of the birth certificate for a living person you must be:
- The person names on the record, at least 16 years old
- The mother named on the record
- The father named on the record
- Identification required
To obtain a copy of the birth certificate for a deceased person you must be:
- An immediate relative of the deceased individual (parent, child, grandparent, grandchild). Identification required.
- Submit a certified copy of their death record if the death did not occur in North Dakota.
OR
- Authorized representative acting on behalf of the deceased.
- Submit a certified copy of their death record if the death did not occur in North Dakota.
If you do not want to order the birth record, there are other records with birth information you can search.
Related Wiki Articles[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
Guide to Public Vital Statistics Records in North Dakota. By the North Dakota Historical Records Survey, Division of Community Service Programs, Work Projects Administration. FHL Book 978.4 V23h. FHL film 1,036,526 item 3
