Losing a close family member often means taking care of financial issues and making funeral arrangements. While it is an honor to do this for a loved one, it is not always the easiest of tasks. In most cases, surviving family members taking care of the deceased person’s arrangements must obtain Montana death records. The following is an overview of when these types of records are needed and how to obtain them in the state of Montana.
What Are Montana Death Records?
Montana death records are issued as death certificates and they are designed to be a legal document that provides information about how a person passes away. Death certificates include information such as the cause of death, the name of the deceased and their age. These records are issued by the office of vital statistics in the county in which the person died. In order to be valid, death certificates must be signed by the county coroner or the medical examiner who performed the autopsy.
Why Are Death Records Needed?
Death records are required before funeral arrangements or cremation can be made. If a family member needs to send the body elsewhere after death, it cannot be done without a death certificate. Those handling financial affairs and insurance payouts for a deceased loved one will also need a death certificate before anything can be finalized.
Who Can Obtain Death Records?
While many government documents can be easily obtained because they are a matter of public record, death certificates must be requested by a family member. At the time of application, the deceased person’s family member must provide proof of relationship before a death record certificate is issued. Those who are not related to the deceased, must provide written documents from the company or agency requesting the death records and why they need them.
How To Request Montana Death Records
Those requesting death records for a person who died in Montana, may do so by going to their website at http://dphhs.mt.gov/vitalrecords. This is through the office of Montana Vital Statistics. Before ordering a death certificate, the applicant should review the guidelines and provide the appropriate documentation required by the state of Montana. Applications must be accompanied by a valid driver’s license or state identification card. In addition, the applicant must prove their relationship to the deceased. This is most often done by providing copies of a marriage license, insurance policy or birth certificate. Each application must come with the fee outlined on the website. Applicants who do not wish to order death certificates through Vital Check online, can send their application, identification, proof of relationship and application fee to the mailing address on the website. However, be aware that mailed applications may take longer to process than those done online.
Obtaining Montana death records is not a difficult process, but attention to detail is crucial to successfully receiving a death certificate. Once it is received, family members may take care of financial affairs and burial arrangements so their loved one can rest in peace after their passing.
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This gentleman was an old family friend. For purposes of closure we would simply like to know the manner of his death. No certificate is needed
The cause of death is not something we have available. This is information typically available on the final death certificate. In order to find the this information on your family friend’s Montana death record your best bet is to contact the Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services. They are the managing agency for Montana death records.