If you do not meet these criteria, you may only be eligible to receive an informational, non-certified copy. Informational copies cannot be used for legal purposes, such as settling estates, closing bank accounts, or claiming benefits. ## Methods for Requesting a Death Certificate in Billings There are three primary ways to request a death certificate in Yellowstone County: ### In-Person Requests For the fastest service, you can visit the RiverStone Health Office of Vital Statistics in Billings. You will need to complete the application form on-site, present a valid government-issued photo ID, and pay the administrative fee. In-person requests are often processed on the same day.
### Mail-In Requests If you are ordering from outside the Billings area or prefer not to visit the office in person, you can mail your application. You must download and print the official death certificate application form from the RiverStone Health or Montana DPHHS website. Along with the completed form, you must enclose a photocopy of your valid government-issued ID, the required fee payment (usually via check or money order), and a self-addressed, stamped envelope. ### Online Requests Montana partners with secure, third-party vital records processing services to handle online orders. You can access these services through the official Montana DPHHS website. Online ordering requires identity verification through secure databases and involves additional processing and shipping fees. ## Required Information for the Application To ensure your request is processed without delay, you must provide the following information on the application:
* The full legal name of the deceased individual. * The date of death. * The city or county where the death occurred (Billings or Yellowstone County). * The deceased individual's date of birth and birthplace (if known). * Your full name, mailing address, and phone number. * Your relationship to the deceased. * The reason you are requesting the certificate. ## Alternative Resources for Finding Death and Obituary Records If you do not require an official, certified death certificate for legal purposes, or if you are conducting genealogical research, alternative public records and databases can provide the information you need. For local listings, you can search online using the official All Obituaries page. This database allows users to locate records using a partial or full name search. To narrow down your search, listings can be filtered by the first letter of the deceased's last name or browsed by the specific month of passing.
Once you locate the correct individual page, these listings typically contain: * The published obituary detailing the individual's life. * Scheduled service information, including dates, times, and locations. * Tribute options for leaving digital condolences. * Direct links to order flowers for the family. When researching older family histories, keep in mind that the online availability of older historical records is not guaranteed. For older records not found online, contacting the Billings Public Library or local historical societies may yield archived newspaper clippings and physical records.
