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Montana Genealogy
Montana
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Montana joined the United States in 1889, and state-wide collection of birth and death registrations began in 1907. So if you are researching Montana genealogy, this is the time period that will generally be available for documents. Back farther to 1864 is sometimes found, if you are lucky.
Montana Vital Records
These birth and death registrations, along with marriage records are collectively known as vital records and they form the backbone of most genealogy research.
Getting a copy of Montana vital records is relatively easy. You can get a certified copy of any birth record providing it is your own, or it belongs to your child, parent, grandparent or spouse. If you are looking to get a record belonging to someone who is not closely related to you, you can only do so after 30 years have passed. You can only get a non-certified "informational" copy in that case.
There are no such restrictions for death records, you can can either order a certified or informational copy when you send the application. Both are available to anyone but the certified copies do cost slightly more.
Both birth and death records are held by the Office of Vital Statistics in Helena, but marriage records are not. These are publicly available but you have to go to the court clerk's office for the county where the marriage took place.
The fees for getting any of these copies $12 for a certified copy, and $10 for the informational type. To make a request, get the proper forms from the Department of Public Health and Human Services website and send them with the fees to the office. Depending on where you send your request, you can expect at least a 3 week wait. Unlike most other states, there is no public counter service so you will have no choice but to mail your forms in.
Montana State Archives
Once you have exhausted the vital records collection, you can continue your Montana genealogy search at the State Archives in Helena. The Archives are actually part of the larger Montana Historical Society building, and you can find a great deal of Montana genealogy material there.
The have old maps, published histories and personal manuscripts, old city directories, newspaper archives, maps, photographs, and more. If you cannot get to Helena, you can make some requests for material to be copies and mailed to you.
Joining a Montana Genealogy Group
If the archives don't have what you are looking for, you can try to get in touch with one of the local genealogy societies or groups. They usually have their own collection of material, some of which may not be found in other public venues.
You can try the Montana State Genealogy Society or the Montana State Historical Society for the best state-wide information. There are a few smaller groups for individual counties, as well as other regions such as the Great Falls Genealogy Society or the Yellowstone Genealogy Society.
Even just getting to know other researchers who are looking in the same area can help you find new leads.
Montana Genealogy Databases
Find Montana Societies & Biographies
Montana Genealogy Links
Montana Genealogy on the Internet
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