Death Certificates
A death certificate can be obtained from any Minnesota county vital records office for people who died in Minnesota from 1997 to present. If the person died between 1871 and 1996 in Otter Tail County, a death certificate can only be obtained from the Otter Tail County Recorder’s Office. For death records outside of Otter Tail County prior to 1997, contact the county vital records office where the person died. Tangible interest and identification are required to obtain a certified death certificate.
If the person did not die in Minnesota, see the National Center for Health Statistics for more information about ordering a death certificate from another state.
The Minnesota Historical Society maintains a death record index statewide for most historical deaths. You can search the index online at the Minnesota Historical Society website.
Fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Death Certificate (certified) | $13.00 with tangible interest |
| Death Certificate (certified) | $6.00 each additional copy of the same certificate |
| Death Certificate (non-certified) | $13.00 |
Request
In person:
Death Certificate Application (in person version)
- Complete Death Certificate Application indicating you have “tangible interest”. Do not sign until you are present in our office.
- Show identification.
- Pay fees by cash, check or credit card (a convenience fee will be charged for credit card transactions).
By mail:
Death Certificate Application (by mail version)
- Complete Death Certificate Application indicating you have “tangible interest” .
- Sign application in front of a notary.
- Pay fees by check or credit card (a convenience fee will be charged for credit card transactions).
- Mail to:
Otter Tail County Recorder
565 Fir Avenue West
Fergus Falls, MN 56537
By Email:
- Email to [email protected]
Tangible Interest
Tangible interest is a fraud protection measure. The prevalence of fraud is on the rise and most Minnesota birth and death records are public data. Tangible interest helps protect people who are born in Minnesota and the families of people who die in Minnesota by restricting access to the certificates that are used for most legal purposes such as school registration, applying for a passport or a social security number, or settling an estate.
Minnesota Statutes, Section 144.225, Subdivision 7 restricts access to a certified birth or death certificate, which means you must have a tangible interest to obtain a certified birth or death record. This law was effective August 1, 2000. Minnesota Department of Health’s Tangible Interest webpage.
If you have questions about who is eligible to obtain birth or death certificates, contact [email protected] or 651-201-5970.
Historical Record Request: Non Certified, Informational Copy
Non Certified Death Record Application
- Complete the form. No tangible interest is required. No notarized signature is required.
- Pay fees by check or credit card (a convenience fee will be charged for credit card transactions).
- Mail to:
Otter Tail County Recorder
565 West Fir Avenue
Fergus Falls, MN 56537
OR - Email to [email protected]