Birth and Death Registration for Families

In most cases, births are registered with the state by hospital employees, and deaths are registered by funeral homes. However, if you give birth outside of a hospital or birth center, or handle a death without a funeral home, you still must ensure the birth or death is properly registered. 

Home Births

If you are choosing to give birth at home or outside a hospital or birthing center, you must take steps to register the birth with the state. Generally, your midwife or other birth attendant can help with registration.  

Contact MDH to register the birth after the child is born.  

Midwives who will be attending home births and registering them with the state must complete the Midwife agreement (PDF) to register themselves with the Office of Vital Records at the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH).

Registration considerations

Parent’s marital status: The marital status of a person giving birth affects how parents are listed on the birth record. Learn more on the Birth Records and Parentage page.

Social Security numbers: You may apply for your child’s Social Security number (SSN) by checking “yes” on the worksheet MDH provides. If you check “no” or leave it blank, you will have to apply for your child’s social security number in person. Your child must have a name before the Social Security Administration will give them an SSN.

Parent notice: After registration, you will receive a notice with the information that will appear on the child’s birth certificate. Parents can review the information for accuracy and use the form to request corrections and order birth certificates.

Birth certificates: After the birth is registered, you may buy your child’s birth certificate using the parent notice or from any Minnesota county vital records office or MDH for $26. See the Minnesota Certificates and Records page for more information.

Fetal death registration

A fetal death, also called a stillbirth, is the death of a fetus before or during delivery. Minnesota law requires that fetal deaths at 20 or more weeks of gestation be registered. Learn more on the Stillbirth Records page. A fetal death not attended by a medical professional must be reported to the medical examiner/coroner in the county where the delivery occurred. Find medical examiners and coroners by county with the Coroner/M.E. Lookup. Contact MDH to register a fetal death.

Delayed registration

A birth registered a year or more after the date of birth is considered a delayed registration. Contact the Office of Vital Records to complete a delayed birth registration.

Alternative death registration

Funeral homes usually register deaths, but if you choose not to use a funeral home, you must contact the Office of Vital Records to register the death. You must register the death with the state within five days of the death or prior to burial, entombment, or cremation (whichever comes first).  

Contact the Office of Vital Records to register the death. You will be responsible for identifying a medical certifier — a physician, medical examiner, coroner, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant — to provide the cause and manner of death. One of the following must be true for the medical certifier:  

• Attended the death
• Has direct knowledge of the circumstances of death and access to the deceased person’s medical record
• Is an associate of a medical certifier who treated the deceased before death

Contact the Mortuary Science program (855-663-3078, 651-201-4200, health.mortsci@state.mn.us) with any questions about handling and disposition of remains.  

Delayed registration

A death registered a year or more after the date of death is considered a delayed registration. Contact the Office of Vital Records to complete a delayed death registration.