The birth affidavit is a sworn statement, published by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) Office of Vital Records, in which a person certifies the facts of a child's birth: date, place, parents, and how the signer knows about the birth. The signer must swear to it before a notary, who verifies the signer's ID. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the official PDF is published by DPHHS at dphhs.mt.gov.
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What is Birth Affidavit – Montana?
The Birth Affidavit is a one-page Montana DPHHS form on which a person swears that stated facts about a child's birth are true: the child's full name at birth, birth date, birthplace, the father's full name and the mother's full maiden name.
The form is issued by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Office of Vital Records, and appears on the Office's Forms and Applications page. The person signing also gives their age, their relationship to the applicant and the reason they know about the birth. The form says a simple statement, such as being present in the home at the time of the birth, is acceptable. If the affidavit is used as proof of pregnancy, the statement must also show knowledge of the pregnancy.
The signer states whether they represent the individual as Self, Parent or Other (Specify). The bottom of the form is a notary block. It is headed "Verification of Signer's ID Is Mandatory" and records the date the statement was signed and sworn to or affirmed, the signer's name, the notary's signature, the state and county, the commission expiration date and the official stamp.
The form does not name the process it supports beyond the words "applicant" and "proof of pregnancy". It is not a birth certificate: the Office of Vital Records issues those separately.
Who needs to file Birth Affidavit – Montana?
The person who has knowledge of a birth completes and signs the Birth Affidavit. That person certifies the statements about the child, so the form asks for their name, age, relationship to the applicant and reason for knowing about the birth.
How the signer represents the individual:
- Self, when the signer is the individual the affidavit concerns.
- Parent, when the signer is the individual's parent.
- Other (Specify), with the relationship written on the line provided.
A notary public is also involved. The signer must sign and swear to the statement in the notary's presence, and the notary must verify the signer's ID, which the form calls mandatory. The form states no age, residency or relationship limits on who may sign and prints no exclusions. For questions about whether this affidavit fits your situation, contact the Office of Vital Records at (406) 444-2685 or [email protected].
When to file Birth Affidavit – Montana
The form prints no due date. The triggering event is a need for a sworn statement about a birth: complete the affidavit, then sign and swear to it before a notary, who records the date on the form.
The notary block asks for the date the statement was signed and sworn to or affirmed, so do not sign ahead of time. Sign only when you are with the notary.
If you also need a Montana birth certificate, the Office of Vital Records says none will be issued at any state or county office from October 21 through October 25, 2026, and that statewide issuance resumes Monday, October 26, 2026. That notice concerns birth certificates, not this affidavit, but plan around it.
Documents you need
- Identification of the signer, which the notary must verify: the form states that verification of the signer's ID is mandatory and does not list accepted ID types, so ask the notary or the Office of Vital Records.
How to fill out Birth Affidavit – Montana
Enter the signer and child names
In the opening statement, write the name of the person signing the affidavit, then the child's full name at birth on the line provided.
Enter the birth date
Line 1: write the month, day and year of the birth.
Enter the birthplace
Line 2: write the city, county and state where the child was born.
Enter the parents' names
Line 3: write the father's full name and the mother's full MAIDEN name.
Enter the signer's age
Line 4: write the age of the person signing the affidavit, in years.
State your relationship to the applicant
Line 5: write how you are related to the applicant.
Explain how you know of the birth
Line 6: give a simple statement of your reason for knowledge, such as being present in the home at the time of the birth. If the affidavit is used as proof of pregnancy, also state your knowledge of the pregnancy.
Mark who you represent
Check Self, Parent or Other (Specify). If you check Other, write the relationship on the line.
Add your address and phone number
Enter your address on the two address lines and your phone number. Leave the signature for when you are with the notary.
Leave the notary block for the notary
The notary completes the date, signer's name, signature, state, county, commission expiration date and official stamp after verifying your ID.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check the names, dates and places, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF. Sign it before the notary and confirm with the Office of Vital Records where to send it.
How to submit Birth Affidavit – Montana
The Birth Affidavit itself prints no submission channel, mailing address or portal. Complete it, then sign and swear to it before a notary, who must verify your ID and complete the notary block (date, signer's name, signature, state, county, commission expiration and official stamp).
To find out where the signed affidavit should go for your purpose, contact the Montana DPHHS Office of Vital Records:
- Phone: (406) 444-2685
- Email: [email protected]
- Forms page: https://dphhs.mt.gov/vitalrecords/Forms, where the Office invites you to call or email if you need forms not listed.
The footer of the form shows the Public Health and Safety Division at 111 N. Sanders, Room 6, PO Box 4210, Helena, MT 59601. It is printed as the division's address, not as a delivery instruction, so confirm with the Office before mailing. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the agency's channels.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Signing before meeting the notary; the form is signed and sworn to or affirmed before the notary, who records the date.
- Going to the notary without ID; verification of the signer's ID is mandatory.
- Writing the mother's married name instead of her full MAIDEN name on line 3.
- Leaving line 6 blank or too vague; the form wants a simple statement of why you know of the birth, such as being present in the home at the time.
- Using the affidavit as proof of pregnancy without also stating knowledge of the pregnancy in line 6.
- Leaving the representation line unmarked; choose Self, Parent or Other, and specify the relationship if you choose Other.
- Omitting the child's full name at birth or giving an incomplete birthplace; line 2 asks for city, county and state.
- Filling in the notary block yourself instead of leaving it for the notary.
Frequently asked questions
What is a birth affidavit in Montana?
It is a sworn statement on a Montana DPHHS Office of Vital Records form. A person certifies the child's name at birth, birth date, birthplace and parents, and explains how they know of the birth. A notary must witness the signing and verify the signer's ID.
Does a birth affidavit have to be notarized?
Yes. The form has a notary block stating the record was signed and sworn to, or affirmed, before the notary, and it says verification of the signer's ID is mandatory. Do not sign until you are in front of the notary.
What do I write for the reason for knowledge of the birth?
A simple statement is acceptable, such as being present in the home at the time of the birth. If you use the affidavit as proof of pregnancy, you must also state your knowledge of the pregnancy in the same line 6.
Who can sign a birth affidavit?
The form asks the signer for their age and relationship to the applicant, and for the reason they know of the birth. It prints no relationship restriction. You also mark whether you represent the individual as Self, Parent or Other and specify the relationship for Other.
Can I fill out the birth affidavit online?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service and does not file the affidavit; you still need a notary and must follow the Office of Vital Records' instructions for delivery.
Where do I send the Montana birth affidavit?
The form prints no delivery channel. Contact the Office of Vital Records at (406) 444-2685 or [email protected] to confirm where to send it for your purpose. The form's footer shows the Public Health and Safety Division, PO Box 4210, Helena, MT 59601.
Is the mother's maiden name required on the birth affidavit?
Line 3 asks for the mother's full MAIDEN name in capital letters, and for the father's full name. Enter the mother's name as it was before marriage rather than a married name.
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