Stevens County Death Records

Stevens County death records are kept by the county recorder in Morris and by the Minnesota Department of Health in St. Paul. Morris is the county seat and home to the University of Minnesota Morris campus, making it the main hub for county government services including vital records requests for deaths that occurred throughout Stevens County.

Stevens County Recorder's Office

The Stevens County Recorder's Office is located in Morris, the county seat. The office handles death records along with other vital statistics and property documents. Reach the office through the county website at co.stevens.mn.us. Check the site or call before visiting to confirm hours and any local procedures.

The recorder holds death records from 1997 forward for all deaths registered in Minnesota. For deaths that occurred specifically in Stevens County before 1997, older records going back to 1908 may also be on file at the county. The Minnesota Department of Health maintains the full statewide registry from 1908 to the present. Their death records page is at health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/death.html.

Stevens County is a rural county in west-central Minnesota near the South Dakota border. The county has a relatively small population, but the recorder's office in Morris handles requests for all communities in the county.

The Stevens County website lists county services and contact information. The screenshot below shows the county web presence at co.stevens.mn.us.

Visit the Stevens County website for current contact details and hours for the recorder's office.

The county site can help you confirm what to bring and how to submit a request before making the trip to Morris.

The city of Morris also has a website at ci.morris.mn.us with general city information. The screenshot below shows the city's web presence.

The city site can help you find directions to the county courthouse and other services in Morris.

Getting a Death Certificate in Stevens County

Death certificates for deaths in Stevens County are available through three channels: in person, by mail, or online.

Visiting the Stevens County Recorder's Office in Morris in person is the fastest way to get a certificate. Bring a valid photo ID, the full name of the deceased, the date of death, and payment. Certified copies require that you qualify under Minnesota Statute 144.225. Eligible people include the spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, and legal representatives of the deceased. Others may request a noncertified copy or demonstrate a legal need for the certified version.

Mail requests go to the county recorder or to MDH. For MDH, download the application at health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/docs/dcappia.pdf. Have it notarized and mail it with a copy of your ID and a check or money order payable to MDH to: Minnesota Department of Health, P.O. Box 64882, St. Paul, MN 55164-0882.

Online orders go through VitalChek. The base fee is $13 plus a $7 standard or $17.50 rush service charge. VitalChek mails the certificate to you. For fast results, in-person pickup at the county is better. For more information on all ordering options, call MDH at 651-201-5970.

Certified vs. Noncertified Death Certificates

Minnesota issues two types of death record copies. Knowing which one you need saves time and extra steps.

Certified copies carry the official state seal. They are required by banks, courts, insurance companies, and government agencies as legal proof of death. Use a certified copy to settle an estate, claim insurance benefits, transfer property, or handle other legal matters. The first certified copy is $13. Additional copies of the same record ordered at the same time are $6 each. You must be an eligible person under Minn. Stat. 144.225.

Noncertified copies are available to anyone and also cost $13. They include the same information as certified copies but do not carry the state seal. They are accepted for genealogy and personal use but not for most legal or financial matters. If you are doing family history research, a noncertified copy is generally enough.

Review the MDH eligibility guide at health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/tangible.html if you are not sure which type applies to your request or what documents to include.

Older Death Records for Stevens County

The MDH database begins in 1908. For deaths before that year, you need to look at county archives or historical collections.

The Minnesota Historical Society in St. Paul is the main archive for older death records across the state. The Gale Family Library at MNHS is at 345 W Kellogg Blvd in St. Paul. Open Thursday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Call 651-259-3300. Their death records guide at libguides.mnhs.org/vital/death describes what types of records are available and how to search them. For Stevens County, the MNHS statewide collections may include county registers, church records, and other materials that predate the 1908 state registry.

The Stevens County recorder may also hold older death registers. Contacting the county directly is a good first step if you are researching a pre-1908 death in this county.

Online Access Options

Several online tools are useful for searching or ordering Stevens County death records.

The MDH online verification service can confirm whether a death record exists from 1997 to the present. It does not produce a full copy but can verify basic facts. Visit the MDH death records page for more on this service.

Full copies are available through VitalChek. Both certified and noncertified copies can be ordered online with a credit card, and the certificate arrives by mail. Standard delivery adds $7 and rush adds $17.50 to the base $13 fee. For deaths before 1997, contact the Stevens County Recorder at co.stevens.mn.us or MDH by phone at 651-201-5970 to request older records directly.

Cities in Stevens County

All death records for cities and towns in Stevens County are handled through the county recorder in Morris.

No cities in Stevens County meet the 100,000 population threshold for a dedicated city page. Morris is the county seat and largest community, along with Chokio, Donnelly, Hancock, and Morris. Death records for all of these communities are processed at the county level.

Nearby Counties

These counties share a border with Stevens County. If you are not certain which county holds the record you need, start with where the death occurred.