Death Records & Certificates

Genealogists seeking historical information on relatives in ages gone by often start with the death record. A death record or death certificate documents the date, location (city, state, country) and cause of death of a given individual. Death records can also indicate surviving relatives.

These records, like marriage and birth documents, belong in the category of vital records and are indispensible tools in helping genealogists determine information about the lives of their predecessors. Originally, these records were utilized by the government as civil registration to help protect lives and freedoms.

Official and Indexed Death Records

Official Death Records:

Official death records are kept on file through each state's Department of Health and Vital Records. For a fee ranging between $12 to $20, you may be able to request these death records for your review, although each state has different regulations regarding who can access official death records. For example, some states, such as California, only allow an individual's immediate family to access death records, and indexed versions of death records are not made available to the general public.

Visit the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to easily access links to each state's Department of Health and Vital Records. By securing the official death records through the government departments, you have greater validity and accuracy.

Indexed Death Records:

Indexed death records are easily available through different websites. While many of these websites will offer free information, how accurate the records are can be contested. If you would like to access accurate death records, consider paying a fee to utilize reliable genealogy websites, including Archives.com and VitalChek.com.

An Illustrated Family History Begins With Vital Records

As a vital document, death records can help you trace your family's roots and history. This simple record can help you illustrate a story about each of your individual ancestors. Whether you are an archeologist or simply someone who wants to share her family history with future generations, death records are an excellent place to begin.

Helpful Tip

When looking at death certificates, keep in mind that the cause of death could potentially give you something else to research. For example, if your relative died in a fire, you might be able to find an article in a local newspaper that mentions the fire and your ancestor's name and possibly other relatives in the same fire. Also, in smaller geographic regions, newspapers often ran lengthy obituaries and provided keen insights into the lives of the individuals who died in their communities.