How to Find Idaho Death Records

How to Find United States Deaths Idaho Deaths

In 1911 the state of Idaho began requiring statewide registration of deaths. Counties were required to keep records from 1907 to 1911. Some counties may have older death records.

Next Step: When did the death occur?	Death Records Choose a time period: Early to 1911 1911 to Present

Learn more about U.S. Death Records

Early to 1911

West Virginia did not exist at this time and was known as the state of Virginia.Before 1853, no deaths were recorded by the county or state. You must search substitute records to locate your ancestor’s death date and place.

Records that give death information:
Cemetery Records Newspapers Probate (wills, etc) Tax Records	Church Records Census Bible Records

Return to top: Choose another death year

1911 to Present

In 1911 the state of Idaho began requiring statewide registration of deaths. All death records are housed on the state level. Some older records have been made public and are available online and on microfilm.

If you cannot locate your ancestor in the databases below try searching for death information in other records.

STEP ONE: Find Death Information

For deaths that exist during the time period, try the following databases. Try each link.

Idaho Deaths Databases - Includes Index and Digital Images
Try 1st:
	1911-1937 at FamilySearch Historical Records	Free; Name index and images of Idaho Death Certificates from 1911 to 1937
Try 2nd:
	1911-1956 State of Idaho Death Index	Free;;Name index and extracted data from death records 1911 to 1956 compiled by BYU Idaho Special Collections
Try 3rd:
	Family Search Catalog	Free;microfilm of death certificates available at the FHL and Centers; index 1911-1932; images 1911-1937
Try 4th:
	1911-1951 Idaho Death Index Ancestry.com	($);;Death Index 1911-1951; index contains death date, birth date, county and city of death and certificate number
Can't find your ancestor in the online index?		Tips for searching online indexes
No death record for your ancestor?		Other records with death information

STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate

PART A: You know the exact date of death

If the image was not included in the index entry above, you can order a copy of the death record for a fee from the following location:

Idaho Department of Health and Welfare

See list of restrictions for ordering death records

If you do not want to order the death record, you can search other records with death information.

PART B: You don't know the exact date of death

Try:
Social Security Death Index (SSDI)
	1937 to present at Genealogy Bank	Free; most current version; few records before 1962; gives place where the last benefit was sent
Or try:
	Make your best educated guess	The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare will conduct a five year search on either side of the date you provide. If no certificate is located they will provide you with a list of years searched. No refund if no certificate is found.
Don't want to order the death record?		Search other records with death information

Return to top: Choose another death year

Restrictions for Obtaining Death Records

Restrictions for persons born who died within the last 50 years:
To obtain a copy of the death certificate for those who died within the last 50 years, you must be:

• The parent or grandparent of the person on the certificate
• The spouse of the person on the certificate
• The child or grandchild of the person on the certificate
• The sibling of the person on the certificate
• Funeral director
• Anyone who has legal interest in the certificate

NOTE: A copy of the death record cannot be obtained by anyone except those listed above until 50 years have passed from the date of the death.

If you do not want to order the death record, you can search other records with death information.

Return to top: Choose another death year

Related Wiki Articles

• Learn more about U.S. death records
• How to find U.S. birth records
• How to find U.S. marriage records
• How to Find U.S. death Records
• United States Record Selection Table
• U.S. Vital Records Overview
• United States Vital Records
• Locating United States Vital Records
• United States Birth Records
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