How to Find Nebraska Death Records

How to Find United States Deaths Nebraska Deaths

In 1867, the Territory of Nebraska was admitted to the union as the 37th state. The State began to keep death records in late 1904. Use the following time frame for deciding which resources to consider when trying to locate a death record in Nebraska.

First Step: When did the death occur?	Choose a time period to search for your ancestor's death record: Deaths before 1904 Deaths from 1904 and later I don't know when the death is

Learn more about U.S. Death Records

Deaths before 1904

Nebraska did not begin statewide registration of death records until late 1904, although compliance was not total for several years. Generally, they did not record deaths at the city or county level. However, the earliest death records were kept were kept by a few city health departments.  For example, the city of Omaha has death records from 1873 and the city of Lincoln has death files from 1889. A few Nebraska counties also began recording births and deaths before statewide registration. Contact the county clerk to have a search done and to obtain copies of the records. Be aware that they will charge you whether they find the person you are looking for or not.  Therefore, before requesting a search and paying the fee, it may be worth the effort to contact the county clerk of the county where the person died and ask ahead of time if they have any pre-1905 death records.

There are some online death records and indexes at Online Nebraska Death Records and Indexes

Also, consider searching the following substitute records to locate your ancestor’s death date and place.

Records that may give death information:
Cemetery Records Newspapers Nebraska Periodicals Nebraska Military Records Nebraska History	Church Records Census Bible Records Probate (wills, etc)

Return to top: Choose another death year

Deaths from 1904 and later

Nebraska State Vital Record Office

To order a death certificate from the state office, click on the following link to obtain information including: current cost, address and other requirements for requesting a copy of a death certificate from the State of Nebraska.

Online Databases

All death records for Nebraska are not on the Internet. For some online databases, try the following:

Internet

Online Nebraska Death Records and Indexes

Family Search

• In FamilySearch, Free use; check the following:
  

- Social Security Death Index: 

- US Death and Burials 1867-1961: (Very few from Nebraska)

- To see any newly added databases in FamilySearch, click here

==== STEP ONE: Find Death Information ====

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

Nebraska Deaths Databases - may include Index and/or Digital Images
Try 1st:
	Online Nebraska Death Records and Index	Free;
Try 2nd:
	1853-1970 - At FamilySearch.org	Free; dates vary by county and some only go to 1962; list of database county coverage (right side of the screen) on WV website; click on "view partner website" to see a copy of the image
If you can't find the death record in the above databases, try the following:
West Virginia Deaths Databases - Index Only
Ancestry Database - Choose one of the following:
	1853-1973 - use Ancestry Institution at FamilySearch Centers/Libraries	Free at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Find your local FamilySearch Center
	1853-1973 - use your Ancestry subscription	$, To obtain a subscription to Ancestry; Ancestry is often available for free through your local public library
	Can't access Ancestry?	Go to Step Two Part B listed below. You may be able to order the death record for your ancestor from the West Virginia Department of Health State Office.
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
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

Deaths from 1917 thru 1970

The state of Nebraska began recording deaths in January 1917.

STEP ONE: Find Death Information

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

Nebraska Deaths Databases - Includes Index and Digital Images
Try 1st:
	1853-1970 - At Nebraska Division of Culture and History	Free; dates vary by county and some only go to 1962; list of county coverage (right side of the screen)
Try 2nd:
	1853-1970 - At FamilySearch.org	Free; dates vary by county and some only go to 1962; list of county coverage (right side of the screen); click on "view partner website" to see a copy of the image
Next try:
Includes Index Only
Choose one of the following:
	1853-1973 - use at FamilySearch Centers/Libraries	Free at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Find your local FamilySearch Center
	1853-1973 - use your Ancestry subscription	$, To obtain a subscription to Ancestry; Ancestry is often available through your local public library for free
	Can't search the index listed above?	Go to Step Two listed below and order a search for your ancestor from the Nebraska Department of Health State Office.
Can't find your ancestor in the index?		Tips for searching indexes
No death record for your ancestor?		Other records with death information

STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate

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 locations:

To Order Death Certificates
From County of Death		From NE Dept. of Health State office
Pros	Cons	Pros	Cons
May be less expensive and faster than ordering from the state	County websites can be more difficult to use	Offers a search of the state index for an additional fee	May be more expensive than ordering from the county

If you do not know the exact date or place of death:
For a fee, the Nebraska Department of Health office will do a 3 year search (click on the death certificates tab).

Restrictions for persons 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, there are other records with death information you can search.

Return to top: Choose another death year

Deaths after 1970

With an exact date (from your records or the index above), you can order a copy of the death record for a fee from the following locations:

To Order Death Certificates
From County of Death		From NE Dept. of Health State office
Pros	Cons	Pros	Cons
May be less expensive and faster than ordering from the state	County websites can be more difficult to use	Offers a search of the state index for an additional fee	May be more expensive than ordering from the county

If you do not know the exact date or place of death:
For a fee, the Nebraska Department of Health office will do a 3 year search (click on the death certificates tab).

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, there are other records with death information you can search.

Return to top: Choose another death year

Related Wiki Articles

• How to Find United States Birth Records
• Learn more about 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
• United States Marriage Records

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