How to Find Massachusetts Death Records

How to Find United States Deaths Massachusetts Deaths

Massachusetts Towns have been recording deaths since the 1600s. Statewide registration began in 1841.

Next Step: When did the death occur?	Death Records Choose a time period: Deaths before 1841 Deaths from 1841 thru 1920 Deaths from 1921 thru present Death year unknown

Learn more about U.S. Death Records

Deaths before 1841

For deaths that occurred during this time period, try the following databases:

Includes Index and Digital Images
	1600-1850 - At Massachusetts Vital Records Project	Free; Transcriptions and images of Massachusetts town vital records. Includes births, marriages, and deaths. The collection is comprised of records for over 150 Massachusetts towns.
	1620-1988 - use Ancestry Institution at FamilySearch Centers/Libraries	Free at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Database and images of Massachusetts town records that include births, marriages, and deaths. The collection is comprised of records for over 260 Massachusetts towns.
	1620-1850 - use Ancestry Institution at FamilySearch Centers/Libraries	Free at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Index to published town death records for many, but not all Massachusetts towns.
	1795-1910 - Massachusetts Death and Burials at FamilySearch	Free at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Index to death and burial records from the state of Massachusetts.
	Early-1850 - use American Ancestors at the Family History Library	Free at the Family History Library; Includes index and digital images of published town vital records.
Can't find your ancestor in the index?		Tips for searching indexes
No birth record for your ancestor?		Other records with birth information

Return to top: Choose another death year

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

Deaths from 1841 thru 1920

Massachusetts was the first state to initiate statewide registration of vital records beginning in 1841. However, the city of Boston, which had kept records prior to this time, didn't start reporting their vital statistics to the state until about 1850. Records from 1841 to 1920 are housed at the Massachusetts Archives. Every five years, another block of five years is transferred from the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics to the Archives.

For deaths that occurred during the time period, try the following databases:

Includes Index and Digital Images
	1841-1920 - At FamilySearch.org	Free; Browse only collection. Includes deaths, 1916-1920 and amended vital records, 1841-1920
	1841-1910 - Massachusetts Archives database	Free; Searchable index of Massachusetts birth, marriage, and death records.
	1841-1910 - use American Ancestors at the Family History Library	Free at the Family History Library; Includes index, digital images, and amended vital records
			If you cannot locate your ancestor in the databases below try searching for death information in other records. For deaths that exist during the time period, try the following databases. Try each link. West Virginia Deaths Databases - Includes Index and Digital Images Try 1st: 1853-1970 - At West Virginia Division of Culture and History Free; dates vary by county and some only go to 1962; list of database county coverage (right side of the screen)on WV website 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 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 Return to top: Choose another death year

Deaths from 1917 thru 1970

The state of West Virginia 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.

West Virginia Deaths Databases - Includes Index and Digital Images
Try 1st:
	1853-1970 - At West Virginia Division of Culture and History	Free; dates vary by county and some only go to 1962; list of database county coverage (right side of the screen) on WV website
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

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 locations:

To Order Death Certificates
From County of Death		From WV 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

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

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

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.

Return to top: Choose another death year

Deaths after 1970

PART A: You know the exact date of death

With an exact date (from your records), 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 WV 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

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:
	Order a 3 year search from WV Dept. of Health Office	($); Click on the death certificates tab to order a death certificate
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 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

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• How to Find U.S. death Records
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