How to Find Massachusetts Death Records: Difference between revisions
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''[[United States|United States]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[United States Vital Records|US Vital Records]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[How to Find United States Death Records|How to Find United States Deaths]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Massachusetts]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Massachusetts Vital Records|Vital Records]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]]'' '''Massachusetts Deaths'''__NOTOC__ | |||
Massachusetts Towns have been recording deaths since the 1600s. Statewide registration began in 1841. | Massachusetts Towns have been recording deaths since the 1600s. Statewide registration began in 1841. | ||
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:*<span style="font-size:120%">'''[[How to Find Massachusetts Death Records#Deaths_before_1841|Deaths before 1841]]'''</span> | :*<span style="font-size:120%">'''[[How to Find Massachusetts Death Records#Deaths_before_1841|Deaths before 1841]]'''</span> | ||
:*<span style="font-size:120%">'''[[How to Find Massachusetts Death Records# | :*<span style="font-size:120%">'''[[How to Find Massachusetts Death Records#Deaths_from_1841_thru_1920|Deaths from 1841 thru 1920]]''' </span> | ||
:*<span style="font-size:120%">'''[[How to Find Massachusetts Death Records# | :*<span style="font-size:120%">'''[[How to Find Massachusetts Death Records#Deaths_from_1921_thru_present|Deaths from 1921 thru present]]'''</span> | ||
:*<span style="font-size:120%">'''[[How to Estimate United States Death Information|Death year unknown]]'''</span> | :*<span style="font-size:120%">'''[[How to Estimate United States Death Information|Death year unknown]]'''</span> | ||
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== '''Deaths before 1841''' == | == '''Deaths before 1841''' == | ||
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=4080 Massachusetts, Town Death Records, 1620-1850]($) | |||
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2495 Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988] ($) | |||
*{{RecordSearch|1675350|Massachusetts, Deaths and Burials, 1795-1910}} Index. | |||
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2101 Massachusetts, Death Records, 1841-1915] ($) | |||
*{{RecordSearch|1463156|Massachusetts, Deaths, 1841-1915}} Index and images. | |||
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=5973 Massachusetts Deaths, 1844: Vol. 8, Barnstable to Hampshire; Volume 9, Middlesex to Worcester]($) | |||
*{{RecordSearch|1202535|United States Social Security Death Index for Massachusetts- starts 1962}} Index. | |||
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3693 U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014] ($) | |||
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=60901 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007], Incomplete, ($). | |||
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3659 Massachusetts, Death Index, 1901-1980] ($) | |||
*{{RecordSearch|1949332|Massachusetts, Death Index, 1970-2003}} Index. | |||
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=7457 Massachusetts Death Index, 1970-2003]($) | |||
*[http://www.americanancestors.org/search/advanced-search/?database=Massachusetts%20Death%20Index,%201970-2003 American Ancestors Massachusetts Death Index, 1970-2003]($) | |||
*[http://www.deathindexes.com/massachusetts/ Online Massachusetts Death Records & Indexes] | |||
For deaths that occurred during this time period, try the following databases: | For deaths that occurred during this time period, try the following databases: | ||
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| [ | | [http://ma-vitalrecords.org/ 1600-1850 - At Massachusetts Vital Records Project] | ||
| '''Free;''' | | '''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. | ||
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| [http://search. | | [http://search.ancestryinstitution.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2495 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. | ||
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|[ | | [http://search.ancestryinstitution.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=4080 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. | ||
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| [ | | [https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1675350 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. | ||
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| width="10%" | <br> | | width="10%" | <br> | ||
| | | [http://www.americanancestors.org/Search.aspx?Ca=0344&Da=190 Early-1850 - use American Ancestors at the Family History Library] | ||
| '''Free at | | '''Free at the Family History Library;''' Includes index and digital images of published town vital records. | ||
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== '''Deaths from 1841 | == '''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 | *[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=4080 Massachusetts, Town Death Records, 1620-1850]($) | ||
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2495 Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988] ($) | |||
*{{RecordSearch|1675350|Massachusetts, Deaths and Burials, 1795-1910}} Index. | |||
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2101 Massachusetts, Death Records, 1841-1915] ($) | |||
*{{RecordSearch|1463156|Massachusetts, Deaths, 1841-1915}} Index and images. | |||
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=5973 Massachusetts Deaths, 1844: Vol. 8, Barnstable to Hampshire; Volume 9, Middlesex to Worcester]($) | |||
*{{RecordSearch|1202535|United States Social Security Death Index for Massachusetts- starts 1962}} Index. | |||
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3693 U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014] ($) | |||
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=60901 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007], Incomplete, ($). | |||
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3659 Massachusetts, Death Index, 1901-1980] ($) | |||
*{{RecordSearch|1949332|Massachusetts, Death Index, 1970-2003}} Index. | |||
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=7457 Massachusetts Death Index, 1970-2003]($) | |||
*[http://www.americanancestors.org/search/advanced-search/?database=Massachusetts%20Death%20Index,%201970-2003 American Ancestors Massachusetts Death Index, 1970-2003]($) | |||
*[http://www.deathindexes.com/massachusetts/ Online Massachusetts Death Records & Indexes] | |||
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 this time period, try the following databases: | For deaths that occurred during this time period, try the following databases: | ||
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| '''Free;''' Browse only collection. Includes deaths, 1916-1920 and amended vital records, 1841-1920 | | '''Free;''' Browse only collection. Includes deaths, 1916-1920 and amended vital records, 1841-1920 | ||
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| [http:// | | [http://www.sec.state.ma.us/vitalrecordssearch/VitalRecordsSearch.aspx 1841-1910 - Massachusetts Archives database] | ||
| ''' | | '''Free;''' Searchable index of Massachusetts birth, marriage, and death records. | ||
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| ''' | | | ||
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| [http://www.americanancestors.org/Search.aspx?Ca=344&Da=191 1841-1910 - use American Ancestors at the Family History Library] | |||
| '''Free at the Family History Library;''' Includes index, digital images, and amended vital records | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | | width="10%" | <br> | ||
|[ | | [http://search.ancestryinstitution.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2495 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. | ||
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| align="left" colspan="2" | '''Can't find your ancestor in the index?''' | | align="left" colspan="2" | '''Can't find your ancestor in the index?''' | ||
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== '''Deaths from | == '''Deaths from 1921 thru present''' == | ||
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=4080 Massachusetts, Town Death Records, 1620-1850]($) | |||
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2495 Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988] ($) | |||
*{{RecordSearch|1675350|Massachusetts, Deaths and Burials, 1795-1910}} Index. | |||
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2101 Massachusetts, Death Records, 1841-1915] ($) | |||
*{{RecordSearch|1463156|Massachusetts, Deaths, 1841-1915}} Index and images. | |||
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=5973 Massachusetts Deaths, 1844: Vol. 8, Barnstable to Hampshire; Volume 9, Middlesex to Worcester]($) | |||
*{{RecordSearch|1202535|United States Social Security Death Index for Massachusetts- starts 1962}} Index. | |||
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3693 U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014] ($) | |||
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=60901 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007], Incomplete, ($). | |||
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3659 Massachusetts, Death Index, 1901-1980] ($) | |||
*{{RecordSearch|1949332|Massachusetts, Death Index, 1970-2003}} Index. | |||
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=7457 Massachusetts Death Index, 1970-2003]($) | |||
*[http://www.americanancestors.org/search/advanced-search/?database=Massachusetts%20Death%20Index,%201970-2003 American Ancestors Massachusetts Death Index, 1970-2003]($) | |||
*[http://www.deathindexes.com/massachusetts/ Online Massachusetts Death Records & Indexes] | |||
Death records beginning in 1921 to the present are located at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics. The MDPH maintains no online index for these records. Try to find your ancestor in one of the indexes below.<br> | Death records beginning in 1921 to the present are located at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics. The MDPH maintains no online index for these records. Try to find your ancestor in one of the indexes below.<br> | ||
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| width="30%" | {{RecordSearch|1949332|1970-2003 - At FamilySearch.org}} | | width="30%" | {{RecordSearch|1949332|1970-2003 - At FamilySearch.org}} | ||
| width="60%" | '''Free;''' Includes index only | | width="60%" | '''Free;''' Includes index only | ||
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| width="10%" | <br> | | width="10%" | <br> | ||
| [http://search. | | [http://search.ancestryinstitution.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=7457 1970-2003 - use Ancestry Institution at FamilySearch Centers/Libraries] | ||
| ''' | | '''Free;''' at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Searchable index of Massachusetts death records, 1970-2003. | ||
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| [http://search. | | [http://search.ancestryinstitution.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3659 1901-1980 - use Ancestry Institution at FamilySearch Centers/Libraries] | ||
| ''' | | '''Free;''' at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Searchable index of Massachusetts death records, 1901-1980. | ||
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| width="10%" | <br> | | width="10%" | <br> | ||
| [ | | [http://search.ancestryinstitution.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2495 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. | ||
|} | |} | ||
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| width="50%" align="center" colspan="2" | [http://www.vitalrec.com/ma.html#County From Town Clerk] <br>[http://www.mass-doc.com/vitals_research.htm Massachusetts Vital Records] | | width="50%" align="center" colspan="2" | [http://www.vitalrec.com/ma.html#County From Town Clerk] <br>[http://www.mass-doc.com/vitals_research.htm Massachusetts Vital Records] | ||
| width="50%" align="center" colspan="2" | [ | | width="50%" align="center" colspan="2" | [http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dph/programs/admin/dmoa/vitals/ From Registry of Vital Records and Statistics] | ||
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| width="25%" align="center" | '''Pros''' | | width="25%" align="center" | '''Pros''' | ||
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'''If you do not know the exact date or place of death:'''<br> For a fee, the [ | '''If you do not know the exact date or place of death:'''<br> For a fee, the [http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dph/programs/admin/dmoa/vitals/ Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics] will do a 10 year search. <br> <br> '''If you do not want to order the death record, there are [[Substitute Records For United States Death Information|other records with death information]] you can search.<br>''' | ||
<center>[[How to Find Massachusetts Death Records#Next_Step:_When_did_the_death_occur.3F|Return to top: Choose another death year]]</center> | <center>[[How to Find Massachusetts Death Records#Next_Step:_When_did_the_death_occur.3F|Return to top: Choose another death year]]</center> | ||
{| width="99%" border="0" align="center" | {| width="99%" border="0" align="center" | ||
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:*[[How to Find United States Death Records|Learn more about U.S. Death Records]] | :*[[How to Find United States Death Records|Learn more about U.S. Death Records]] | ||
:*[[How to Find United States Death Records|How to find U.S.Death records]] | :*[[How to Find United States Death Records|How to find U.S.Death records]] | ||
:*[[United States Record | :*[[United States Record Selection Table|United States Record Selection Table ]] | ||
:*[[U.S. Vital Records Overview|U.S. Vital Records Overview]] | :*[[U.S. Vital Records Overview|U.S. Vital Records Overview]] | ||
:*[[United States Vital Records|United States Vital Records]] | :*[[United States Vital Records|United States Vital Records]] | ||
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:*[[United States Marriage Records|United States Marriage Records]] | :*[[United States Marriage Records|United States Marriage Records]] | ||
{{Massachusetts|Massachusetts}}[[Category:Massachusetts_Vital_Records | {{Massachusetts|Massachusetts}}[[Category:Massachusetts_Vital_Records]] | ||
Revision as of 13:47, 1 March 2016
United States
US Vital Records
How to Find United States Deaths
Massachusetts
Vital Records
Massachusetts Deaths
Massachusetts Towns have been recording deaths since the 1600s. Statewide registration began in 1841.
Next Step: When did the death occur? [edit | edit source] |
|
|---|
Deaths before 1841[edit | edit source]
- Massachusetts, Town Death Records, 1620-1850($)
- Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 ($)
- Massachusetts, Deaths and Burials, 1795-1910 Index.
- Massachusetts, Death Records, 1841-1915 ($)
- Massachusetts, Deaths, 1841-1915 Index and images.
- Massachusetts Deaths, 1844: Vol. 8, Barnstable to Hampshire; Volume 9, Middlesex to Worcester($)
- United States Social Security Death Index for Massachusetts- starts 1962 Index.
- U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 ($)
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, Incomplete, ($).
- Massachusetts, Death Index, 1901-1980 ($)
- Massachusetts, Death Index, 1970-2003 Index.
- Massachusetts Death Index, 1970-2003($)
- American Ancestors Massachusetts Death Index, 1970-2003($)
- Online Massachusetts Death Records & Indexes
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 death record for your ancestor? | Other records with death information | |||
Deaths from 1841 thru 1920[edit | edit source]
- Massachusetts, Town Death Records, 1620-1850($)
- Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 ($)
- Massachusetts, Deaths and Burials, 1795-1910 Index.
- Massachusetts, Death Records, 1841-1915 ($)
- Massachusetts, Deaths, 1841-1915 Index and images.
- Massachusetts Deaths, 1844: Vol. 8, Barnstable to Hampshire; Volume 9, Middlesex to Worcester($)
- United States Social Security Death Index for Massachusetts- starts 1962 Index.
- U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 ($)
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, Incomplete, ($).
- Massachusetts, Death Index, 1901-1980 ($)
- Massachusetts, Death Index, 1970-2003 Index.
- Massachusetts Death Index, 1970-2003($)
- American Ancestors Massachusetts Death Index, 1970-2003($)
- Online Massachusetts Death Records & Indexes
Massachusetts was the first state to initiate statewide registration of vital records beginning in 1841. However, the city of Boston, which had kept records prior to this time, didn't start reporting their vital statistics to the state until about 1850. Records from 1841 to 1920 are housed at the Massachusetts Archives. Every five years, another block of five years is transferred from the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics to the Archives.
For deaths that occurred during this time period, try the following databases:
| Includes Index and Digital Images | ||||
| 1841-1920 - At FamilySearch.org | Free; Browse only collection. Includes deaths, 1916-1920 and amended vital records, 1841-1920 | |||
| 1841-1910 - Massachusetts Archives database | Free; Searchable index of Massachusetts birth, marriage, and death records. | |||
| 1841-1910 - use American Ancestors at the Family History Library | Free at the Family History Library; Includes index, digital images, and amended vital records | |||
| 1620-1988 - use Ancestry Institution at FamilySearch Centers/Libraries | Free at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Database and images of Massachusetts town records that include births, marriages, and deaths. The collection is comprised of records for over 260 Massachusetts towns. | |||
| Can't find your ancestor in the index? | Tips for searching indexes | |||
| No death record for your ancestor? | Other records with death information | |||
Deaths from 1921 thru present[edit | edit source]
- Massachusetts, Town Death Records, 1620-1850($)
- Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 ($)
- Massachusetts, Deaths and Burials, 1795-1910 Index.
- Massachusetts, Death Records, 1841-1915 ($)
- Massachusetts, Deaths, 1841-1915 Index and images.
- Massachusetts Deaths, 1844: Vol. 8, Barnstable to Hampshire; Volume 9, Middlesex to Worcester($)
- United States Social Security Death Index for Massachusetts- starts 1962 Index.
- U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 ($)
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, Incomplete, ($).
- Massachusetts, Death Index, 1901-1980 ($)
- Massachusetts, Death Index, 1970-2003 Index.
- Massachusetts Death Index, 1970-2003($)
- American Ancestors Massachusetts Death Index, 1970-2003($)
- Online Massachusetts Death Records & Indexes
Death records beginning in 1921 to the present are located at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics. The MDPH maintains no online index for these records. Try to find your ancestor in one of the indexes below.
For deaths that occurred during the time period, try the following databases:
| Includes Index and Digital Images | ||||
| 1970-2003 - At FamilySearch.org | Free; Includes index only | |||
| 1970-2003 - use Ancestry Institution at FamilySearch Centers/Libraries | Free; at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Searchable index of Massachusetts death records, 1970-2003. | |||
| 1901-1980 - use Ancestry Institution at FamilySearch Centers/Libraries | Free; at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Searchable index of Massachusetts death records, 1901-1980. | |||
| 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. | |||
Order the Certificate[edit | edit source]
With an exact date (from your records or an index above) you can order a copy of the death record for a fee from the following locations:
| To Order Death Certificates | |||
| From Town Clerk Massachusetts Vital Records |
From Registry of Vital Records and Statistics | ||
| Pros | Cons | Pros | Cons |
| It's cheaper and faster than ordering from the state | Town websites can be more difficult to use | Onsite researchers can access public death indexes | Only certified copies of records are issued, regardless of intended use. It's cheaper to order the record from the town clerk |
If you do not know the exact date or place of death:
For a fee, the Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics will do a 10 year search.
If you do not want to order the death record, there are other records with death information you can search.