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== Death Records == | == Death Records == | ||
Many experts recommend starting your research with the death | Many experts recommend starting your research with the death records first. A first thought might be to begin instead with birth records, but the death record is the most recent record. It may be more likely to be available to you. Death records are kept in the state where your ancestor died, not where they were buried. However these records can provide a burial location. Death records are especially helpful because they may provide important information on a person's birth, spouse, and parents. Some researchers look first for death records because there are often death records for persons who have no birth or marriage records. | ||
Early death records, like cemetery records, generally give the name, date, and place of death. Twentieth-century certificates usually include the age or date of birth (and sometimes the place), race, length of residence in the county or state, cause of death, name of hospital and funeral home, burial information, and the informant's name (often a relative). They often provide the name of a spouse or parents. Since 1950, social security numbers are given on most death certificates. Birth and other information in a death record may not be accurate because the informant may not have had complete information. | Early death records, like cemetery records, generally give the name, date, and place of death. Twentieth-century certificates usually include the age or date of birth (and sometimes the place), race, length of residence in the county or state, cause of death, name of hospital and funeral home, burial information, and the informant's name (often a relative). They often provide the name of a spouse or parents. Since 1950, social security numbers are given on most death certificates. Birth and other information in a death record may not be accurate because the informant may not have had complete information. | ||
Prior to death registers being recorded at the local county court house, a record of burial | Prior to death registers being recorded at the local county court house, a record of burial may be found in [[United States Church Records|Church records]]. The [[Social Security Death Index (SSDI)|Social Security Death Index (SSDI)]] is a database whose records reveal an individuals' full name and residence at time of application, birth and death dates and last known residence. For more information about the SSDI see the [[U.S. Social Security Records for Genealogists|U.S. Social Security Records for Genealogists]] wiki page. A death record is considered a primary source. | ||
== Death Certificates == | == Death Certificates == | ||
The information on a death certificate is usually given by someone close to the ancestor called an [[I genealogical glossary terms|informant]]. Death certificates may be filed in the state where an individual died and the state where he is buried. Other than the date, time and place of death, a death certificate is taken from | The information on a death certificate is usually given by someone close to the ancestor called an [[I genealogical glossary terms|informant]]. Death certificates may be filed in the state where an individual died and also in the state where he is buried. Other than the date, time and place of death, all other information on a death certificate is taken from what is supplied by the informant. This makes a death certificate a secondary source of information for things like the birth place and date, and the names of the deceased's parents. | ||
For more information concerning death records by State see the [[Summary of Death Records in the United States by State|Summary of Death Records in the United States by State]] page. To write for vital records see "Where to Write for Vital Records: Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Divorces" <ref>Leonard, Barry. ''Where to Write for Vital Records: Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Divorces'' Published by DIANE Publishing, 2007. ISBN 1422314820, 9781422314821 . 47 pages. Full text is available at [http://books.google.com/books?id=jx8HDU6V700C Google Books]. [http://www.worldcat.org/isbn/1422314820 Worldcat] </ref> | For more information concerning death records by State see the [[Summary of Death Records in the United States by State|Summary of Death Records in the United States by State]] wiki page. To write for vital records see "Where to Write for Vital Records: Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Divorces" <ref>Leonard, Barry. ''Where to Write for Vital Records: Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Divorces'' Published by DIANE Publishing, 2007. ISBN 1422314820, 9781422314821 . 47 pages. Full text is available at [http://books.google.com/books?id=jx8HDU6V700C Google Books]. [http://www.worldcat.org/isbn/1422314820 Worldcat] </ref> | ||
Funeral home records are discussed in the | Funeral home records are discussed in the [[United States Cemeteries|Cemeteries]] wiki page. The death records of men and women who died in the military, or who are buried in military cemeteries are described in the [[United States Military Records|U.S. Military Records Research Page]]. | ||
The Social Security Death Index contains records of deaths reported to the Social Security Administration since 1937. The Death Master File contains 87,267,729 records as of 30 July 2010 on the rootsweb.com [http://ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com/ website]. The bulk of the records are from 1962 to the present. The index provides the deceased person's birth date, social security number, state where the social security card was issued, month and year of death, state of residence at death, zip code, and state where death benefit was sent. | The Social Security Death Index contains records of deaths reported to the Social Security Administration since 1937. The Death Master File contains 87,267,729 records as of 30 July 2010 on the rootsweb.com [http://ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com/ website]. The bulk of the records are from 1962 to the present. The index provides the deceased person's birth date, social security number, state where the social security card was issued, month and year of death, state of residence at death, zip code, and state where death benefit was sent. | ||