How to Find Mississippi Death Records
How to Find United States Deaths 
Mississippi Deaths
Statewide registration of deaths began in 1912 in Mississippi. Counties have copies of these records.
Next Step: When did the death occur? |
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Deaths before 1879
Before 1879, 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: | ||
Deaths from 1879 thru 1912
In 1879, Mississippi law required counties to record deaths, although records are incomplete. Records are known to exist for Hancock, Harrison, Hinds, Lauderdale, Panola, Pike, and Tallahatchie counties.
Obtain the Records
Death records from 1879 to 1912 are available on microfilm through the Family History Library for Hancock, Harrison, Lauderdale, Panola, and Tallahatchie counties. To locate these records, search the Family History Library Catalog for the name of the county and look under "Vital Records."
The State Department of Health has early records for Harrison, Hinds, and Pike counties.
Deaths from 1909 thru the present
The state of Missouri began recording deaths in 1909.
STEP ONE: Find Death Information
For deaths that exist during this time period, try the following databases. Try each link.
| Missouri Deaths Databases - Includes Index and Digital Images | ||||
| Try 1st: | ||||
| 1910-1962 - At Missouri Digital Heritage | Free | |||
| Next try: | ||||
| Includes Index Only | ||||
| 1867-1976 - At FamilySearch.org | Free; dates vary by county; incomplete; list of county coverage | |||
| Choose one of the following: | ||||
| 1873-1976 - use at FamilySearch Centers/Libraries | Free at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Find your local FamilySearch Center | |||
| 1873-1976 - 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 Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services 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 MO 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 Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services State office will do a 5-year search.
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 guardian of the person on the certificate
- 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.