Search Death Records

The SearchQuarry.com Death Records Database

In the SearchQuarry.com member’s area you will find our “Vital Records” section, and our death records search is in that section. Other vital records searches include birth records, marriage records, and divorce records. Other searches available in the member’s area include criminal records, court records, lien records, driving records, vehicle records, people search, background checks, and phone number lookups.

Death Records as Public Record

Are Death Records Available To The Public In The United States?

Death records are included with birth records under the category of "vital records." These records are created by local authorities throughout the United States and may also be created overseas by the military. There are many reasons why you may need a death record. For example, you may be an executor of an estate. You may be a surviving spouse who needs a death record to gain access to your spouse’s real estate assets. Regardless of the reason, there are many ways to gain access to a death record.

The History Of Death Records

Vital records have been kept by most states since the early 1900s. However, some states, such as Massachusetts, have had death records as early as the 1600s. It is now required by federal law for all states to keep death records, but what must be included in a death record can vary. In the 21st century, certain forms of death records have become much more accessible than others.

Types Of Death Records

There are two types of death records: official death certificates and death indexes. The official death certificate is issued at the time of one’s death and includes vital information about the deceased. This includes the:

Full name

Cause of death

Time of death

The information included in these records can be more sensitive, so they are sometimes restricted by the state. The restriction expires within 50 to 100 years, depending on the state. To obtain an official death certificate, begin by contacting the state in which the individual resided. The state may refer you to a local agency or may have possession of the certificate. 

Death indexes are more readily accessible. They provide basic information about the deceased and do not include sensitive information. While there are often costs associated with obtaining death certificates, death indexes can usually be downloaded for free. 

Obtaining Death Records Online

Depending on the state in which the death certificate was issued, it may be possible to obtain a death certificate online. State agencies sometimes maintain their death records online and there are also various websites such as SearchQuarry.com which aggregate death records online. While these websites are convenient, the death records are not official. If you need an official death certificate then it is best to contact the county in which the death took place and/or the place in which the person who died had lived. If you are unsure of the county of death or residence then websites like SearchQuarry.com can be very helpful in trying to locate a death certificate.

Obtaining Obituaries

In addition to finding a death record, there are many websites that aggregate obituaries. Obituaries should not be treated as official death records because it is possible to submit an obituary that contains information that is not factual. A death certificate is considered a much more official record of an individual’s death.