Are Death Records Public? What You Need to Know for Family History

This guide explains whether death records are public and how to effectively find them for your family history research using FamilySearch.org.

Are Death Records Public? What You Need to Know

Generally, death records are considered public documents, but there are important nuances for family historians. The exact rules for public access vary significantly by location (country, state, county) and over time. Most jurisdictions place a privacy restriction on recent death records, meaning they are not immediately available to the general public. This period can range from 50 to 100 years or more from the date of death. Once this privacy period expires, the records become publicly accessible.

What does this mean for FamilySearch? FamilySearch.org is an invaluable resource for finding older, publicly accessible death records. Because of the privacy laws mentioned, you will typically find records for individuals who died many decades ago, not those who passed away in the last few years. FamilySearch partners with archives and government agencies worldwide to digitize and index these historical records, making them freely available online.

Finding Death Records on FamilySearch.org

FamilySearch offers several powerful ways to search for death records. Here’s a step-by-step approach:

1. Step 1: Start Your Search from the Main Page

   Go to FamilySearch.org. You can use FamilySearch without an account, but signing in (it's free!) gives you access to more features like saving discoveries to your tree.

2. Step 2: Use the "Records" Search for Broad Coverage

   • On the FamilySearch homepage, click on "Search" in the top navigation bar.
   • From the dropdown menu, select "Records." This takes you to the main historical records search page.
   • Enter the deceased's Name (first and last), an approximate Death Date (or range), and the Place where the death occurred (start broad, like a country or state, then narrow down if needed).
   • On the right side of the search form, under "Record Type," click "Add." In the pop-up, select "Death, Burial, Cemetery Records" and click "Add Record Type."
   • Click the "Search" button. Review the results for potential matches. Pay close attention to the collection name, as it often indicates the type of record (e.g., "United States Social Security Death Index," "Massachusetts Deaths, 1841-1915").

3. Step 3: Explore the "Catalog" for Specific Collections

   • If a general search doesn't yield results, or if you want to see what specific death record collections exist for a particular place, use the Catalog.
   • From the FamilySearch homepage, click "Search" in the top navigation bar, then select "Catalog."
   • Under "Search by Place," enter the place of death (e.g., "Massachusetts, Suffolk, Boston"). Click "Search."
   • You will see a list of record types for that location. Look for categories like "Death records," "Vital records," "Cemeteries," or "Obituaries." Click on the titles to expand them.
   • Within these categories, you'll find entries for specific collections. Look for icons: a camera icon means you can view digitized images, while a magnifying glass icon indicates an indexed collection you can search.
   • Click on the camera icon to browse images page-by-page, or the magnifying glass to search within that specific collection.

4. Step 4: Check Family Tree Profiles

   If the individual is already in the FamilySearch Family Tree (the collaborative public tree), a death record might already be attached or hinted at. Search for the person directly in the Family Tree, and look at their "Details" page for sources or hints.

Remember, patience and trying different search strategies are key. Death records are a fundamental piece of family history, and FamilySearch is an excellent starting point for uncovering these vital details.