How to Find Death Records for Free on FamilySearch.org

How to Find Death Records for Free on FamilySearch.org

This guide will walk you through the process of finding free death records on FamilySearch.org.

Step 1: Access FamilySearch.org and Log In

• Open your web browser and go to FamilySearch.org.
• If you have an account, click "Sign In" in the top right corner and enter your username and password.
• If you don't have an account, click "Free Account" and follow the prompts to create one. It's free and only takes a few minutes. You cannot access most records without signing in.

Step 2: Navigate to the "Records" Search Page

• Once signed in, hover over "Search" in the top navigation bar.
• From the dropdown menu, click on "Records". This will take you to the main historical records search page.

Step 3: Enter Your Ancestor's Information

• On the "Search Historical Records" page, you'll see several fields to enter information about the deceased individual.
• In the "First Name(s)" and "Last Name" fields, enter your ancestor's name. Use maiden names or common aliases if known.
• Scroll down to the "Life Event" section. Next to "Death", enter an approximate "Year" (e.g., 1950) or a range (e.g., 1948-1952).
• In the "Place" field, start typing the known death location (city, county, state, country) and select the correct standardized place from the dropdown list that appears. For best results, start broad (e.g., "Ohio, United States") and then narrow if needed.
• You can leave other fields blank initially to cast a wider net.
• Click the blue "Search" button.

Step 4: Refine Your Search Results

• The search results page will display a list of possible matches.
• On the left side of the screen, you'll see a panel with various filters such as "Collection," "Gender," "Birth Year," "Death Place," and "Record Type."
• To narrow down the results, use the "Record Type" filter and select options like "Death", "Cemeteries", or "Probate and Court", as death information can appear in various record types.
• Review the names, dates, and places in the results to identify potential matches. Pay attention to the "Collection" column, which indicates the type of record (e.g., "Ohio, County Death Records").

Step 5: View the Death Record Image or Details

• When you find a promising result, click on the entry.
• This will open a detailed page with indexed information. Look for an icon that resembles a camera (📷) or a document.
• If a camera icon is present, click it to view the original record image. This is crucial as the image might contain more information than the index, such as parents' names, spouse, informant, and burial details.
• Carefully examine the image for all relevant details. You can zoom in and out, print, or download the image.
• If only a document icon or "Details" is shown, it means the record is indexed but the image isn't available on FamilySearch, or it's a link to an external site. Always prioritize viewing the original image when possible.

Tip: Explore the Catalog and Wiki for More

• If a direct record search doesn't yield results, return to the "Search" menu and try "Catalog" to browse specific collections for a location, or the "Wiki" for guidance on available records by region.