Finding Death Records - Online

The internet grew widely, and so did databases and resource directories that contain death records on deceased people.

During my own research, I traveled many miles to visit libraries, look at indexes, search for relevant cemeteries, track old funeral homes, look at burial listings, church records and much much more.

Being smart after the fact, I would say that 60%-70% of the information that I traveled long distance for - could be found online in just a tiny fraction of the time & effort.

Types of death records

The term "death record" relates to any record that contains information regarding the death of the deceased, and usually includes:

Death notices
Obituaries
Death certificates
Funeral home records
Cemetery & Grave records
Church records
Information from the SSDI (social security death index)
records from other sources

What records can be found online?

Some of the records listed above can be easily found online. some are tougher to track online and will probably need some extra effort on your side.

Death notices & Obituaries :

These types of death records can be easily found online. if these are notices from recent years - there is a greater chance that you'll be able to find them on the official website of the relevant publication (although not always).

If you didn't - Use a professional database or resource directory to help you get the job done - fast and effective.

Current resources that have been personally tested by me and proved invaluable for genealogical research, including death, birth, marriage & military records, are:

People-Records.net - Great for finding death records, obituaries & cemetery records from the beginning of the century. Access to some very powerful resources and databases. Recommended!

DeathRecords.ws (same vendor) - more or less the same powerful databases and resources.

GenealogyBank.com - also a great resource with powerful databases for death records, access to historical newspapers, obituaries from 1977, and a very good source for historical documents

There are other good resources but these, in my opinion, stand out from the rest in that category.

Death Certificates

In order to obtain copies of death certificates you will need to apply thru the state's health department or thru an online service such as Vitalcheck. death certificates can only be obtained after filling in proper application forms and comply with relevant Identification Requirements (with exceptions. see the death certificates article, for more).

UNDER CONSTRUCTION...

MORE TO COME...