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How to find death record

Posted: Sep 23, 2010

Okay, here is my problem. I have been trying to find a copy of a death record/death certificate/obituary online. We have a friend that we have known for over 20 years who we lost contact with about 8 years ago or so. He actually lived with us for over 6 months at one point. He eventually moved back to the area where his family is from and we lost touch. He was one of those friends that you can not see for a long time and then when you do see them again, you pick up like it was yesterday. Anyway, about 6 months ago via the grapevine, we found out that back in 2002, he supposedly committed suicide (at least that is what we heard but we don't know how accurate that information is). I have gone online to look for an obituary, death record, etc to get some information and all I have been able to find are sites that charge you for membership to get this kind of stuff. This is public information so shouldn't you be able to find it free of charge? I have never tried to do anything like this before but my husband and I are really upset about the news and would like to know more. We definitely do not want to contact his family and bring it up after all of these years. Does anyone out there have any idea where I can get ahold of this information? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Have a great day!!

;

see reply - on main board n/m

[ In Reply To ..]
x

I didn't see a post on main board, but - family tree guru

[ In Reply To ..]
You can use the Social Security Death Index for free. It is part of Ancestry.com, but you don't need a membership to use the index.

If you know information about the death (state, approximate date), you could order one online through a service, which is very pricey, but if you were to go to her local Health Dept you could get one for free IF you are relted to the dead person. Death certificates are generally not made available for publich information for 20 years to prevent fraud.

order a death certificate, I mean n/m - family tree guru

[ In Reply To ..]

I don't know any state that would release that info through a service - Backwards Typist

[ In Reply To ..]
Because of fraud, usually you have to send relationship and 2 forms of I.D. and are not allowed to go physically to the state health department. It is done by mail only (at least in PA).

Also, if it happened in PA, you would have to know which county as there are 3 places to send for the death certificates.

Ancestry is fine as a starting point. My advice would be to check the state rules and regulations on line once you have the SS info.

There are costs involved if you can request the death certificate but they aren't too exhorbitant yet.

VitalCheck is the service many states use now - family tree guru

[ In Reply To ..]
I've know people who ordered through VC and did not have to validate their relationship. Not saying it was the right thing to do, but I know it has been done with others. All states post their regulations online and VitalCheck has point and click boxes when ordering online to explain who you are and why you want the information. Again, most death certificates are sealed for 20 years to a non-family requestor. Birth certificates can be sealed for 60 or more years.

Thanks for that info. I admit I haven't sent for any records in the past year or so, so didn� - Backwards Typist

[ In Reply To ..]
Of course, my D.C. requests have been from 1906 to 1950. Prior to that, it's the county courthouse but only from 1893 to 1906 and anyone can get those.

It's odd how they don't want to release the records without ID but will release if you use VitalCheck. I'll have to see what my state accepts.

Thanks

How do you go about getting one after 20 years? - The same way?

[ In Reply To ..]
My mom died in 1963 and have never seen the death certificate and no one saved any obituary for me.

You can just go to the state Dept. of Health where - Backwards Typist

[ In Reply To ..]
she died, download the forms, fill them out and send them in with the $ amount. Make sure to dot your i's and cross your t's (follow the directions to the nth degree) or it could come back with an explanation/refusal, but once you clear the that hurdle and send it back, they'll send it to you.

It takes quite a while for some states because of cutbacks, so don't expect it in a week or two.

wow, in my state it's a one hour wait - family tree guru

[ In Reply To ..]
I can download the request, drive 20 minutes and leave within an hour, but usually less than 20 mins.

In my state, you're not allowed to go where the records are held - Backwards Typist

[ In Reply To ..]
You can't search the records yourself. You have to let the employees do it. We've been trying to get the state to allow people to search their own records for years, but it's a no go. I think the state feels they would lose a lot of money.

If you are in the same state, go to the Health Dept - family tree guru

[ In Reply To ..]
It is a lot less expensive to go to your local Health Dept and get a copy of the DC than it is to order it online. The 20 yr restriction is for non-relatives. After 20 years (based on your state regs), anyone can get a DC on anyone they want. Immediate family members are able to get a DC at anytime.

The biggest expense in ordering it online is the usually $40 or so overnight express shipping in addition to the handling fee and the fee charged by the state. If you are in the same state as your mother's death, you should be able to go to the website for your state to find out where to get a copy. In my state, I could go to any county office of the Health Dept.

For researchers it could be even cheaper to go to a local repository to get one if it is on microfiche. My state only has years 1909-1974 on microfiche. A local college in town has the microfiche and I could spend a day there getting all the DC's I want for $4 each.

You sure are lucky to live in such an open state. - Backwards Typist

[ In Reply To ..]
Birth and death certificates in my state never leave the hands of the state.

Even if it were possible to go the repository, I would have to find the area of my state (there are 3) where the certificates are held, and all 3 are an hour or more away from me.

I know some states have death certificates on line and that's cool. Shame I didn't have anyone migrate to any of those states. LOL

SS Death Index - Lynn

[ In Reply To ..]
If you know the person\\\'s DOB and state where they died, you can try to look it up in the Social Security Death Index.

http://ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/ssdi.cgi

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