Maine Death Index - FamilySearch Historical Records

Record Description
This collection contains a death index with the years 1960-1996, by the Maine Department of Human Services from the Maine State Archives. The data for the year 1996 is not complete.

Record Content
Key genealogical facts found in this index include:


 * Name
 * Death date
 * Death place
 * Age
 * City or town code
 * Certificate number

How to Use the Record
To begin your search it is helpful to know


 * The name
 * Identifying information such as approximate age at the time of death

Search the Collection
To search the collection fill in the requested information in the boxes on the initial search page. This search will return a list of possible matches. Compare the information about the individuals in the list to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct family or person. You may need to look at the information on several individuals comparing the information about them to your ancestors to make this determination. Keep in mind:


 * There may be more than one person in the records with the same name.
 * You may not be sure of your own ancestor’s name.
 * Your ancestor may have used different names, or variations of their name, throughout their life.
 * If your ancestor used an alias or a nickname, be sure to check for those alternate names.
 * Even though these indexes are very accurate they may still contain inaccuracies, such as altered spellings, misinterpretations, and optical character recognition errors if the information was scanned.

For tips about searching on-line collections see the on-line article FamilySearch Search Tips and Tricks.

Using the Information
When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. The information may lead you to other records about your ancestors. The following examples show ways you can use the information:


 * Use the certificate number to request a copy of the death certificate.
 * Use the estimated age to calculate a birth date.
 * Use the location find the family in census, church, and land records.

Tips to Keep in Mind

 * Continue to search the index and records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have died in the same place or nearby.
 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.
 * Be aware that, as with any index, transcription errors may occur.

Unable to Find Your Ancestor?

 * Check for variant spellings of the names.
 * Look for a different index. Local genealogical and historical societies often have indexes to local records.

Related Websites

 * Maine State Archives Vital Records Information

Related Wiki Articles
Maine Vital Records

Citations for This Collection
When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information; that is, cite your sources. This will help people find the record again and evaluate the reliability of the source. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records. Citations are available for the collection as a whole and each record or image individually. Collection Citation

Record Citation (or citation for the index entry):