How to Find Massachusetts Death Records

Massachusetts Towns have been recording deaths since the 1600s. Statewide registration began in 1841.

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Next Step: When did the death occur?

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 * Death Records
 * Choose a time period:


 * Deaths before 1841
 * Deaths from 1841 thru 1920
 * Deaths from 1921 thru present
 * Death year unknown


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Deaths before 1841
For deaths that occurred during this time period, try the following databases:

Return to top: Choose another death year

Deaths from 1841 thru 1920
Massachusetts was the first state to initiate statewide registration of vital records beginning in 1841. However, the city of Boston, which had kept records prior to this time, didn't start reporting their vital statistics to the state until about 1850. Records from 1841 to 1920 are housed at the Massachusetts Archives. Every five years, another block of five years is transferred from the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics to the Archives.

For deaths that occurred during this time period, try the following databases:

Return to top: Choose another death year

Deaths from 1921 thru present
Death records beginning in 1921 to the present are located at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics. The MDPH maintains no online index for these records. Try to find your ancestor in one of the indexes below.

For deaths that occurred during the time period, try the following databases:

Order the Certificate
With an exact date (from your records or an index above) you can order a copy of the death record for a fee from the following locations:

If you do not know the exact date or place of death: For a fee, the Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics will do a 10 year search. '''If you do not want to order the death record, there are other records with death information you can search. ''' Return to top: Choose another death year

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