Kentucky Death Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
The collection consists of an index and images of state death certificates located at the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics in Frankfort, Kentucky. Certificates are arranged first by year, then by month, then alphabetically by county. They have continuous certificate numbers for each year. Each month or certificates between months may have certificates for earlier months/years and certificates may also be for older deaths. The year date in the last column of the index indicates with which year the certificate is found.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records: • 3

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching the collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of your ancestor
 * The approximate year of death
 * The place where your ancestor died
 * The names of family members and their relationships

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

What Do I Do Next?
When you have located your ancestor’s death record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * If available, check the image for additional information
 * Analyze the entry to see if it provides additional clues to find other records of the person or their family
 * Look for the family in census records
 * Look for church records which may have additional information
 * Obituaries may identify other and extended family members
 * Search the index for other family members

I Can't Find the Person I'm Looking For, What Now?

 * Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for nicknames and abbreviated names
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby localities

Research Helps
The following articles will help you research your family in the state of Kentucky.
 * Kentucky Guided Research
 * Kentucky Record Finder
 * Kentucky Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Kentucky Research, 1880-Present

Other FamilySearch Collections
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Catalog

 * Kentucky. Office of Vital Statistics. Death certificates, 1911-1962
 * Kentucky. Office of Vital Statistics. Death index, 1911-1986
 * Kentucky. Office of Vital Statistics. Death index, 1911-1995
 * Kentucky. Office of Vital Statistics. Death certificates, 1911-1962
 * Kentucky. Office of Vital Statistics. Death Certificates, 1963

FamilySearch Digital Library

 * Kentucky Historical Records Survey, Service Division, Work Projects Administration. Guide to public vital statistics records in Kentucky. Louisville, Kentucky : Historical Records Survey, 1942

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.