GuidedResearch:Why Can't I Find the Record - Nova Scotia Deaths

This page will give you additional guidance and resources to find death information for your ancestor. Use this page after first completing the death section of the Nova Scotia Guided Research page.

Civil registration of deaths in Nova Scotia began in 1869. Death records before this date mostly come from church records or other substitute records. See "Additional Records with Death Information" below.

Additional Databases and Online Resources

 * 1865-1877:  Nova Scotia Deaths, 1864-1877  at FamilySearch (images only)
 * 1864-1877, 1890-1965:  Nova Scotia, Canada, Deaths, 1864-1877, 1890-1964  at Ancestry ($)
 * 1866-1967:  Miners Memorial Database, Deaths, 1866-1967  at History of Coal Mining in Nova Scotia
 * 1956-1957:  Nova Scotia Deaths, 1956-1957  at FamilySearch

Additional Records with Death Information
Substitute records can contain information about more than one event, and are used when records for an event are not available. Because the substitute records may not be created at the time of the event, it may contain incorrect information. Search for as many substitute records as possible to corroborate information found in substitute records to help improve accuracy.

Tips for finding deaths
Successfully finding death records in online databases depends on a few key points. Try the following search suggestions:
 * Spelling variations. Your ancestor's name may be misspelled. Search with spelling variations for the first and last name of your ancestor.
 * Search given name. Search by given name (leave out the last name) with the approximate date of birth or death.
 * Add information. For common names, add more information to narrow the search such as approximate birth date or parent's names if known.
 * Date range. Expand the date range of the search by 5 years.
 * Search state. Search using the state name only instead of by county.

Known Record Gaps
Records Start
 * Very few church records for burials for French settlers exist before 1702.
 * Church of England records for British settlers in Halifax began in 1749.
 * Birth registration was discontinued from 1877-1908.

Records Destroyed The following counties had record loss. Click on the county for more information.