United States Death Records

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Death Records
Many experts recommend starting your research with the death record first, instead of with a birth record. The death record is the most recent record making it more likely to be available. A death record is considered a primary source.

The information on a death certificate is usually given by someone close to the ancestor called an informant. Other than the date, time and place of death, a death certificate is taken from the information known by the informant. This makes a death certificate a secondary source of information for things like the birth place and date, and the names of the deceased's parents.

Things you may find on a death certificate or record

 * Age at death
 * Cause of death (some states may now black this information out)
 * Date and/or place of birth
 * Date and/or place of burial
 * Details about the length of illness
 * Exact time of death
 * How long in this country or location
 * Maiden name of deceased woman
 * Name of surviving spouse
 * Name (and sometimes address) of informant, frequently a surviving spouse, child or other close relative
 * Name (and possibly address) of undertaker
 * Names of parents
 * Occupation and/or name of employer
 * Residence of the deceased
 * Religion
 * Signature of attending physician
 * Whether single, married, widowed or divorced
 * Witnesses at the time of death

How information from death records can help research
Dates; birth date and year of immigration can be listed. Places; birth place, address to help in the search for land records, city directories, locate on map and narrow un-indexed census'. Names; maiden, parent's, children, spouses, or witnesses help to find other relatives that you seek. The name of the cemetery and/or funeral home, leads to further information on you ancestor. If death is listed as an accident or killed, there might be a newspaper article about the individual. The mention of cause of death could develop a medical family history for your family.