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Direct answer

What to use for death records online

CDC/NCHS directs users to the state or local office where a vital event occurred and does not distribute identifying vital-record certificates or indexes itself.

Important

Choose an index, image or certified death certificate

Specify the document. A public death index helps locate an entry; an archival image lets you examine the recorded details. Neither is automatically an issued certified copy. For an official certified certificate, start at the vital-record office for the state where the death occurred and use its linked ordering route. Recent certificates may be restricted to eligible relatives or other qualified applicants: check relationship, purpose and identity requirements before paying. The release age and permitted applicants vary by state.

Route

Where death records online is usually requested

Need Official source What it can establish
Issuing route. CDC/NCHS - Where to Write for Vital Records. CDC does not issue state vital-record certificates.
Request guidance. National Archives - Resources for Genealogists. National Archives genealogy resources cover historical federal record categories, not a current all-purpose people-finder service.
Find a historical death entry Washington State Archives death index (state example) For Washington, search the death collection by last/first name and death-year range. Read its coverage notes before interpreting no match; then inspect the linked death-certificate image collection where available. The index is open for research. Use the corresponding official state archive for another state.
Order an issued certificate USAGov death-certificate guide and the event state’s vital-record office Use the state’s online order link, or its mail/in-person alternative. Have the deceased person’s name, death date and place ready; follow any relationship, purpose and identification requirements. Confirm cost per certified copy and delivery method with that office.

If an online search has no entry or image, recheck name variants and the event year/place against the collection coverage. Then ask the state or local vital-record custodian about a manual search or ordering route. An empty historical index does not by itself establish that the death was never registered; CDC’s directory is a way to locate the custodian, not a national death-name search.

Check

Details to collect before ordering

  • Verify the person. Review the name together with location, dates, and record identifiers: compare name spelling, birth date, event location, and record ID and flag any identifier that does not fit.
  • Locate the event. Use place and time to narrow the issuing office. It also helps distinguish events involving people with similar names.
  • Keep historical context. Preserve the historical context of archival records. This prevents old addresses or relationships from being presented as current.

Related Record Guides

Sources

Authoritative next stops

Official federal health navigation source; United States

CDC/NCHS - Where to Write for Vital Records

CDC/NCHS directs users to the state or local office where the vital event occurred and states the federal government does not distribute identifying vital-record certificates or indexes.

United States