Family history research involves lots of records- birth records, marriage records, adoption records, immigration records, and death records. If you’re new to genealogy and looking for records on your ancestors’ deaths, you may not know that there are a few different types of death records. Here is a quick primer on the four most common types:
Death certificates – These are actually certified pieces of papers or documents that contain in-depth detail about people have died. Starting in the early twentieth century, these certificates have been required by all states.
Records of death – An abridged version of the original copy kept on file at the state level, a record of death can be found at a variety of places. Vital records offices at the city, county, or state level, for instance, usually have these on file. State historical societies, state archives, and health departments may also have them.
Death register – Usually kept by counties or communities pre-1900 in large books, these entries will typically include name, occupation, age, and other useful information about deceased persons.
Death index – Perhaps the most widely accessible of death records, death indexes have been created by most states and counties and are available online. You can access these through state archives or through subscription-based websites like Ancestry.com. These indexes also provide a path through which descendants can request official certificates or death records.
I hope this helps you with your family history research. Getting started with so much jargon can be difficult but it is always rewarding. Happy hunting!
Tags: family, Family History, family tree, genealogy
