Learn how death records
can add to your family story.

Always check the Page Tools box. You may find an easy way to obtain an original record copy.

Even a sparse index often contains the information needed to order a death certificate. However, in some instances you’ll also have to prove your relationship to the deceased to obtain the actual document.

Suggested Records may provide quick links to related records with more details.

Instructions for ordering the original Social Security application. Includes link to automatically generate request letter with information about deceased (note: request must include fee paid to the Social Security Administration).

Use to verify you’ve found the right person and match against census info, birth records and death records.

Last address on record with Social Security Administration. May be final residence of deceased or of a surviving spouse. Use to uncover more records and possibly a death certificate or funeral home record.

Coupled with “Last Benefit” location, may be useful in locating a death certificate or obituary.

Location issued can help you track down an ancestor in a previous year.

Matching “family number” or last name could indicate a relationship. Search previous census years, birth records and households associated with this mortality schedule to learn more.

Look over the record to catch additional interesting details that may not be indexed. Here we learn “Frank Snow was a woman of ill fame.”

Location of deceased person’s household can be a clue to look for newspapers or property records. Remember, though, that this is just a report from the household. The individual may have died elsewhere.

Unusual causes of death may be a clue to search for a newspaper article, court case or a coroner’s report.

An online search can reveal the story behind archaic names for illnesses. “Gravel” was the term used for kidney stones.

Outside the U.S., birth records can extend far back in time. Review birth record availability for France to see if any include this time period.

Approximate date of death and city of residence can lead to additional death records on Ancestry.com. Search the card catalog to see what else is available.

A history lesson, too! The French Republican Calendar was in use only from 1793 to 1805.

Save the record to your Ancestry.com family tree so the details can be used by Ancestry.com to help you find additional records.

Even the smallest notices can include clues, like this one, indicating Bing Crosby was a Friar. Research uncovers his affiliation with the Friars Club of Beverly Hills.

Three clues for further research from this very brief death notice:

1. funeral information was published in the Atlanta Constitution the Sunday prior and will likely contain more details;
2. Dr. John B. Baird once lived in Columbus, where he presumably left a record trail;
3. the notice is in a database of obituaries from 1871, so it’s likely John died that year.

Newspaper and death date can be used to locate the published obituary, which will help piece together the indexed information.

Locations may indicate places where the deceased or the deceased’s relatives lived. Look for a link on the index page to read the full obituary.

The surname “Novak” appears three times in this obituary – it could be a clue to a maiden name or another family line.

If "naturalized" is listed, it's an indicator that there's citizenship. Birthplace can help uncover a birth certificate.

Disposition of effects lists the person who was initially in possession of the deceased’s personal belongings. His or her family may still own photos or mementoes today.

Look for an obituary or death notice in the birthplace, the last residence and the towns where other relatives lived.

Research all family members listed to determine how they’re related and if they have more information.

Use the arrow buttons to move forward through the file. Most have multiple pages of information.

While Amelia’s tombstone doesn’t include a lot of detail, it does state the name of her spouse – a clue to help uncover a marriage record and other documents.

Research all symbols. They may merely be decorative or they could be clues about the person’s life.

“Charged to” is likely a relative. Researching this person can reveal more about how the two were connected.

Search for census records and city directories associated with the place of death and other addresses listed.

Place of birth is included, as is age, both of which can lead to a birth record.