The North Dakota Division of Vital Statistics has now placed its public death index online.

The searchable database includes all recorded death certificates for the state from 1881 up to about 2004. The search terms can include Last Name (required), First Name, Date of Death (required, a range of up to 10 years may be entered) and county of death. The results may be ordered by: Name, Birth Date, Date of Death or County.

Since North Dakota has a small population, it is generally best to not add the county to the search terms. Many small communities did not (and do not now) have medical facilities, so the county of death may be 100 miles or more from the county of residence. Also, since the population is so low, it is often best to search an entire decade with last name only. Using my family name, Engel (not rare, but not too common), the results for some 10 year periods only resulted in 1 or 2 matches.

The results list: Name (Last, First, Middle), Date of Death, County of Death, Gender, Age, Date of Birth, State of Residence, County of Residence and Action. Action allows you to place an order for a copy of the death certificate.

This search may also, at times find death certificates for you relatives from Minnesota. The large hospitals that serve northwest Minnesota are in Fargo and Grand Forks, ND. The hospital in Williston, ND serves parts of NE Montana. The hospitals in Bismarck, ND serve parts of northern South Dakota.

Thanks to Monte for today's Quick Tip! If you have a tip you would like to share with researchers, you can send it to: ADNeditor@ancestry.com

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