Pennsylvania Death Records and Obituaries
Pennsylvania obituary and death records are maintained by the Division of Vital Records at the PA Department of Health and by county offices across all 67 counties. The state holds certified death certificates from 1906 to the present day. You can search Pennsylvania obituary and death records online, by mail, or in person at offices throughout the commonwealth. The Pennsylvania State Archives also holds historical death records available for genealogical research. Whether you are looking for a recent death or tracing family history, Pennsylvania has clear paths for finding these records at both the state and county level.
Pennsylvania Death Records Quick Facts
Where Pennsylvania Keeps Death Records
Pennsylvania death records come from two main sources. The Division of Vital Records at the PA Department of Health holds all certified death certificates from 1906 to the present. This office processes most requests for obituary and death records across Pennsylvania. They issue two types of certificates. One includes full medical information such as cause and manner of death, which is typically needed for life insurance or pension claims. The other leaves out medical details and is available only for deaths after 2019. That version works for closing bank accounts and similar needs. The Division is open Monday through Friday from 7:15 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on weekends from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. You can call them at 724-656-3100 or toll-free at 844-228-3516.
Each of Pennsylvania's 67 counties also holds older death records. From 1893 to 1906, county courthouses recorded births and deaths by state law. The Register of Wills in each county served as the official keeper of those local records. For research predating 1906, contact the appropriate county courthouse directly using the PA Unified Judicial System's directory.
The Bureau of Health Statistics and Registries is the official custodian of all Pennsylvania vital records dating back to 1906. Only certified copies are issued from this office. Uncertified copies are not available from the Division of Vital Records for any records.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health Division of Vital Records is the starting point for most death certificate requests. All certificates are mailed by First Class mail through the United States Postal Service, with expedited shipping available for an added fee.
How to Order a Pennsylvania Death Certificate
You have three ways to order a Pennsylvania death certificate. Online orders go through VitalChek, the only vendor authorized by the state. The site is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The $20 certificate fee applies, plus a $10 processing fee through VitalChek. Major credit cards are accepted. Expedited processing is available for an additional cost through that same portal.
Mail requests go to the Division of Vital Records, Death Certificate Processing Unit, PO Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103. Include a completed Application for Death Certificate with full and accurate information about the deceased. Missing or unclear information will delay your order. Standard processing takes approximately 3 weeks for both online and mail orders. That estimate does not include mail delivery time. Peak periods such as tax season may result in longer processing times. Requests tied to genealogy research, subpoenas, or court orders take additional time.
Walk-in service is available at six locations throughout Pennsylvania: New Castle, Erie, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Scranton, and Philadelphia. The $20 fee applies regardless of how many copies you order. Payment is not refundable.
Who Can Request Pennsylvania Obituary Records
Not everyone can obtain a Pennsylvania death certificate. Eligible applicants must be at least 18 years old. Those who qualify include the spouse, parent, sibling, child, grandparent, or grandchild of the deceased. An attorney or legal representative of the estate may also apply. A person with a direct financial interest in the record qualifies as well. Power of attorney holders are included. Valid identification is required from all applicants.
Pennsylvania law restricts access to death records until 50 years after the date of death. Records from 1906 through 1975 are currently in the public domain. The PA genealogy access page explains the rules for broader public access to older death records. Non-certified copies of these public records are available from the Pennsylvania State Archives for a lower fee than certified copies from the Division of Vital Records.
Note: Armed forces members and surviving spouses qualify for a fee waiver of up to 10 copies per calendar year under Act 137 of 2024. The waiver does not apply to genealogical requests.
Pennsylvania State Archives Death Records
The Pennsylvania State Archives holds original death certificates from 1906 through 1975. These records are in the public domain since they are more than 50 years old. The archives are located at 350 North Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120. Staff can be reached by email at ra-statearchives@pa.gov. The archives do not issue certified copies. They provide uncertified copies for genealogical research purposes only.
The death indices from 1906 to 1975 are available as downloadable PDF files organized by year and surname range. Each index shows the State File Number needed to request the full death certificate from the archives. Names in the 1920-1924 and 1930-1951 indices are arranged by the Russell Soundex method. Researchers searching those years need a Soundex converter to locate the correct surname code. The index files are free to download and do not require a visit to Harrisburg.
Digital copies of the 1906-1972 death certificates are also available on Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania residents can access these at no charge through Ancestry.com Pennsylvania via the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. A free account created through the PHMC website is required. New records are added each year as the privacy period ends. The partnership covers Pennsylvania Deaths 1906-1972, with further records released annually.
Pennsylvania Obituary Records Before 1906
Statewide death registration in Pennsylvania began on January 1, 1906. Two earlier periods of county-level record keeping exist before that date. From 1893 to 1906, county courthouses recorded births and deaths by order of state law. From 1852 to 1854, the Register of Wills in each county maintained registers of births, marriages, and deaths. These 1852-1854 returns survive for most counties and are available through Ancestry.com. Before 1852, researchers must rely on church registers, gravestone inscriptions, and historical newspapers. The State Archives holds digitized microfilm copies of some county-level 1893-1906 records.
For any pre-1906 death record research, contact the county courthouse directly. The PA Unified Judicial System maintains contact information for all 67 county Orphans' Court Clerks at pacourts.us. Staff at each office can confirm what historical records survive for their county. Fees for searching and copying vary by county. General compliance with statewide registration was not fully achieved until around 1915, so early state records from 1906-1914 may be incomplete in some areas.
Note: The State Archives does not search digitized county records on behalf of researchers. Mail inquiries about pre-1906 records must go directly to the courthouse of the county where the death occurred.
Genealogy Research for Pennsylvania Death Records
Libraries and historical societies hold obituary collections not found in any government database. Many county historical societies maintain newspaper obituary indexes, cemetery transcriptions, and donated family history files. The Library of Congress vital records guide for Pennsylvania covers key genealogical resources available both online and on-site. Researchers can access Ancestry Library Edition at the Library of Congress, which includes Pennsylvania births and deaths from 1852-1854 and state-level records from 1906. The State Library of Pennsylvania genealogy guide lists additional tools organized by county and time period.
For Philadelphia research, the City Archives holds birth and death records from July 1860 to June 1915. Cemetery returns from 1803 to June 1860 are also available there. The Philadelphia City Archives is located at 548 Spring Garden Street and is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This office covers a critical gap period before statewide registration began.
The State Library of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg provides research assistance and can point you to the right county records for your search.
Pennsylvania Death Record Laws and Access Rules
The Pennsylvania Code Title 28, Chapter 1 governs how death records are filed, corrected, and issued throughout the commonwealth. The Vital Statistics Law of 1953 (35 P.S. Section 450.101 et seq.) provides the full legal framework for death registration in Pennsylvania. Under state law, access to death records is restricted for 50 years from the date of death. Once the restriction period ends, records move into the public domain and can be obtained through the State Archives or via Ancestry.com Pennsylvania. Certified copies of public records are still issued only by the Division of Vital Records, not the State Archives.
Records of vital statistics are admissible as public records in Pennsylvania courts under 42 Pa.C.S. Section 6104. A duly certified copy constitutes prima facie evidence of its contents in any court proceeding. The Administrative Code of 1929 establishes the $20 death certificate fee by statute. That fee is non-refundable and cannot be waived except for qualifying armed forces members.
Death certificates are frequently used for closing financial accounts, settling estates, claiming life insurance benefits, and cancelling utility accounts. A death certificate is printed on specialized security paper containing a raised seal. That seal satisfies most legal and financial verification requirements across Pennsylvania.
Note: The Division of Vital Records issues only certified copies of death records. Uncertified copies for public records are available only from the Pennsylvania State Archives for deaths occurring more than 50 years ago.
Browse Pennsylvania Obituary Records by County
Each of Pennsylvania's 67 counties maintains its own older death records through the Register of Wills and Orphans' Court. Select a county below to find local offices and resources for obituary and death records in that area.
Pennsylvania Cities and Obituary Record Resources
Residents of major Pennsylvania cities use their county courthouse for older death records and the state Division of Vital Records for certified copies. Select a city below to find local resources for obituary and death records in that area.