Bensalem Obituary and Death Records
Bensalem death records are managed by the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records and by the Bucks County Register of Wills. Bensalem is the largest township in Bucks County and sits northeast of Philadelphia along the Delaware River, with about 62,000 residents. Death certificates from 1906 forward are available through the state. Older records and estate documents go through the county office in Doylestown. This guide covers how to find Bensalem obituary records, order death certificates, and use local and state genealogy resources.
Bensalem Quick Facts
Where Bensalem Death Records Are Kept
Pennsylvania death certificates for Bensalem residents are held by the Division of Vital Records. The state issues certified copies for deaths from 1906 to the present. You can order by mail, online through an authorized vendor, or in person at one of six walk-in state offices across Pennsylvania. Bensalem does not have its own state walk-in office, but the Philadelphia location is close for residents who prefer in-person service.
County-level records are held by the Bucks County Register of Wills. This office is located at 55 East Court Street, 6th Floor, Doylestown, PA 18901. The main phone number is 215-348-6265. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Both virtual and in-person appointments are available. Call 215-348-6254 or 215-348-6264 to set one up. The Bucks County Register of Wills handles probate, estate administration, and serves as the agent for the Commonwealth to collect inheritance tax. The office also keeps historical birth and death records from 1893 to 1906 for Bensalem and all of Bucks County.
Bucks County is one of Pennsylvania's original counties, founded in 1682. That long history means record-keeping here extends far back. The county government portal at buckscounty.gov links to all county offices and provides online services for record searching. Doylestown has served as the Bucks County seat since 1812.
Note: The Bucks County Register of Wills also operates a satellite office at the Lower Bucks County Government Service Center, 7321 New Falls Rd, Levittown, PA 19055, phone 267-580-3585, which is convenient for Bensalem residents.
Ordering a Bensalem Death Certificate
To get a certified death certificate for someone who died in Bensalem, contact the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records. The cost is $20 per copy. Order online through VitalChek for faster processing. Mail requests go to the Division of Vital Records, PO Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103. Allow about three weeks for mail orders to process. Current processing times are posted at pa.gov/agencies/health/programs/vital-records/processing-times.
Provide the full legal name of the deceased, date of death, and county of death when you apply. Bucks County should be listed for Bensalem deaths. You must state your relationship to the person. The state genealogy program at pa.gov/agencies/health/programs/vital-records/genealogy explains the rules for accessing records of people who died more than 50 years ago. Those older records are more broadly accessible for genealogy purposes.
| Fee Per Copy | $20 |
|---|---|
| Online Vendor | VitalChek |
| Mail Address | Division of Vital Records, PO Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103 |
| County Office | Bucks County Register of Wills, 55 East Court Street, Doylestown |
| County Phone | 215-348-6265 |
The Bucks County government provides access to the Register of Wills and other county offices that hold death-related records for Bensalem and all Bucks County communities.
The Register of Wills office in Doylestown holds estate records, historical death documents, and probate files for all Bucks County residents including those in Bensalem.
Historical Bensalem Obituary Records
Bensalem was settled in the late 1600s and incorporated in 1692, making it one of the oldest communities in Pennsylvania. Its location along the Delaware River placed it at the heart of early colonial life in Bucks County. The township includes the historic community of Andalusia, which is home to the Nicholas Biddle estate. These deep roots mean death records here stretch back centuries in church registers, cemetery inscriptions, and county documents.
Bucks County historical records are rich because the county has never lost its records to fire or flood, unlike many other Pennsylvania counties. The Bucks County Register of Wills holds records going back to the county's founding in 1682, making it one of the most complete county archives in the state. For Bensalem families, this means probate records and estate documents may exist for ancestors going back to the earliest colonial period. These older records are not on the state vital records system but are accessible through the county office and through historical repositories.
Obituaries for Bensalem residents appear in Bucks County newspapers and in Philadelphia papers. Many of these have been digitized and indexed by genealogy organizations. The Bucks County Free Library system provides access to historical newspapers and genealogy databases. The main county library branch and regional branches hold microfilm and printed indexes that can help locate death notices from the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Bensalem Genealogy Resources
The PA State Archives death indices are a good starting point for Bensalem genealogy. Search them free online at pa.gov/agencies/phmc/pa-state-archives/research-online/vital-statistics-records. The indices cover 1906 to 1975 and list names and dates. Once you find a match, you can order the full certificate from the state. For deaths after 1975, you go directly to the Division of Vital Records without searching an index first.
The Bucks County Register of Wills at buckscounty.gov/615/Register-of-Wills provides historical records from 1893 to 1906 and probate records going back much further. These records are open to the public. Estate files for Bensalem residents who died with property can confirm dates of death and family details. The office has an online services portal for some record searching and document requests. Call 215-348-6265 to ask what is available online versus what requires a visit or mail request.
The state archives at phmc.pa.gov hold broader collections of early Pennsylvania vital records. For Bucks County research, FamilySearch and Ancestry have indexed many county records and obituary collections. Quaker meeting records are especially relevant for early Bensalem families, as the area had significant Quaker settlement. Friends meeting records are held by individual meetings and by the Haverford College Quaker Collection and the Friends Historical Library at Swarthmore College.
Note: Bucks County's unbroken record collection dating to 1682 makes it one of the most valuable genealogical repositories in Pennsylvania for colonial-era family research.
Related Bensalem Death Record Sources
Probate records at the Bucks County Register of Wills are the most closely linked county-level resource for death research. When someone dies with assets, the Register opens a probate case. That case file includes the will, an inventory of assets, and often a copy of the death certificate. Even if the person did not leave a will, the Register may appoint an administrator, creating a similar file. These records can fill gaps when the official state death certificate is not available or when more family detail is needed.
The Orphans' Court, which operates through the same office, holds records of guardianships that arise when a parent dies. For families with minor children, these court records add another layer of documentation around the death. The PA Orphans' Court directory at pacourts.us confirms contact information for the Bucks County court clerk. Cemetery records for historic Bensalem and the Neshaminy area are held by individual churches and have been partially indexed online. Colonial-era burial grounds in the township may have handwritten registers held by the county historical society or local churches.
Bucks County Obituary Records
Bensalem is part of Bucks County, and county-level death records, estate files, and historical documents for Bensalem residents are held in Doylestown. For full details on county resources, office contacts, and historical record collections, visit the Bucks County obituary records page.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Other communities in Bucks County and the greater Philadelphia area have their own death record offices. Choose a city below to learn about obituary records in that area.