Philadelphia Death Records
Philadelphia obituary and death records are held at several locations depending on the year and type of record you need. The city is the largest in Pennsylvania, with over 1.6 million residents. Philadelphia is a consolidated city-county, which means the city and county share the same government structure. Death records for Philadelphia go back to 1803 in some form. Whether you are doing genealogy research or need a certified copy for legal use, this guide will help you find Philadelphia death records and obituaries from the right source.
Philadelphia Quick Facts
Where to Find Philadelphia Death Records
Philadelphia death records are spread across several offices based on the time period. For deaths after 1906, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records handles certified copies. You can reach the state office at pa.gov vital records. For older records, the Philadelphia City Archives is the primary source.
The Philadelphia City Archives holds death records from July 1860 to June 1915. That is a 55-year window before statewide death registration began. The archives also holds cemetery return records going back to 1803, which list burials in Philadelphia cemeteries long before formal death certificates existed. These older records are often the only source for early Philadelphia deaths. Visit the Philadelphia Department of Records for more on what is available and how to access it.
The Register of Wills office in Philadelphia handles estate records and probate. Estate files often contain obituaries, death notices, and family relationship details. The office is at City Hall, Room 180. Phone is 215-686-6255. Their website at phila.gov/departments/register-of-wills has more detail on what records are kept and how to search them.
| Office | Philadelphia City Archives |
|---|---|
| Address | 548 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Records | Death records 1860-1915; cemetery returns 1803-1860 |
| Website | phila.gov archival records |
Note: If no record is found at the City Archives, staff will issue a "No Record Statement" for legal purposes. This can be useful when other agencies need proof of a search attempt.
How to Order a Philadelphia Death Certificate
For deaths from 1906 to the present, you order a certified death certificate from the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records. The fee is $20 per copy. You can order online through VitalChek, by mail, or in person. Philadelphia is one of the walk-in service locations in Pennsylvania, which means you can get a certified copy the same day rather than waiting weeks by mail.
Walk-in service is available at the Philadelphia vital records office. This is one of only six walk-in locations in the entire state. It provides a major advantage for Philadelphia residents who need a death certificate quickly. For urgent requests, walk-in service avoids the wait times that mail orders require. Check current processing times at pa.gov processing times before deciding which method to use.
To order by mail, send your completed application to the Division of Vital Records, PO Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103. Include a copy of your ID, the $20 fee, and proof of your relationship to the deceased. Genealogical requests for records over 50 years old have fewer restrictions on who can request them. The state also maintains death certificates on Ancestry.com for the years 1906 through 1968 through the PA State Archives.
Note: Payment at the Philadelphia City Archives must be cash, money order, or credit card. Personal checks are not accepted. Make checks for mail requests payable to "City of Philadelphia."
Philadelphia City Archives Death Records
The Philadelphia Department of Records manages the City Archives, which is one of the most significant urban archives on the East Coast. It holds over 20,000 cubic feet of historical records. For death record research, the archives is the primary source for Philadelphia deaths before 1906.
The Philadelphia City Archives archival records page explains what records are available and how to request them. Death records held at the archives run from July 1860 to June 1915. Cemetery return records extend the available death information back to 1803, listing burials across Philadelphia before formal death records began. You can visit in person at 548 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123, or mail a written request to the same address. In-person visits are by appointment Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mailed requests typically take two to four weeks depending on volume.
William Penn founded Philadelphia in 1682. That long history means death and burial records span multiple centuries. The archives holds records dating to the 1700s, preserved in climate-controlled storage. Beyond death certificates, the collection includes historical land records, photographs, and city commission records that can help flesh out a family history in Philadelphia.
Historical Philadelphia Obituary Records
Philadelphia has a rich newspaper history going back to the 1700s. Obituaries published in local papers often contain details that do not appear in official death records. Names of survivors, funeral home locations, and biographical summaries are common in newspaper obituaries. Finding these records can fill gaps left by formal documents.
The Free Library of Philadelphia Central Library at 1901 Vine Street holds historic Philadelphia newspapers on microfilm. The Social Science and History Department maintains local history materials including city directories from the 1700s to the present. The library provides free access to Ancestry Library Edition in-branch, which includes digitized death records and obituary collections. Call 215-686-5322 for reference help or visit libwww.freelibrary.org/locations/central-library to plan your visit.
The Historical Society of Pennsylvania at 1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, phone 215-732-6200, holds over 21 million manuscripts and published items. The collection includes family histories, diaries, and personal papers that often mention deaths and burials. Historical Pennsylvania newspapers are available in the reading room. Genealogical research services are also available for remote researchers who cannot visit in person.
Philadelphia Genealogy and Obituary Resources
Philadelphia offers more genealogy resources than almost any other Pennsylvania city. Several major institutions focus on local history and family records. Each one has its own strengths. Together they cover Philadelphia deaths from the colonial era to the present day.
The Philadelphia Orphans' Court handles estate matters, adoptions, and guardianships through the Philadelphia Municipal Courts. The court maintains estate records from 1885 to the present. Historical Orphans' Court records provide family relationship information that can confirm deaths and identify heirs. The court is located at City Hall, Philadelphia. Estate proceedings are public records accessible through the court clerk. More information is at phila.gov/departments/philadelphia-municipal-courts.
For online genealogy research, the PA State Archives vital statistics records page links to digitized death certificates available through Ancestry.com. Birth certificates for 1906 to 1913 and death certificates for 1906 to 1968 are included. This free resource is accessible to anyone with an Ancestry account or through a local library's free institutional access.
The PA State Archives also maintains historical Philadelphia records separately from the state vital records program. Their online portal at phmc.pa.gov archives research links to digital collections that include Philadelphia-specific materials. These cover a range of record types that go beyond death certificates alone.
Note: The PA State Archives holds death certificates for 1906 through 1975. For deaths after 1975, the Division of Vital Records is the correct source.
Related Records and Offices in Philadelphia
Several other offices hold records related to Philadelphia deaths. These can supplement what you find at the City Archives or Division of Vital Records.
The Philadelphia Register of Wills at City Hall, Room 415, phone 215-686-6250, maintains estate records and probate files from 1885 to the present. Probate files list the deceased person's name, date of death, and heirs. They often attach a copy of the death certificate as part of the filing. This office also handles inheritance tax filings, which can reveal family relationships and asset details. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health genealogy page at pa.gov genealogy vital records explains what records are open for genealogical research and what restrictions apply. Records older than 50 years are generally more accessible. The orphans' court at pacourts.us orphans court clerks can also assist with estate-related death research in Philadelphia County.
For the legal framework on Pennsylvania vital records, the administrative code at pacodeandbulletin.gov chapter 1 covers the rules for death certificate registration and access. Understanding this framework helps researchers know what records exist and who can request them.
Philadelphia County Death Records
Philadelphia is a consolidated city-county, which means the city and county share the same borders and government. County-level death records for Philadelphia include Register of Wills estate files, historical county death registrations, and records held at the county courthouse. For the full picture of death records held at the county level, visit the Philadelphia County obituary records page.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Residents of nearby cities search for death records through their own county offices. Select a city below to find obituary and death record resources in that area.