Scranton Obituary Records
Scranton obituary and death records are available through the Pennsylvania Department of Health and through the Lackawanna County Register of Wills. Scranton is the county seat of Lackawanna County and the largest city in northeastern Pennsylvania, with about 76,000 residents. The city has one of Pennsylvania's six walk-in vital records offices, which means you can go in person to request Scranton death certificates without mailing an application. Whether you need a recent death certificate or historical death notices, this guide covers your options.
Scranton Quick Facts
Where Scranton Death Records Are Kept
Scranton death records from 1906 forward are held by the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records. This is the state agency that issues certified death certificates for all of Pennsylvania, including Lackawanna County. The unique advantage for Scranton residents is that the state operates a walk-in vital records office right in the city. You can visit in person to pick up a death certificate the same day without waiting for mail. This makes Scranton one of only six cities in Pennsylvania with this kind of walk-in access.
The Lackawanna County Register of Wills is the county-level office for death-related records. This office is located at the Government Center, 123 Wyoming Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503. You can reach them at 570-963-6737. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Register of Wills holds historical birth and death records from 1893 to 1906, as well as probate and estate records. Estate files often confirm the date of death for individuals who went through probate. Online estate search is also available through lackawannacounty.org.
Note: For deaths that occurred before 1906, check both the Lackawanna County Register of Wills and the state archives, which hold pre-statewide vital records compiled by individual counties.
How to Order a Scranton Death Certificate
You have three ways to order a Scranton death certificate. First, you can walk in to the Scranton Division of Vital Records office. This is the fastest option for those who live nearby and can pick up the record in person. Second, you can order online through VitalChek, which is the state's authorized vendor. Third, you can mail a written request to the Division of Vital Records, PO Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103. Each copy costs $20.
Mail orders take about three weeks to process. Check current processing times at pa.gov/agencies/health/programs/vital-records/processing-times before you plan your request. For genealogy purposes, records that are more than 50 years old have relaxed access rules. The state genealogy program at pa.gov/agencies/health/programs/vital-records/genealogy covers who qualifies and what you can request. You need the full name of the deceased, the date of death, and your relationship to them for any certified copy request.
| Fee Per Copy | $20 |
|---|---|
| Walk-In Office | Scranton, PA (one of 6 PA walk-in locations) |
| Online Vendor | VitalChek |
| Processing Time | Approximately 3 weeks by mail |
| Records Start | 1906 |
The Lackawanna County government provides access to county offices including the Register of Wills, which handles estate and probate records for Scranton and all of Lackawanna County.
County offices hold historical death records from 1893 to 1906 and estate files that complement state death certificates for Scranton obituary research.
Historical Scranton Obituary and Death Records
Scranton's history as a coal mining and industrial center means death records here tell a particular kind of story. The city was known as the "Electric City" and was one of the first in the nation to run electric streetcars. Before that, it was built on anthracite coal. Thousands of miners and their families lived and died in Scranton from the mid-1800s onward. Mining accidents, occupational illness, and early mortality are all part of the death record landscape for this era. Obituaries from that period appear in local newspapers and give a vivid picture of community life.
The Albright Memorial Library at 500 Vine Street, Scranton, PA 18509 is the primary library resource for Scranton obituary records. Phone contact is 570-348-3000. The library maintains Scranton newspapers on microfilm and holds obituary indexes for research. Free access to Ancestry Library Edition is available in the library. The Reference Department assists patrons with genealogy questions and can guide you to the right collection for the time period you need. City directories from past decades are also part of the collection and help confirm when and where individuals lived.
The Lackawanna Historical Society at 232 Monroe Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503 maintains extensive archives for the area. Their phone number is 570-344-3844. The collection includes manuscripts, photographs, family papers, and labor history materials tied to the coal mining era. The society operates a research library by appointment. Staff can assist with genealogical inquiries and help locate documents related to specific Scranton families. Publications on local history are available for purchase and can support broader genealogy research.
Scranton Genealogy Resources
Multiple resources support genealogy research tied to Scranton death records. Start with the PA State Archives death indices, which cover 1906 to 1975. Search them at pa.gov/agencies/phmc/pa-state-archives/research-online/vital-statistics-records. These indices let you confirm a name and date before you order the full death certificate. They are free to search online and cover all Pennsylvania counties including Lackawanna.
For records before 1906, the full state archives at phmc.pa.gov hold earlier vital statistics compiled at the county level. The Lackawanna County Register of Wills also keeps historical birth and death records from 1893 to 1906 at its office in Scranton. These records are worth checking for families who lived in Scranton during the late 19th century industrial boom. Church records from Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant congregations that served immigrant mining families are another important source not available through government channels.
The Lackawanna County Register of Wills provides the official contact for probate and estate records in Scranton. Estate files opened after a death often include a copy of the death certificate or at minimum the date and place of death. These records go back well into the 19th century and can be essential when state vital records do not yet exist for the time period you are researching.
Note: The Lackawanna Historical Society's coal mining and labor history materials are among the richest in northeastern Pennsylvania and are especially helpful for families with roots in the anthracite industry.
Related Scranton Death Record Sources
Coroner's records are a valuable supplement to standard death certificates. In Scranton, mining accidents and industrial deaths generated coroner records separate from the state vital records system. Lackawanna County coroner records may be accessible through the county or through the state archives. Inquire at the county courthouse for guidance on older coroner files. These records can confirm cause of death and circumstances that do not always appear in a standard death certificate.
Cemetery records are widely available for Scranton. The city has numerous historic cemeteries that served different ethnic and religious communities. Dunmore Cemetery and Cathedral Cemetery are among the larger ones. Many cemetery records have been indexed and posted online by genealogy volunteers. The Lackawanna Historical Society may also hold burial records and death notices tied to specific cemeteries or neighborhoods in Scranton.
The PA Orphans' Court directory at pacourts.us can direct you to the right office for court records tied to estate matters in Lackawanna County. For the official state code governing vital records access, the full regulations are posted at pacodeandbulletin.gov.
Lackawanna County Obituary Records
Scranton is the county seat of Lackawanna County. All county-level death records, estate files, and related documents for Scranton residents are held through Lackawanna County offices. For full details on county resources, historical records, and office contacts, visit the Lackawanna County obituary records page.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Residents of nearby cities have their own death record offices and resources. Pick a city below to learn about obituary records in that area.