Bedford County Obituary and Death Records
Bedford County death records and obituary information can be found through the county Register of Wills and the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records. Bedford County lies in south-central Pennsylvania, in the Allegheny Mountain region. The county seat is Bedford, a historic town that has served as the center of county government since 1771. This guide covers where to find Bedford County death certificates and how to research historical obituary and genealogy materials locally.
Bedford County Quick Facts
Bedford County Register of Wills
The Bedford County Register of Wills handles estate administration, marriage licenses, and the earliest local vital records. The office holds birth and death records from the 1893 to 1906 county recording period. Marriage license records from 1885 to the present are also maintained here. The Register of Wills also serves as Clerk of the Orphans' Court for adoptions, guardianships, and estate proceedings.
The office is at the Bedford County Courthouse, 200 South Juliana Street, Bedford, PA 15522. Phone is 814-623-4806. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. For genealogical research of pre-1906 records, call ahead to ask about specific record availability. Some historical materials are stored in secure vaults and need staff assistance to retrieve. Research fees and copy fees are set by the Bedford County Board of Commissioners.
The official Bedford County government website links to all county departments, including the Register of Wills, Prothonotary, and Recorder of Deeds. You can download forms and find contact details for all county offices from the main portal.
The image below is from the Bedford County government website, which is the starting point for locating all county records and services related to Bedford County obituary and death matters.
Bedford County has one of the oldest county governments in Pennsylvania, with records dating back to 1771, making it a rich resource for genealogical research in the central part of the state.
| Office |
Bedford County Register of Wills 200 South Juliana Street Bedford, PA 15522 Phone: 814-623-4806 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Records | Birth and death records 1893-1906; marriage licenses 1885-present; estate records |
Getting a Bedford County Death Certificate
For Bedford County deaths from 1906 forward, the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records is the place to order a certified copy. Under 35 P.S. Section 450.101, Pennsylvania has required statewide death registration since 1906. The state holds all records from that point on.
A certified death certificate costs $20. You can order online through VitalChek or by mailing your request to Division of Vital Records, PO Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103. Mail orders take about three weeks. Have your valid photo ID ready. The PA Department of Health death certificates page explains eligibility rules and what you need to include with your request.
For genealogical research of older Bedford County death records, the Pennsylvania State Archives provides access to historical vital statistics records. Their Ancestry.com partnership allows online viewing of scanned death certificates for many early 20th-century Bedford County deaths.
Note: Bedford County was formed in 1771, making it one of the oldest counties in Pennsylvania, but official vital records only go back to 1893 at the county level and 1906 at the state level.
Historical Bedford County Obituary Research
Bedford County newspapers have long published death notices and obituaries for local residents. These records are a valuable supplement to official death certificates. A good obituary can tell you when and where a person was born, the names of surviving family members, and the church or community the person belonged to in Bedford County.
The Bedford County Historical Society maintains a museum and research library with local history materials. The collection includes newspapers, family histories, cemetery records, and obituary indexes for Bedford County papers. The Historical Society is located in Bedford. Contact them through their website at bedfordhistorical.org for research inquiries and hours. The society also offers research assistance for people who cannot visit in person.
For deaths before 1893, church registers and cemetery records are the main resources. Bedford County has many historic cemeteries, and transcription projects have made many burial records available through genealogical databases. The Allegheny Mountain region had strong German and Scots-Irish settlement patterns, and church records from these communities can fill in gaps in official death documentation.
Related Bedford County Records
The Bedford County Prothonotary at 200 South Juliana Street, Bedford, PA 15522, phone 814-623-4811, maintains civil court records for the Court of Common Pleas. This includes wrongful death filings and estate disputes. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. You can also search civil dockets online through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System portal.
The Orphans' Court in Bedford County handles all estate matters and hears disputes about wills. Estate inventories and accountings filed with the court are public records and can contain useful genealogical information about deceased Bedford County residents. The Pennsylvania Orphans' Court directory has contact information for Bedford County's court clerk.
The Pennsylvania genealogy vital records page is a helpful starting point for understanding all the state resources available for Bedford County death record research.
Cities in Bedford County
No cities from our directory are currently listed for this county.
Nearby Counties
Bedford County is surrounded by other south-central Pennsylvania counties. Check the county where the death occurred to make sure you are requesting from the right office.