Find Death Records in Centre County
Centre County obituary and death records are maintained in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. The Register of Wills holds county birth and death records from 1893 through 1905. Deaths from 1906 forward are on file with the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Centre County was formed in 1800 and covers a large area in the center of the state, home to Penn State University in State College. Searching Centre County death records may require contacting the county office in Bellefonte or requesting a certified copy through the state vital records system, depending on the year of death.
Centre County Quick Facts
Centre County Register of Wills
Christine Millinder serves as the Centre County Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court. The office handles estate administration, probates, inheritance tax filings, guardianship cases, and adoption records. County birth and death records from 1893 through 1905 are available here. For deaths from 1906 onward, the PA Division of Vital Records holds those records. All probate appointments, whether in person or by video conference, are scheduled in advance.
The Centre County Register of Wills offers virtual probate services through video conference as an option for estate administration. Call the office to schedule. In-person visits are by appointment as well. The office maintains records of wills, estate inventories, and related documents. Marriage records from the Clerk of Orphans' Court function go back to 1885. Guardianship and adoption papers are filed at this location. For genealogical research, having an exact name and approximate date helps staff locate records efficiently in Bellefonte.
The office is located at the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte. Visit centrecountypa.gov/393 for appointment scheduling and full office details.
| Office |
Centre County Register of Wills Centre County Courthouse 102 South Allegheny Street Bellefonte, PA 16823 Phone: (814) 355-6724 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM (appointments required) |
| Records | Death and birth records 1893–1905; Estate records from 1800 |
Centre County Office Resources
The Centre County government portal provides online access to county services, record request information, and contact details for the Register of Wills and other offices that hold obituary and death records in Bellefonte.
Centre County's records management office maintains the county archives, including historical and genealogical records that support death record research for families who lived and died in the region.
Requesting Centre County Death Certificates
Death certificates for Centre County residents who died from 1906 onward are available through the Pennsylvania Department of Health Division of Vital Records. The fee is $20 per certified copy. Requests can be made by mail, in person, or online. You will need the full name, date of death, and county of death to complete your request.
Immediate family members and those with a documented legal interest may request certified copies. The state genealogy program at pa.gov vital records genealogy allows access to older records for family history research. Start a certificate request at PA Vital Records or order through VitalChek. Check current processing times at the state website before submitting.
For deaths between 1893 and 1905, contact the Centre County Register of Wills at (814) 355-6724. These early records are held locally in Bellefonte.
Note: All probate appointments at the Centre County Register of Wills require advance scheduling, including for genealogical research visits.
Historical Death Records in Centre County
Centre County was incorporated on February 13, 1800, created from parts of Lycoming, Mifflin, and Northumberland Counties. Bellefonte has served as the county seat since 1801. The county covers the geographic center of Pennsylvania and includes State College, home of Penn State University. Estate records at the courthouse date back to 1800 and provide a continuous record of deaths and property transfers in Centre County for over two centuries.
Before 1893, formal Centre County death records were not kept by the state or county government. Deaths from that era survive in church records, cemetery registers, newspaper obituaries, and estate files. The Centre County Records Management office at the Willowbank Building in Bellefonte maintains the county archives. Naturalization records from 1802 to 1929 are available through the Historical Records Imaging Project managed by this office. These naturalization records can help trace immigrant ancestors who lived and died in Centre County. The Prothonotary's office holds civil court records from 1800 forward.
The Centre County Records Management office provides access to archived records and maintains electronic imaging and microfilm services for historical documents. Online county archives give researchers remote access to some historical record sets from Centre County.
Centre County Genealogy and Obituary Research
Genealogical research in Centre County draws on a wide range of resources. The Register of Wills holds estate records from 1800, making it one of the oldest continuing death-related record collections in the county. The Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts office at 102 South Allegheny Street, Room 102 maintains civil court records and naturalization files from 1802 to 1929. Phone: (814) 355-6796. These records can document the lives and deaths of early Centre County residents.
Church records throughout Centre County preserve death and burial information from before the county kept official vital statistics. Bellefonte area churches include some of the oldest congregations in the region, and their records often span the 1800s. Cemetery transcription projects for Centre County are available through the Pennsylvania State Archives and through genealogical societies that cover the area. Penn State University libraries also hold local history and genealogy collections relevant to Centre County families.
The Centre County Prothonotary provides access to the Pennsylvania UJS Portal for online docket searches and can assist with research into civil proceedings connected to deaths in the county.
Related Offices for Centre County Death Records
The Centre County Prothonotary at 102 South Allegheny Street handles civil court records from 1800 forward. Civil matters connected to a death, including estate disputes, may appear in these records. The office also provides passport services and maintains the county's naturalization record collection from 1802 to 1929. Phone: (814) 355-6796. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
The Records Management office in Bellefonte supports all county offices with electronic imaging, records storage, and access to the county archives. Their Historical Records Imaging Project has digitized some Centre County historical records for online access. Property records at the Recorder of Deeds may show when a deceased person's land was transferred after death. The Pennsylvania Courts Orphans' Court directory provides additional information on estate and guardianship matters handled through the Centre County courts.
Cities in Centre County
No cities from our directory are currently listed for this county.
Nearby Counties
Centre County shares borders with several Pennsylvania counties. Records for people who lived near a county boundary may be held in more than one county.