Chester County Obituary Records
Chester County obituary and death records are available through the Register of Wills and the Chester County Archives in West Chester, Pennsylvania. The Archives holds birth and death records from 1852 to 1855 and again from 1893 through 1906. Chester County is one of the three original counties created by William Penn in 1682, giving it one of the longest records histories in Pennsylvania. Death certificates for Chester County residents who died after 1906 are maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. West Chester is the county seat and the location of all major record-keeping offices.
Chester County Quick Facts
Chester County Register of Wills
Michele Vaughn serves as the Chester County Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans' Court. The office is located at 201 West Market Street, Suite 2200, in the Chester County Justice Center in West Chester. The Register handles probate, estate administration, guardianship, and adoption records. Marriage records from 1885 to the present are also maintained here. The office handles appointment-based visits, and callers who will be late should contact the office directly.
The Chester County Archives holds death records separately from the Register of Wills main office. Birth and death records from 1852 to 1855 and from 1893 through 1906 are at the Archives. Wills and administrations from 1714 to 1923 are available there as well. Marriage records from 1852 to 1855 and 1885 to 1930 are also held at the Archives. Chester County has maintained records since the colonial era, making it one of the richest genealogical resources in the state. The Archives is a key destination for anyone researching deaths in Chester County before 1906.
Visit the Chester County Register of Wills page for appointment scheduling and current office information.
| Office |
Chester County Register of Wills 201 West Market Street, Suite 2200 West Chester, PA 19380 Phone: (610) 344-6335 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Archives Records | Death records 1852–1855 and 1893–1906; Wills from 1714 |
If you will be late for your appointment at the Chester County Register of Wills, call (610) 344-6335. Appointments more than 15 minutes late may need to be rescheduled.
Chester County Register of Wills and Orphans Court
The Chester County Register of Wills and Orphans' Court in West Chester handles estate matters, death-related records, and genealogical research requests for one of Pennsylvania's oldest and most historically significant counties.
Chester County's record collections span more than 340 years, including colonial-era wills from 1714, early death records from 1852, and continuous death record coverage from 1893 onward, making it one of the deepest genealogical archives in Pennsylvania.
Requesting Chester County Death Certificates
Chester County death certificates for deaths from 1906 onward are held by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Certified copies cost $20 each. The state vital records office handles mail, in-person, and online requests. Processing times vary by request method and current volume.
To request a Chester County death certificate, provide the full name, date of death, and county. Eligible requesters include immediate family members and those with a documented legal interest. Request a certificate at PA Vital Records or through VitalChek for online ordering. Check current processing times at pa.gov vital records processing times before submitting your request.
For death records from 1852 to 1855 or 1893 to 1906, contact the Chester County Archives. For deaths related to estate matters, the Register of Wills at (610) 344-6335 can help with probate files and historical records. Public records from Chester County courts can be accessed through chestercountycourt.org/public-records.
Historical Chester County Obituary and Death Records
Chester County was created on March 10, 1682, making it one of Pennsylvania's three original counties established by William Penn. West Chester has been the county seat since 1788. The county's history predates American independence, and its record collections reflect that long span of time. Wills and estate administrations from 1714 onward are preserved at the Chester County Archives, providing centuries of death documentation for families who lived in the region.
Death records in Chester County are among the oldest in the state. The Archives holds records from 1852 to 1855, which predates most other Pennsylvania county death records by decades. This early collection came from a brief period when Pennsylvania required county registration of vital events. The state then stopped collecting these records until 1893. The gap from 1856 to 1892 in formal county records means that church registers, cemetery transcriptions, and estate files become the primary sources for Chester County deaths during that period.
Chester County's historic sites and well-preserved church records support deep genealogical research. Many of the earliest Quaker, Presbyterian, and other colonial-era congregations kept careful death and burial records. The Chester County Archives holds many of these older records on microfilm. The Pennsylvania State Archives also holds Chester County records including some early church registers and vital statistics on microfilm that extend back to the colonial period.
Note: Chester County Archives holds wills from 1714 to 1923, making it a primary source for colonial and early American death research in southeastern Pennsylvania.
Chester County Genealogy Resources for Death Research
Genealogy research in Chester County benefits from one of the oldest and deepest archives in Pennsylvania. The Chester County Archives holds wills from 1714, estate administrations, marriage records from 1852 onward, and death records from two separate periods. For genealogists, this county offers a remarkably long and well-preserved record base. The county is known for its historic sites and rural countryside, which support active local history and genealogical societies.
The Chester County marriage license office maintains records from 1885 to the present. Marriage records can help confirm family relationships that arise in death research. Certified copies of marriage records are $20 per copy. The Recorder of Deeds at 313 West Market Street, Suite 3302, phone (610) 344-6330, holds land records that often reflect estate transfers following a death in Chester County. Diane O'Dwyer serves as the current Recorder of Deeds.
The Pennsylvania vital records genealogy program allows access to older state death records for family history research. Combined with the county Archives, this program gives Chester County researchers access to death records spanning more than a century and a half.
Related Chester County Record Offices
The Chester County Justice Center at 201 West Market Street houses most county record offices in one location. The Clerk of Courts, Yolanda Van de Krol, is located at Suite 1400. Certified copies of court records are $7.00 for the first four pages, with additional pages at $0.65 each. Divorce records can be requested through the Prothonotary at (610) 344-6300. For public records access, visit chestercountycourt.org/public-records.
Death records and estate matters connect to several county offices. Land transfers after death go through the Recorder of Deeds. Orphans' Court matters including guardianship and estate administration go through the Register of Wills. For questions about which office holds the records you need in Chester County, visit the Chester County government portal for a full directory of departments and elected officials.
The Pennsylvania Courts Orphans' Court directory lists Chester County contact information for estate and guardianship matters handled through the courts.
Cities in Chester County
No cities from our directory are currently listed for this county.
Nearby Counties
Chester County is located in southeastern Pennsylvania and shares borders with several neighboring counties. Death records for residents near county lines may be filed in more than one location.