Delaware County Obituary and Death Records
Delaware County obituary and death records are maintained by the Register of Wills in Media, Pennsylvania. The office holds historical death records from 1885 onward, along with estate and probate records that go back to the county's founding in 1789. For deaths after 1906, the Pennsylvania Department of Health issues certified death certificates. Delaware County is one of the most populated counties in southeastern Pennsylvania, and its records are well-organized and largely accessible online.
Delaware County Quick Facts
Delaware County Register of Wills
The Delaware County Register of Wills is your first stop for local death and estate records. Vincent Rongione, Esq. serves as Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court. The office is at the Government Center Building, 201 West Front Street, Media, PA 19063. Phone is 610-891-4400. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
This office holds marriage license records from 1885 to present. It also keeps probate records and estate filings that often contain information about the death of a person, including named heirs and property inventories. Online records search for probated estates is available free to the public. Online ordering of copies of marriage and probate records is also available. For many Delaware County families, searching the online estate index is a quick way to find a starting point for death and obituary research.
The Register of Wills also offers online pre-entry for probate petitions to speed up in-person appointments. E-filing of certain Orphans' Court forms is available. Plain PDF copies of records cost $2.00 per record by email. Certified copies cost $25.00 by U.S. mail. Exemplified copies are $30.00 by mail. These options make Delaware County one of the more accessible counties for online death and estate record research in Pennsylvania.
| Office |
Delaware County Register of Wills Government Center Building 201 West Front Street Media, PA 19063 Phone: 610-891-4400 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | delcopa.gov/row |
Pennsylvania Death Certificates for Delaware County
Certified death certificates for Delaware County deaths from 1906 onward are issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The fee is $20 per certified copy. You can order online through VitalChek, by mail to the Division of Vital Records, or in person at a state walk-in office. The closest walk-in office for Delaware County residents is in Philadelphia. Processing times for mail orders typically run about three weeks.
To order a Delaware County death certificate, provide the full name of the person who died, the approximate year and place of death, and your relationship to the deceased. You must show valid photo ID. Certified copies are legally accepted for estate matters, name changes, and other official uses. Genealogy copies for deaths more than 50 years old carry fewer restrictions. Visit pa.gov for current instructions and ordering options.
Historical Death Records in Delaware County
Delaware County was created on September 26, 1789 from part of Chester County. Media has been the county seat since 1850. The county is named after the Delaware River. Its location just west of Philadelphia means it has been densely settled since colonial times. Many old families with long roots in Delaware County appear in estate and court records going back to the 1700s.
Formal death registration in Delaware County began in the late 1800s. Before that, the best sources are church records, cemetery transcriptions, and Orphans' Court files. The Delaware County Historical Society in Media holds obituary clippings, family files, and local newspaper collections. Many churches in Delaware County kept detailed burial registers, and some have been microfilmed or digitized for research use.
The Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg holds statewide records including some Delaware County historical vital records on microfilm. Researchers can search the online index at pa.gov archives before making a trip. Local public libraries in Media and across Delaware County also hold genealogy collections and newspaper archives with obituaries going back many decades.
Note: The Delaware County Law Library and the Chester County Archives also hold records that overlap with Delaware County history from the colonial period before Delaware County was carved out of Chester County.
Genealogy Resources for Delaware County Obituaries
Delaware County has good genealogy resources because of its size and proximity to Philadelphia. The Delaware County Library System offers access to genealogy databases at no cost from your library card. Ancestry, Newspapers.com, and other online databases are available at library branches throughout the county. Obituary notices from local papers such as the Delaware County Daily Times can be found at several library locations.
The Delaware County Historical Society in Media is an excellent resource for local research. They hold cemetery transcriptions, obituary files, family history books, and local newspaper indexes. Staff can assist with searches when visiting in person. The Delaware County government portal links to all county offices and provides contact details for departments involved in death record research.
Related Delaware County Offices
The Orphans' Court in Delaware County, part of the Register of Wills office at 201 West Front Street, Media, handles estate matters, guardianships, and adoptions that arise when someone dies. Court files are public records and can contain important details about the deceased. The PA Orphans' Court Clerks directory confirms the Delaware County office contact information.
Property records for Delaware County are maintained by the Recorder of Deeds at the Government Center Building in Media. When a person dies and owns property in Delaware County, the estate must transfer the deed. These records often reference the death certificate and name the heirs. For estate-related property research, the Recorder of Deeds is a good complement to the Register of Wills records.
For questions about the state genealogy program for older death records, visit pa.gov genealogy. This program provides access to death certificates more than 50 years old with fewer requirements than current certified copies.
Cities in Delaware County
Explore death and obituary records for cities within Delaware County.
Nearby Counties
Delaware County borders several Pennsylvania counties. If the person you are researching lived near a county line, their death records may be in a neighboring county. Confirm the home address before you search.