Erie County Obituary and Death Records
Erie County obituary and death records are held by the Erie County Clerk of Records at the Erie County Courthouse. This combined office handles Register of Wills, Recorder of Deeds, Prothonotary, and Orphans' Court duties for the entire county. Historical death records from the county date to 1800. Deaths after 1906 are registered with the Pennsylvania Department of Health, which has a walk-in vital records office in Erie. Whether you are searching for a recent death certificate or a 19th-century obituary record, Erie County has multiple resources to help.
Erie County Quick Facts
Erie County Clerk of Records
The Erie County Clerk of Records is the primary office for death-related records in the county. Aubrea Hagerty-Haynes was elected Clerk of Records in 2021. The office is at the Erie County Courthouse, 140 West Sixth Street, Erie, PA 16501. Phone is 814-451-6258. This single office handles the duties of five separate county offices, including the Register of Wills, which is the main office for estate and death records.
The Register of Wills function within this office maintains records relating to estates and probate of wills. The Marriage Licenses Bureau holds marriage records from 1885 to present. Historical records in Erie County go back to 1800, when the county was formed from Allegheny County. Online records search for probate and marriage records is available. E-recording and e-filing services are also in place, making Erie County one of the more modernized county offices in northwestern Pennsylvania.
Erie County was formed on March 12, 1800. Erie, the county seat, is the fourth-largest city in Pennsylvania. The county is named for Lake Erie and the Erie Native American tribe. Its location on Lake Erie made it a major port and trading center, and Erie County death and estate records reflect a diverse, long-established community.
| Office |
Erie County Clerk of Records Erie County Courthouse 140 West Sixth Street Erie, PA 16501 Phone: 814-451-6258 |
|---|---|
| Marriage Bureau | Phone: 814-451-6347, Room 123 |
| Website | courts.eriecountypa.gov |
Erie County Death Certificates from the State
Certified death certificates for Erie County deaths after 1906 are issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The fee is $20 per certified copy. According to the Erie County Clerk of Records, birth and death certificates are handled at the state level. The closest vital records walk-in office is at 1910 W. 26th St, Erie, PA 16508, phone 814-871-4261. This Erie location makes it easy for county residents to get death certificates without traveling to Harrisburg.
You can also order online through VitalChek or by mail to the Division of Vital Records. Processing times for mail orders are typically about three weeks. For current wait times, check pa.gov processing times. Provide the full name, year of death, and your relationship to the deceased when ordering.
Note: The Erie vital records walk-in office at 1910 W. 26th St is one of the few regional offices in Pennsylvania and serves all of northwestern PA.
City of Erie Death Records
The City of Erie is the county seat of Erie County and the largest city in northwestern Pennsylvania. Most death records involving City of Erie residents are filed through the county Clerk of Records office at the courthouse. The City of Erie government portal can direct you to municipal resources and local history collections that support death record and obituary research. Erie's long history as a port city means it has a rich archive of historical death notices and estate records going back to the 1800s.
For genealogy and obituary research specific to the City of Erie, the Erie County Public Library holds an extensive local history and genealogy collection. The library maintains obituary indexes for Erie newspapers going back many decades. Erie newspapers such as the Erie Times-News have a long publication history and their archives are an important source for death notices and obituaries in Erie County.
Historical Death Records in Erie County
Erie County has historical records going back to 1800. Before formal death registration began in the 1890s, the main sources for death research are church burial registers, cemetery records, and estate filings. The county has a long Catholic and Protestant history, and many parishes kept detailed burial registers. Some of these have been microfilmed or digitized.
The Erie County Historical Society holds obituary clippings, family files, and local newspaper archives. The Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg holds statewide microfilm records that include some early Erie County vital records. You can search the online index at pa.gov archives. The Erie County Public Library genealogy room is one of the better local research centers in northwestern Pennsylvania.
Related Erie County Offices and Record Types
The Recorder of Deeds function within the Erie County Clerk of Records office keeps property records from 1800 to present. Property transfers from estates are recorded here and can help confirm a death date and name heirs. The Erie County record information page explains which types of records are held locally versus at the state level and how to request each type.
The Orphans' Court function handles guardianships and adoptions that arise after a death in Erie County. These court records are public and can contain useful details about the deceased and their family. For detailed guidance on probate in Pennsylvania, the PA Orphans' Court Clerks directory provides statewide office contacts. Erie County's combined Clerk of Records office at 140 West Sixth Street handles all of these matters in one location.
Cities in Erie County
Explore death and obituary records for cities within Erie County.
Nearby Counties
Erie County borders Crawford, Mercer, and Warren counties in Pennsylvania. It also borders Ohio and New York state. If you are researching a person who lived near these borders, their records may be in a neighboring county or even a neighboring state.