Forest County Obituary and Death Records
Forest County obituary and death records are maintained by the Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court at the Forest County Courthouse in Tionesta, Pennsylvania. The office holds historical birth records from 1894 to 1906 and death records from 1860 to 1905. Deaths after 1906 are registered with the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Forest County is one of the least populated counties in Pennsylvania and is located in the heavily forested northwestern part of the state. Its records go back to 1848, when the county was formed.
Forest County Quick Facts
Forest County Register of Wills
The Forest County Register of Wills is on the first floor of the Forest County Courthouse, 526 Elm Street, Tionesta, PA 16353. Dawn M. Millin serves as Register. Phone is 814-755-3526. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. As a small county, Forest County combines several offices for efficiency, so the Register and Recorder handles vital records, land records, and court records in one location.
This office holds death records from 1860 to 1905. These are among the earliest formal death records available in Forest County and represent a rare window into the lives of the first families who settled in this forested region. Birth records from 1894 to 1906 are also on file. Marriage license records from 1885 to present are maintained. All records date back to the county's formation in 1848. The office provides certified copies for established fees and can help with genealogical research requests.
Forest County was created on April 11, 1848 from part of Jefferson County. The county is named for its dense forests, which still cover most of the land today. Tionesta, the county seat, sits along the Allegheny River. The county is one of the most rural in Pennsylvania, and its small size means records are often more personal and detailed than in larger counties.
| Office |
Forest County Register of Wills Forest County Courthouse 526 Elm Street Tionesta, PA 16353 Phone: 814-755-3526 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
| Website | co.forest.pa.us |
Pennsylvania Death Certificates for Forest County
The Pennsylvania Department of Health issues certified death certificates for deaths in Forest County after 1906. The fee is $20 per copy. Orders can be placed online through VitalChek, by mail, or at a state vital records walk-in office. For Forest County residents, the closest walk-in offices are in Erie or Harrisburg. Mail orders take roughly three weeks to process. Check pa.gov processing times for current wait estimates.
To order a Forest County death certificate, you need the full name of the deceased, the year of death, the county of death, and proof of your identity. Certified copies are used for legal and estate matters. Genealogy copies of deaths more than 50 years old are easier to obtain and have fewer access restrictions. Full details are at pa.gov vital records.
Historical Death Records in Forest County
Forest County's death records from 1860 to 1905 are notable because they predate statewide registration and go back further than most Pennsylvania county-level records. These early records were kept locally before the state began requiring uniform registration in 1906. They can contain the name, age, cause of death, and place of burial for each person listed. For genealogists researching Forest County families from the mid-1800s through the early 1900s, these local records are an important find.
For deaths before 1860, researchers rely on church registers, cemetery transcriptions, and Orphans' Court files from 1848 onward. Many early Forest County families belonged to small rural churches whose registers have been preserved by local historical societies. The Allegheny River valley communities near Tionesta have a number of old cemeteries that have been transcribed by volunteers and posted online.
The Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg holds records from across the state, including some early vital records on microfilm. You can search the archives index at pa.gov archives. The Forest County government portal provides the latest contact information for all county offices involved in death record research.
Note: Forest County's historical death records from 1860 onward are unusual among Pennsylvania counties and give researchers a head start on pre-1906 mortality data.
Genealogy Resources for Forest County Obituaries
Forest County is small, but it has dedicated local resources for death and obituary research. The Tionesta Public Library holds local newspaper archives with obituary notices going back many decades. Local papers from the Tionesta area have covered Forest County deaths since the 1800s. Many obituary notices from these papers have been clipped and filed by local historical researchers.
The Forest County Historical Society can assist with genealogy questions and holds family files and local history materials. Cemetery records for Forest County have been transcribed by volunteers and are available online through databases like Find A Grave. The Pennsylvania State Archives at phmc.pa.gov holds microfilm of early county records that supplement the local collection in Tionesta. For state genealogy program access to older death certificates, visit pa.gov genealogy.
Forest County Orphans Court and Related Records
The Forest County Clerk of Orphans' Court at 526 Elm Street in Tionesta processes estate matters, adoptions, and guardianships that arise after a death. Records date back to 1848 and are public records available for research. Estate files from the Orphans' Court often contain the most detailed information about a person's death, including named heirs, property lists, and family relationships that do not appear on a death certificate alone.
When a Forest County resident died leaving dependents or property, the matter went through Orphans' Court. These records can serve as indirect proof of death for the period before formal registration. The Recorder of Deeds function within the same courthouse handles land records, and property transfer records after a death can confirm both the date of death and the identities of surviving family members.
Cities in Forest County
No cities from our directory are currently listed for this county.
Nearby Counties
Forest County borders several other Pennsylvania counties in the northwestern part of the state. If a person lived near a county line, their death records may be held in a neighboring county.