Franklin County Death Records
Franklin County obituary and death records are held by the Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. The office keeps historical birth and death records from 1894 to 1905 and estate records going back to 1784. Deaths from 1906 onward are registered with the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Franklin County sits in the south-central part of Pennsylvania and was named after Benjamin Franklin. It has a rich colonial and Civil War history, and its records document families going back more than two centuries.
Franklin County Quick Facts
Franklin County Register of Wills and Obituary Records
The Franklin County Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court is at 157 Lincoln Way East, Chambersburg, PA 17201. Linda Miller serves as Register. Phone is 717-261-3805. Fax is 717-261-3896. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The office handles probate, estate administration, marriage licenses, adoptions, and guardianships for all of Franklin County.
This office maintains birth and death records from 1894 to 1905. Marriage license records from 1885 to present are also on file, along with an index of estate records. Certified copies of marriage licenses and estate documents are available for a fee. The office maintains an index that can be searched for probated estates and marriage records. Staff can help with in-person research and records requests.
Franklin County was formed from Cumberland County on September 9, 1784. Chambersburg has been the county seat since that year. The county was named after Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers. Chambersburg itself has a notable Civil War history. Confederate forces burned much of the town in 1864, which is why some early records may be incomplete. Despite this, the Register of Wills has maintained estate and court records from 1784 to the present.
| Office |
Franklin County Register of Wills 157 Lincoln Way East Chambersburg, PA 17201 Phone: 717-261-3805 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | franklincountypa.gov |
Franklin County Death Certificates
Certified death certificates for Franklin County deaths after 1906 are issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The fee is $20 per 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 Franklin County residents is in Harrisburg. Mail orders typically take about three weeks to process.
When ordering a Franklin County death certificate, provide the full name of the deceased, the approximate year and county of death, and your relationship to the person. A valid photo ID is required. Certified copies are accepted for legal, estate, and insurance matters. For deaths more than 50 years ago, genealogy copies are available with fewer restrictions. Full ordering instructions are at pa.gov vital records.
Note: Franklin County death records before 1906 are available at the county Register of Wills office, while records from 1906 onward must be ordered from the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
Historical Death Records in Franklin County
Franklin County has one of the longest documented histories in south-central Pennsylvania. Estate records from 1784 onward survive at the Register of Wills in Chambersburg. These files can contain a wealth of information about the deceased, including inventories of personal property, lists of debts, and names of heirs. For genealogists, the estate files are often more informative than the death record itself.
Before formal death registration began in 1894, researchers must turn to other sources. Church burial registers in the Chambersburg area and across Franklin County are among the best pre-registration sources. Many German Reformed, Lutheran, and Presbyterian congregations in the area kept careful records of their members' deaths going back to the 1700s. Some have been microfilmed and are available through genealogical libraries.
The Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg holds microfilm of some early Franklin County records. You can search the archives online at pa.gov archives. The Kittochtinny Historical Society in Chambersburg holds local obituary files, newspaper archives, and family history collections that are valuable for Franklin County death research. The Franklin County government portal provides contact information for all county offices.
Genealogy Resources in Franklin County
Franklin County has strong genealogy resources. The Kittochtinny Historical Society in Chambersburg is the primary local repository for death and obituary research. It holds family files, cemetery records, and local newspaper archives going back to the 1800s. The Chambersburg Public Library also holds a local history collection with obituary indexes and genealogy materials.
Many Franklin County cemeteries have been transcribed and posted online by local genealogists. Find A Grave and similar databases hold thousands of Franklin County burial records. These are especially useful for deaths before formal state registration. For state-level genealogy access to older death certificates, visit pa.gov genealogy. The program provides access to death records more than 50 years old with reduced requirements.
Related Offices for Franklin County Death Research
The Franklin County Prothonotary at 157 Lincoln Way East, Chambersburg, phone 717-261-3870, holds civil court records from 1784 to present. These records include any court proceedings that arose after a death, such as estate disputes or guardianship matters. The Recorder of Deeds, also at 157 Lincoln Way East, phone 717-261-3872, keeps land records from 1784 onward. Property transfers after a death are recorded here and can help confirm who inherited land and when the original owner died.
The Recorder of Deeds also maintains military discharge records for Franklin County veterans. These records can provide details about a veteran's life and death. Property transfers from estates require documentation including death certificates, which means the Recorder of Deeds office often has indirect death information through these transfer documents.
For Orphans' Court matters related to Franklin County deaths, the PA Orphans' Court Clerks directory confirms that the Register of Wills office at 157 Lincoln Way East in Chambersburg handles these proceedings. Estate administration, guardianships, and adoptions that arise from a death all go through this combined office.
Cities in Franklin County
No cities from our directory are currently listed for this county.
Nearby Counties
Franklin County borders several Pennsylvania counties in the south-central part of the state. Check the home address of the deceased to confirm which county holds the death records you need.