Greene County Obituaries and Death Records
Greene County obituary and death records are kept by the Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court at the Greene County Courthouse in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania. The office maintains historical birth and death records from 1893 to 1906 and estate records going back to 1796. Deaths from 1906 onward are registered with the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Greene County is in the southwestern corner of Pennsylvania, named after Revolutionary War General Nathanael Greene, and its records document families with deep roots in the region going back over two centuries.
Greene County Quick Facts
Greene County Register of Wills and Obituary Records
The Greene County Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court is at the Greene County Courthouse, 10 East High Street, Waynesburg, PA 15370. Donna J. Tharp serves as Register. Phone is 724-852-5281. Fax is 724-852-5316. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The office handles probate, estate administration, marriage licenses, and guardianship matters for all of Greene County.
This office holds historical birth and death records from 1893 to 1906. Marriage license records from 1885 to present are on file. The Register of Wills manages estate filings and probate. The Clerk of Orphans' Court processes adoptions and guardianships. Records go back to 1796, when Greene County was formed from Washington County. For people tracing family history in southwestern Pennsylvania, the estate records at the Waynesburg courthouse are a valuable resource that often contains more detail than a standard death certificate.
Greene County was formed from Washington County on February 9, 1796. Waynesburg has been the county seat since that year. The county is named after General Nathanael Greene, one of George Washington's most trusted commanders during the Revolutionary War. Greene County is in the far southwestern corner of Pennsylvania. Its history includes coal mining, farming, and small-scale industry, and many families with roots here go back to the late 1700s and early 1800s.
| Office |
Greene County Register of Wills Greene County Courthouse 10 East High Street Waynesburg, PA 15370 Phone: 724-852-5281 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM |
| Website | co.greene.pa.us |
Greene County Death Certificates
Certified death certificates for Greene County deaths after 1906 are issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The fee is $20 per certified copy. You can order online through VitalChek, by mail, or in person at a state vital records office. The closest walk-in offices for Greene County residents are in Pittsburgh and Harrisburg. Mail orders process in about three weeks.
To order a Greene County death certificate, you need the full name of the deceased, the approximate year and county of death, and your relationship to the person. Valid photo ID is required. Certified copies are accepted for estate, legal, and insurance matters. Genealogy copies for deaths more than 50 years old are available with fewer restrictions through the state's genealogy program. Visit pa.gov vital records for current ordering details and processing time information.
Note: If you need a death certificate quickly for estate or legal matters, ordering through VitalChek online is often faster than mailing a paper request to the Division of Vital Records.
Historical Death Records in Greene County
Greene County has estate records from 1796 onward, making it possible to research deaths going back more than two centuries at the Waynesburg courthouse. Before formal death registration began in 1893, Orphans' Court filings and church records are the primary sources. Many early Greene County families were members of Methodist, Presbyterian, and Baptist congregations that kept burial registers. Some of these registers have been preserved and are accessible through local historical societies.
The Greene County Historical Society in Waynesburg holds obituary clippings, family history files, and local newspaper archives. Waynesburg has had local newspapers since the 1800s, and their obituary columns are an important source for death research going back many decades. Several library locations in Greene County hold microfilm and bound volumes of these papers. Cemetery transcriptions for Greene County have been compiled by local genealogists and are searchable online through databases like Find A Grave.
The Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg holds statewide microfilm records including some early Greene County vital records. You can search the online index at pa.gov archives before making a visit. The Greene County government portal provides contact information for all county offices involved in death and genealogy research.
Genealogy Resources for Greene County Obituaries
Greene County has dedicated local genealogy resources that go beyond what is available online. The Greene County Historical Society in Waynesburg is the primary local repository for death and obituary research. It holds family files, cemetery records, local newspaper indexes, and published family histories. Staff can assist with research questions for people tracing Greene County family lines.
The Waynesburg Public Library also holds local history and genealogy materials including newspaper archives with obituary notices. For state-level access to older death certificates, the Pennsylvania Department of Health genealogy program provides records more than 50 years old with fewer requirements. Visit pa.gov genealogy for details. The Pennsylvania State Archives at phmc.pa.gov also holds statewide records useful for Greene County research.
Related Greene County Offices
The Greene County Recorder of Deeds at 10 East High Street, Waynesburg, phone 724-852-5283, maintains land records from 1796 to present. When a person dies in Greene County and leaves real property, the estate must transfer the deed through this office. Property transfer documents often reference the death certificate and name the beneficiaries who inherit the land. The Recorder of Deeds also holds military discharge records for Greene County veterans.
The Prothonotary in Waynesburg maintains civil court records from 1796 to present. Estate disputes, guardianship matters, and other court proceedings that arise after a death in Greene County are part of this record set. For questions about Orphans' Court matters in Greene County, the PA Orphans' Court Clerks directory confirms that the Register of Wills office at 10 East High Street in Waynesburg handles these proceedings.
The Greene County government portal links to all county offices and lists contact information for each department. It is the best starting point for anyone trying to determine which office holds the specific record type they need for Greene County death research.
Cities in Greene County
No cities from our directory are currently listed for this county.
Nearby Counties
Greene County is in the southwestern corner of Pennsylvania. It borders West Virginia to the south. If a person lived near the county line, their death records may be in a neighboring county or another state.