Huntingdon County Death Records
Huntingdon County obituary and death records are held by several offices in central Pennsylvania. The Register of Wills keeps estate files that connect to death records going back to the 1700s. The Pennsylvania Department of Health holds official death certificates from 1906 to the present. If you are searching for obituary notices or death records in Huntingdon County, this guide covers where to look and how to get copies of the documents you need.
Huntingdon County Quick Facts
Huntingdon County Register of Wills
The Register of Wills in Huntingdon County is the main office for estate records tied to death. When a person dies in Huntingdon County, their estate may go through probate here. The probate file often includes a copy of the death certificate, the will, and an inventory of assets. These files are public and go back to the founding of Huntingdon County in 1787.
Virginia Cooper serves as the Huntingdon County Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court. The office is at the Huntingdon County Courthouse, 223 Penn Street, Huntingdon, PA 16652. Call 814-643-2740 to ask about records before your visit. Staff can help you find estate files by the name of the deceased. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Huntingdon County Register of Wills also holds historical birth and death records from 1893 to 1906. These are early vital records that the state required counties to collect during that period. They are not the same as the official death certificates held by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, but they can fill gaps in genealogy research for Huntingdon County families.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health vital records office is the primary source for official death certificates. Visit pa.gov vital records for full details on how to order a Huntingdon County death certificate from the state.
| Office |
Huntingdon County Register of Wills Huntingdon County Courthouse 223 Penn Street Huntingdon, PA 16652 Phone: 814-643-2740 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Fax | 814-643-6849 |
Note: The Register of Wills Huntingdon County office handles estate records and probate filings, not official vital records certificates from the state health department.
Huntingdon County Death Certificate Records
Official death certificates for Huntingdon County residents are issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records. The state has kept these records since 1906. Each certificate lists the name, date, place, and cause of death. It also shows the name of the funeral home and the attending physician or coroner.
You can order a Huntingdon County death certificate several ways. Online orders go through VitalChek. Mail requests go to the Division of Vital Records, PO Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103. Walk-in service is available at the New Castle office during regular business hours. The fee is $20 per certified copy. Processing takes about three weeks for mail and online orders. Expedited options are available through VitalChek for an extra fee.
Only certain people can get a certified copy of a Huntingdon County death certificate. These include the spouse, parent, child, or sibling of the deceased. A legal representative or person with a documented need may also request one. For genealogy research, records older than 50 years are generally available to the public through the state archives program.
Note: Check current processing times at pa.gov processing times before you submit your request, as wait times can vary by season.
Historical Obituary Records in Huntingdon County
Huntingdon County was formed from Bedford County on September 20, 1787. It is named for the historic English county of Huntingdonshire. The county seat, Huntingdon, has served as the center of county government since that year. Records from the early history of Huntingdon County can be found in several places across central Pennsylvania.
The Huntingdon County Prothonotary holds civil court records going back to 1787. These include records related to estates and probate matters. The office is at 223 Penn Street, Huntingdon, PA 16652. Call 814-643-2550 for questions about historical civil records. Early death and estate records in Huntingdon County can appear across court dockets, deed books, and orphans' court files from the 1800s.
Newspapers in Huntingdon County published death notices and obituaries for over 150 years. The Huntingdon Daily News and earlier papers like the Huntingdon Journal carried these notices. Microfilm copies of many Huntingdon County newspapers are held at the Huntingdon County Library and through the Pennsylvania State Archives. Obituary notices often include facts not found on death certificates, such as survivors, church membership, and place of burial.
The Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg holds vital statistics records from the 1890s and early 1900s. Visit pa.gov state archives vital statistics to search for Huntingdon County records online. Some early records are also held at the PHMC Archives.
Huntingdon County Genealogy Death Research
Genealogy researchers looking for Huntingdon County death records have several good options. The Huntingdon County Library on Washington Street in Huntingdon has local history materials. Newspapers, obituary indexes, and county history books are available there for in-person research. Staff can point you toward the right collections for your search.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health offers a separate genealogy program for older death records. Records older than 50 years may be requested for genealogical purposes. Visit pa.gov genealogy records for information on how to submit a genealogy request for Huntingdon County. You will need to provide the name of the deceased, approximate year of death, and your relationship or reason for requesting the record.
FamilySearch and Ancestry both hold digitized records for Huntingdon County. Death indexes, church records, and cemetery transcriptions for Huntingdon County are available on these platforms. The Huntingdon County Courthouse holds deed books and orphans' court records that document land transfers at death. These are useful when probate records are missing or incomplete for older Huntingdon County estates.
Note: The PA State Archives has digitized some vital records that can be searched at pa.gov archives without a visit to Harrisburg.
Related Huntingdon County Record Offices
Several other offices in Huntingdon County hold records that connect to death and obituary research. The Recorder of Deeds holds land records that often change hands after a death. The Orphans' Court handles matters involving minor children and guardianship after a parent dies. Both offices are located at 223 Penn Street, Huntingdon, PA 16652.
The Huntingdon County Coroner investigates deaths that are sudden, violent, or otherwise unexplained. Coroner reports are separate from death certificates and may contain more detail about the circumstances of death in Huntingdon County. These reports are public records and can be requested from the coroner's office.
The Pennsylvania Orphans' Court Clerks directory lists contact information for county probate offices across the state. Visit pacourts.us orphans court to find the Huntingdon County listing and contact details. Estate files at this court often include death records and obituary clippings submitted as part of probate proceedings.
Nearby Counties
Huntingdon County sits in central Pennsylvania and borders several other counties. Each county has its own Register of Wills and vital records office. If a person died near a county line, check nearby county records as well.