Death Records in Jefferson County
Jefferson County obituary and death records are spread across county offices in Brookville and state agencies in Harrisburg and New Castle. The Jefferson County Register of Wills holds probate and estate files dating back to 1804. The Pennsylvania Department of Health maintains official death certificates from 1906 to the present. Whether you are searching for a recent death notice or a historical obituary from Jefferson County, this page explains the resources available and how to use them.
Jefferson County Quick Facts
Jefferson County Register of Wills
The Register of Wills in Jefferson County is located in Brookville, the county seat. This office handles estate filings, probate records, and orphans' court matters. When a resident of Jefferson County dies and leaves a will or estate, the probate file is created here. These files often include a death certificate, the will itself, and supporting documents. Estate records in Jefferson County date back to the county's founding in 1804.
Brianna Bullers serves as the Jefferson County Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court. The office is at the Jefferson County Courthouse, 200 Main Street, Brookville, PA 15825. Call 814-849-1610 for questions about records and services. Office hours run Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Fax is available at 814-849-1677. Staff can search estate files by the name of the deceased and help you request copies of specific documents.
Jefferson County also maintains historical birth and death records from 1893 to 1906. These are early vital records collected by the county before the state took over. They are not certified state death certificates, but they can be valuable for genealogy research in Jefferson County. The Jefferson County Courthouse in Brookville is known as the "Diamond of the Pennsylvania Wilds," a fitting description for this county seat in the northern tier of west-central Pennsylvania.
The Jefferson County Government Portal at jeffersoncountypa.com provides access to all county offices, forms, and record search tools for residents and researchers.
| Office |
Jefferson County Register of Wills Jefferson County Courthouse 200 Main Street Brookville, PA 15825 Phone: 814-849-1610 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM |
| Fax | 814-849-1677 |
Note: Jefferson County was formed from Lycoming County on March 26, 1804, and is named after President Thomas Jefferson.
Jefferson County Death Certificate Records
Official death certificates for Jefferson County are issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Records begin in 1906. Each certificate shows the full name, date and place of death, cause, and information about the family and attending physician or coroner. Certified copies are the legal standard for most purposes, including estate settlement and insurance claims.
You can request a Jefferson County death certificate online through VitalChek. Mail-in requests go to the Division of Vital Records, PO Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103. Walk-in service is also available at the New Castle office. The fee is $20 per certified copy. Processing takes about three weeks by mail. Check current times at pa.gov vital records processing times before you submit.
Access to certified copies is limited to close relatives and legal representatives. For genealogy research, records more than 50 years old are accessible under the state genealogy program. Go to pa.gov genealogy records to learn how to request older Jefferson County death records for family history research.
Historical Jefferson County Obituary Records
Jefferson County has more than two centuries of recorded history. Death records before 1906 appear in estate files, church registers, cemetery transcriptions, and local newspaper obituaries. The county was part of the Pennsylvania Wilds region. Many early families in Jefferson County were farmers, loggers, and miners who settled the area in the 1800s.
Local newspapers in Jefferson County carried obituary notices for residents throughout the 1800s and 1900s. The Brookville Democrat and other historic papers documented deaths and funerals across the county. Microfilm copies of these papers are held at the Jefferson County Library and the Pennsylvania State Archives. Obituary notices from Jefferson County often name the church, the burial location, and surviving family members.
The Jefferson County Recorder of Deeds at 200 Main Street, Brookville holds land records dating to 1804. Property transfers after death are documented in deed books. These records can be used to trace when a person died even when probate files are missing. The Recorder can be reached at 814-849-1615. Military discharge records for Jefferson County veterans are also maintained at this office.
The Pennsylvania State Archives holds statewide vital statistics and some early Jefferson County records. Search online at pa.gov state archives for records from the 1893 to 1906 period that are available online.
Jefferson County Death Record Genealogy
Genealogy researchers will find a variety of resources for Jefferson County death and obituary records. The Jefferson County Library in Brookville has a local history section with obituary files, county histories, and family records. The library staff can help guide your search for Jefferson County death notices and burial records.
FamilySearch has digitized many Jefferson County records, including probate indexes and early vital statistics. Ancestry also holds Jefferson County collections, including census records that can help narrow a date of death. The PHMC Archives holds additional Jefferson County materials at phmc.pa.gov. Probate files at the courthouse go back to the earliest days of Jefferson County and are a rich source of genealogical data.
Note: Cemetery records for Jefferson County cemeteries are often indexed on FindAGrave and BillionGraves, which are free tools for locating burial sites and obituary data.
Jefferson County Related Record Offices
Other Jefferson County offices may have records relevant to death research. The Jefferson County Coroner investigates deaths that are sudden, violent, or lack a clear cause. Coroner reports are public records and may contain details about circumstances of death not included in the official certificate. The Coroner's office is in Brookville and can be contacted through the Jefferson County Courthouse.
The Orphans' Court Clerk at the Jefferson County Courthouse handles guardianship and other matters that arise when a parent or guardian dies. These court files are public. The Pennsylvania Orphans' Court directory at pacourts.us orphans court clerks lists the contact for Jefferson County. Death certificate ordering information from the state is at pa.gov death certificates.
Nearby Counties
Jefferson County sits in west-central Pennsylvania. Neighboring counties each maintain their own death and estate records. Check nearby county offices if your ancestor lived near a county border.