In the realm of preserving vital records, the Social Security Administration (SSA) stands as the primary custodian entrusted with the storage of death records in the United States. Central to this repository is the Social Security Death Index (SSDI), which encompasses a comprehensive database housed within the administration's Death Master File Extract. Any individual with a Social Security Number (SSN) passes the necessitates in the reporting of their death to the Social Security Administration.
Given the timeliness and continual updates of these death records, experts highly recommend researchers to base their investigative efforts on this invaluable resource. Delving into these records unveils not only the location of an individual's demise but sometimes also sheds light on their final resting place.
The significance of death records in genealogical research cannot be overstated, as they yield vital information such as the individual's date and place of birth, details about their spouse and parents, and other pertinent data. For genealogists embarking on tracing ancestral lines, commencing their journey with death certificates proves to be a prudent approach. In many instances, deceased individuals may lack birth or marriage certificates, making access to such crucial death records imperative for piecing together the intricacies of familial lineage.
New York State, U.S., Death Index, 1957-1972
1,651,037
Victoria, Australia, Death Index, 1840-1992
7,404,741
Massachusetts, U.S., Compiled Birth, Marriage, and Death Records, 1700-1850
3,113,592
Macomb County, Michigan, U.S., Death Index 1904-2017
356,107
Idaho, U.S., County Birth and Death Records, 1863-1970
73,006
Prince Edward Island, Canada, Death Card Index, 1810-1913
16,686
California, U.S., County Birth, Marriage, and Death Records, 1849-1980
3,028,463
New York, U.S., Death Index, 1852-1956
5,584,562
New York, New York, U.S., Death Index, 1949-1965
1,883,314
U.S., Death Records, 1880-1968
4,344,141
New Jersey, U.S., Death Index, 1848-1878, 1901-2017
5,417,320
Transvaal Province, South Africa, Estates Death Notice Index, 1855-1976
449,990
Cape Province, South Africa, Estates Death Notice Index, 1834-1956
316,197
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, U.S., Death Index, 1992-2012
331,888
Netherlands, Death Index, 1795-1971
42,920,703
Arizona, U.S., County Coroner and Death Records, 1881-1971
67,153
Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2017
17,988,814
Mönchengladbach, Germany, Death Records, 1798-1950
897,013
Frankenberg, Germany, Birth and Death Index Cards, 1785-1875
121,174
Chester County, Pennsylvania, U.S., Death Index, 1841-1957
36,240
Nevada, U.S., Death Certificates, 1911-1965
227,757
Ludwigslust, Germany, Death Records, 1876-1949
55,522
British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1730-1960
437,190
Oldenburg, Germany, Death Records, 1876-1960
235,542
Queensland, Australia, Death Inquest Index, 1859-1897
14,980
Michigan, U.S., Death Records, 1867-1952
8,380,545
Wayne County, Michigan, U.S., Death Index, 1934-1953
86,405
Missouri, U.S., Death Certificates, 1910-1971
4,742,458
Gallatin County, Montana, U.S., Death Index, 1856-2014
14,969
Virginia, U.S., Death Records, 1912-2014
11,182,318
Sweden, Indexed Death Records, 1840-1947
13,245,574
Mannheim, Germany, Death Records, 1870-1950
318,050
South Africa, Estates Death Index, 1999-2014
1,402,428
Scotland and Northern Ireland, Death Index, 1989-2023
934,558
England and Wales, Death Index, 1989-2023
7,433,702
Idaho, U.S., County Birth and Death Records, 1907-1920
2,426
UK, Methodist Ministers Death Index, 1800-1963
10,959
Lake County, Ohio, U.S., Death Index, 1867-1908
7,740
Ottawa County, Michigan, U.S., Death Index, 1867-1901
29,656
Regen County, Germany, Death Records, 1876-1983
58,957
Flensburg, Germany, Death Index Cards, 1874-1990
149,256
Arizona, U.S., Death Records, 1887-1968
1,324,352
Idaho, U.S., Death Records, 1890-1971
742,337
California, U.S., County Birth and Death Records, 1849-1994
2,922,713
Salt Lake County, Utah, U.S., Death Records, 1908-1949
354,047
Utah, U.S., Death and Military Death Certificates, 1904-1961
967,991
New Zealand, Death Index, 1848-1966
1,149,182
Pennsylvania, U.S., Death Certificates, 1906-1971
26,038,827
Charlevoix County, Michigan, U.S., Death Index, 1868-2010
20,319
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