Death Records and Death Certificates in Massachusetts

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Massachusetts Death Records

The population of Massachusetts was recorded 6,892,503 on July 1, 2019, a 5.27% increase since the 2010 United States Census. As of 2014, in terms of race and ethnicity, Massachusetts was 83.2% White (73.7% Non-Hispanic White), 8.8% Black or African American, 0.5% Native American and Alaska Native, 6.3% Asian American, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, 2.1% from some other race, and 3.1% from two or more races. Hispanics and Latinos of any race made up 11.2% of the population.

This page is created to provide genealogists and researchers an ultimate guide to the state of Massachusetts death records. Use the links and the tips below for Massachusetts death records, certificates, online tools and databases. Additional information on how to obtain Massachusetts death certificates is available below.

How to Find a Death Record in Massachusetts

Massachusetts death records search

This webpage gives you access to all of the online databases containing Massachusetts death records, Massachusetts death certificates, Massachusetts death notices, Massachusetts death indexes, and other related Massachusetts genealogy records.

Massachusetts death records free

Below are some of the most comprehensive resource for death records in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts Death Index

Massachusetts death records database

Links to Massachusetts death and burial indexes and databases are as below:

Massachusetts social security death index

The Social Security Death Index contains information on millions of deceased individuals in Massachusetts with social security numbers whose deaths were reported to the Social Security Administration. Try the links below to search the index:

Public Death Record Massachusetts

In addition to the indexes and databases above, there are some other resources that gives to almost the same or might even more information about a deceased individual. Here are some to check out:

Massachusetts Death Certificates

How to get a death certificate in Massachusetts

The Registry of Vital Records and Statistics in the Department of Public Health has the records of births, deaths and marriages for Massachusetts from 1906 to the present. Every five years the earliest five years of records maintained at the Registry are transferred to the custody of the State Archives. The next transfer will occur in 2006. After the transfer any restrictions that may be on the transferred records will be removed. Records from 1841-1905 are located at The State Archives. The city or town clerk in the city or town where the event occurred has all records prior to 1841. Also, copies of records since 1841 are available at the city or town where the event occurred. For birth and death records after 1 January 1906, write:

Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Registry of Vital Records & Statistics
470 Atlantic Avenue, 2nd Floor
Boston, MA 02210
Tel: 617-753-8600

For records between 1841-1905, write:

Massachusetts State Archives
220 Morrissey Blvd.
Boston, MA 02125
Tel: 617-727-4319 Fax: 617-288-4505

Massachusetts death certificates online

Use the links below to get death certificates and vital records in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts Death Notices

Check local newspapers and local online news websites which frequently publish notices. Use the link below for more information on Massachusetts news agencies.

Massachusetts counties for death record research

  • Barnstable County
  • Berkshire County
  • Bristol County
  • Dukes County
  • Essex County
  • Franklin County
  • Hampden County
  • Hampshire County
  • Middlesex County
  • Nantucket County
  • Norfolk County
  • Plymouth County
  • Suffolk County
  • Worcester County