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A WORD ABOUT DEATH RECORDS

© Christine Sievers

My last two articles were about picking up vital records that were easy to find, but you just hadn't gotten around to getting. In your initial search for those records, you may have found that some records that you thought were easy, caused a problem. Never mind. Just go on to the next record until you have gotten all the easy ones.

After you have sent for those records, it is time to start tackling the more difficult searches, one by one. Start with the most recent ancestor that you need documentation on. Go for the death record first.

But, first a word about death records. These can contain some of the most inaccurate information. Remember that they were made out by a secondary person. Place and time of death can usually be counted on. Parents of the deceased and place of birth may not be correct. Death records need to backed up with other records.

You may have trouble finding a death record because the person died in one state and was buried in another. Different states have different laws about filing the death certificate when burial is out of state. Check with the states involved.

Nevertheless, death records are important documentation. Finding the death record may require looking through other records. The following sites will give you help on where to look:

RootsWeb's guide to tracing family trees lesson 4

Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site: Finding a death date

Happy Hunting!