Massachusetts Death Records
Massachusetts death records are held by city and town clerks, the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics, and the State Archives. You can search for death certificates going back to 1841 and order certified copies in person, by mail, or online. This guide covers where Massachusetts death records are kept, what they contain, how to search for them, and how to order copies from the right office.
Massachusetts Death Records at a Glance
Where Massachusetts Death Records Are Kept
Massachusetts runs a dual system for death records. Local city and town clerks hold the original records for every death that happens in their community. At the same time, the state keeps copies through two offices. The Registry of Vital Records and Statistics, known as the RVRS, holds death records from 1936 to the present. The Massachusetts State Archives holds records from 1841 through 1930. Deaths that occurred before 1841 exist only at the local town level. This two-source setup means you usually have more than one place to look, which helps when one source is incomplete or unavailable.
Massachusetts was the first state in the country to require statewide vital records registration, beginning in 1841. Since then, every death in the state has been recorded locally and a copy sent to the state. That history makes Massachusetts one of the most complete death records collections anywhere in the country. Some towns have records that go back even further, with Boston beginning systematic death recording as early as 1642, and a few other towns keeping records from 1639.
The RVRS is located at 150 Mount Vernon Street, 1st Floor, in Dorchester. Their main phone is (617) 740-2600. You can email them at vital.recordsrequest@state.ma.us. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:45 AM to 4:45 PM. Special genealogical research hours run on select mornings and afternoons each week.
The Registry of Vital Records and Statistics website lists all ordering options and contact details for getting a certified death certificate from the state office.
The RVRS is the starting point for most requests involving deaths from 1936 forward. For older records, the State Archives in Boston takes over.
Note: Records of deaths from 1931 to 1935 were recently moved from the RVRS to the Massachusetts State Archives. Direct requests for those years to the Archives, not the RVRS.
How to Order a Massachusetts Death Certificate
You can get a Massachusetts death certificate in person, by mail, or online. Each method has different costs and wait times. In person at the RVRS costs $20 per copy and is usually handled the same day if the record is on file. Mail requests through the RVRS cost $32 per copy. Standard mail takes about 30 business days. Expedited mail service takes 7 to 10 business days and must be addressed to the Attention of Expedited Mail Service at the RVRS. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope with any mail request.
The official ordering page on mass.gov walks you through all three methods and lists what to include with each request type.
For mail requests, you will need to download and complete the Vital Records Mail Order Form and include a check or money order payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Credit cards are not accepted for mail requests through the RVRS.
Online ordering runs through VitalChek, the state-authorized ordering service. The first copy costs $54 online. Each additional copy is $42. Standard online orders take 7 to 10 business days. Expedited next-day service is available. You can also call VitalChek toll-free at (866) 300-8535. Credit and debit cards are accepted online.
Local city and town clerks are often the fastest and cheapest option. In-person fees vary by municipality, from $5 in Cambridge to $20 in New Bedford. Most offices can fill requests the same day during regular business hours. Many now accept online requests through platforms like InvoiceCloud, Permitium, or City Hall Systems. Local offices hold records for deaths that occurred in their community as well as for residents who died elsewhere in Massachusetts.
Note: For the fastest service, visit the city or town clerk in the community where the death occurred. They typically have the record on file and can issue a certified copy on the spot.
What Massachusetts Death Records Contain
The Massachusetts death certificates information page on mass.gov explains the fields included on current and historical records.
Modern Massachusetts death certificates contain more detail than older records, reflecting changes in how the state collected information over the decades.
A Massachusetts death certificate from 1904 onward includes the full name of the person who died, date and place of death, home address, date of birth, age, birthplace, and occupation. Social Security numbers appear on more recent records. The certificate lists the attending physician and states the immediate cause of death, with space for contributing conditions. The funeral section shows the method of disposition, the funeral director's name, date and place of burial, and the cemetery name. The informant's name and address are also recorded on each certificate.
Earlier records have less detail. 19th-century register books from 1841 to 1904 include the name, date, place, age, and cause of death along with occupation and marital status. The state expanded the required fields over the years. In 1887, it began noting the husband's name for married women. In 1890, maiden names were added. By 1897, the mother's maiden name and cemetery location were required fields. By 1904, the actual certificate format replaced the old register book system. Records from the 17th and 18th centuries are sparse and many deaths from that period were only captured in church records.
Historical Death Records at the State Archives
The Massachusetts State Archives is the main source for death records prior to 1931. The Archives at 220 Morrissey Boulevard in Boston holds records for all Massachusetts cities and towns from 1841 through 1930. Phone: 617-727-2816. For records from 1841 to 1925, free digital images are available through the online vital records search database at the State Archives website. This means you can look up and view many historical death records without paying any fee.
If a record is not found in the online database, email archives@sec.state.ma.us with up to five unique record requests per email. Staff will send you links to available scans at no charge. If you need a certified copy, the fee is just $3.00 per certificate. You can order certified copies in person, by mail, or by email. Mail orders go to: Massachusetts Archives, Attn: Certified Vitals, 220 Morrissey Blvd., Boston, MA 02125. Processing takes 4 to 6 weeks. Maximum five certificates per order. No credit cards are accepted at the Archives. Payments must be by cash or check payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Access Rules for Massachusetts Death Records
Death records are public in Massachusetts. Any person can request a certified copy at the city or town clerk's office where the death was recorded. You do not need to be related to the deceased. You do not need to give a reason for your request. This differs from birth records, which restrict access to the subject and close family members. For death certificates, the state treats the record as fully open to the public from the date it is filed.
The Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 46 governs all vital records in the state, including the rules for death certificates.
Chapter 46 covers certificate requirements, public disclosure rules, correction procedures, and what information must appear on each type of vital record.
Under MGL c.46, Section 2A, death records are open to anyone who requests them. Restricted access under that section applies mainly to birth records involving unmarried parents, not to death records. Section 9 specifies what a death certificate must contain, including the name, date and place of death, cause of death, age, occupation, birthplace, and parents' names. Section 13 covers how to correct a record after it has been filed. If a death record has an error, contact the city or town clerk where the record was registered. Amendments made after January 1, 1996 are not restricted except for any medical information portions.
Note: Anyone can get a copy of a Massachusetts death certificate. No family relationship and no reason is required to request the record.
Online Tools for Death Records Research
Several online tools can help you search Massachusetts death records before ordering certified copies. The State Archives free database covers 1841 to 1925. Boston has its own death records search at registry.boston.gov/death, which covers 1956 to the present. That tool lets you search by full name, partial name, or year range. Entering "j doe" or "johnson 1956-1957" works in the Boston system. You can confirm whether a record exists before placing an order.
The VitalChek Massachusetts page is the state-authorized portal for online ordering of certified death certificates.
VitalChek handles orders on behalf of the RVRS and ships certified copies by mail. Standard orders take 7 to 10 business days and next-day expedited service is available for an added cost.
Genealogical researchers have several more options. FamilySearch has indexed many Massachusetts vital records and makes them available free. The New England Historic Genealogical Society at americanancestors.org holds a large digitized collection of Massachusetts historical death records. The Massachusetts Historical Society at masshist.org holds collections that include historical vital records and town records predating the statewide system. If a death led to a probate filing, the Massachusetts Trial Court's case access system at masscourts.org may have related records from the estate proceeding.
For older records not found in any database, contact the local historical society or library in the town where the death occurred. Many Massachusetts towns kept their own registers before the 1841 state mandate. Church records are another source for pre-1841 deaths. Both are worth checking for genealogical research that reaches back before the statewide system began.
Browse Massachusetts Death Records by County
Each county in Massachusetts has city and town clerks who hold local death records. Select a county below for office addresses, contact info, and local access options for death certificates.
View All 14 Massachusetts Counties
Death Records in Major Massachusetts Cities
City and town clerks are the first stop for most death certificate requests. Pick a city below to find the local clerk office, fees, and ordering options.