Revere Death Records

Revere death records are maintained by the Revere City Clerk's Office at Revere City Hall and are public records available to anyone. The City Clerk registers deaths that occur in Revere or involve Revere residents, and its files stretch back to the late 1800s. Certified copies can be requested in person or by mail, and the office handles a high volume of vital records given Revere's location just north of Boston.

Revere City Clerk Death Records Office

The Revere City Clerk's Office is on the first floor of Revere City Hall at 281 Broadway. Ashley Melnik serves as City Clerk. The office maintains vital records going back to the late 1800s, including birth, death, and marriage certificates. Staff also keep business certificates, City Council records, special permits, and Board of Appeals variances. For death records specifically, the clerk's office is the place to start.

The office stores records electronically in the LaserFiche system, which allows staff to locate documents quickly. This is especially useful for records from recent decades. Older records from the 1800s and early 1900s are stored in compliance with Massachusetts General Laws and require more staff time to retrieve. If you are looking for a record from that era, calling ahead is a good idea so staff can locate it before your visit.

In fiscal year 2023, the Revere City Clerk registered 464 deaths, 694 births, and 430 marriage licenses. That volume of vital records reflects how active the office is and why staffing is important for timely service. Revere's proximity to Boston means the city sees a mix of long-time residents and newer arrivals, which shows up in the variety of records the clerk processes each year.

The city clerk's website shows the office location, contact information, and the types of records maintained at City Hall.

The Revere City Clerk's department page at revere.org lists contact information and describes the vital records services available at City Hall.

How to Obtain Revere Death Records

The Revere City Clerk accepts in-person and mail requests for death certificates. Contact the office by phone at (781) 286-8100 or (781) 286-8160 to confirm the current fee before submitting a request, since fees can be updated and the office does not always post current rates on the website.

In-person requests are the fastest way to get a record. Visit the first floor of Revere City Hall at 281 Broadway during regular business hours. Bring as much detail as you can about the deceased, including the full name and approximate date or year of death. Staff can usually pull records from the electronic system the same day for deaths registered in the modern period.

Mail requests are accepted at the same address: City Clerk, 281 Broadway, Revere, MA 02151. Include a written request with the full name of the deceased and the date or year of death, your return address and phone number, payment for the applicable fee (call ahead to confirm the amount), and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Processing time by mail is longer than in-person, so allow several weeks if you are not in a rush.

For deaths that occurred in Revere but were registered with the state system, certified copies are also available from the Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS). The RVRS at 150 Mount Vernon Street, Dorchester, holds state copies of deaths from 1936 forward. The RVRS fee is $20 in person, $32 by mail, or $54 online through VitalChek. Ordering through the state is useful when you cannot reach the Revere City Clerk's Office directly.

What Revere Death Records Contain

Massachusetts death certificates include a uniform set of fields set by state law. A certified copy from the Revere City Clerk will show the full legal name of the deceased, date and place of death, age, sex, race, and birthplace. The record also includes the deceased's usual residence, occupation, and marital status. If the person was married, the name of the surviving spouse appears on the certificate.

Both parents are listed, including the mother's maiden name. This is one of the most useful fields for genealogical research because it allows you to trace a family line backward through marriage records. The informant who provided the information is identified by name and relationship to the deceased, which is typically a family member or funeral home staff.

Cause of death is broken into the immediate cause and any contributing conditions, as completed by the attending physician or medical examiner. The manner of death field classifies the death as natural, accidental, homicide, suicide, or undetermined. For cases under medical examiner jurisdiction, the certificate may include a reference to the autopsy or investigation. The place of burial or final disposition is also recorded.

MGL Chapter 46, Section 9 sets the required content for all Massachusetts death certificates, and this standard applies equally in Revere. Older records, particularly those from the late 1800s, may not include all modern fields, and some entries from that era used less precise medical terminology.

Public Access to Revere Death Records

Death records are public records in Massachusetts. The Revere City Clerk issues certified copies to any requester without requiring proof of relationship to the deceased. This is different from birth records, which are more restricted. Anyone who needs a Revere death certificate for legal, genealogical, or personal reasons can submit a request.

MGL Chapter 46, Section 2A establishes the access rules for vital records in the state. Under that framework, death certificates are among the most accessible category of vital records. The certified copy carries the official city seal and the clerk's signature, making it valid for probate court, life insurance claims, property transfers, and other legal purposes.

The city stores its records in the LaserFiche system, which helps ensure long-term preservation and makes retrieval faster. Records are maintained in compliance with state retention requirements. Revere also reports its vital record data to the RVRS as required under state law, so the RVRS holds a parallel set of death records for deaths registered in Revere from 1936 onward.

For errors on a death certificate, corrections follow the process set out in MGL Chapter 46, Section 13. Amendments require supporting documentation, and some changes require input from the physician or medical examiner who signed the original certificate. The City Clerk's staff can explain what documentation is needed for a specific type of correction.

Genealogy and Older Revere Death Records

Revere's records go back to the late 1800s, which gives the City Clerk's Office a deep archive. For deaths before 1936, the City Clerk's files may be the most direct source since the state system (RVRS) begins at 1936. The Massachusetts State Archives at 220 Morrissey Blvd, Boston, holds death records from 1841 through 1930. Records from 1841 through 1925 are available as free digital images online through the Archives' collections. Certified copies from the Archives cost $3.00 each. Contact the Archives at (617) 727-2816 or archives@sec.state.ma.us.

For deaths between roughly 1930 and 1936, neither the Archives nor the RVRS may have a copy. In that case, the Revere City Clerk is the right source. The office retains city-level copies even when the record predates the RVRS system.

FamilySearch offers free digital indexes that cover Revere's older death records as part of its Massachusetts vital records collections. The American Ancestors database also covers Suffolk County records and can be particularly useful for 19th and early 20th century research involving Revere families.

Suffolk County Death Records

Revere is in Suffolk County. The Suffolk County Probate and Family Court handles estate matters connected to death records. For resources covering death records across Suffolk County, see the county page.

Nearby Cities

These nearby cities are in Suffolk and Middlesex counties. Each maintains its own death records at the city or town clerk level.

• Boston Death Records
• Malden Death Records
• Medford Death Records
• Everett Death Records
• Lynn Death Records