Search Franklin County Death Records
Franklin County death records are maintained by individual town clerks across the county's 26 towns, since Franklin County's government was abolished in 1997 and no county-level vital records office exists. This guide covers the key offices, the state-level backup options, historical resources, and the laws that govern access to these records.
Franklin County Overview
How to Get Franklin County Death Records
Franklin County has no county government. The county administration was abolished on July 1, 1997, which means there is no Franklin County office handling vital records. All death records for Franklin County are held by the individual town clerks in the 26 towns that make up the county. When a death occurs in Greenfield, the Greenfield Town Clerk holds that record. A death in Deerfield goes to the Deerfield Town Clerk. The process is the same across every Franklin County community.
The Greenfield Town Clerk is the most commonly contacted Franklin County office because Greenfield is the county seat. The office is at 14 Court Square, Greenfield, MA 01301. Phone: 413-772-1555, extension 112. Fax: 413-772-1542. Email: townclerk@greenfield-ma.gov. For all other Franklin County towns, contact the clerk in the specific community where the death occurred. Most offices handle in-person and mail requests. Call ahead to confirm current hours, fees, and available methods.
| Office | Greenfield Town Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 14 Court Square, Greenfield, MA 01301 |
| Phone | 413-772-1555 x112 |
| Fax | 413-772-1542 |
| townclerk@greenfield-ma.gov |
If you don't know which Franklin County town the death occurred in, or if the local office is unavailable, the state provides a central option. The Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS) at 150 Mount Vernon St, Dorchester, MA 02125, holds death records from 1926 to the present for all Franklin County towns. Phone: (617) 740-2600.
Note: Franklin County was formed in 1811 from Hampshire County and named for Benjamin Franklin. The county government was abolished in 1997. Vital records have always been kept at the town level, so the abolition of county government did not change how death records are accessed.
Franklin County Death Certificates: Ordering Options
Start with the town clerk in the community where the death took place. That is the direct source and usually the fastest option. Bring the name of the deceased, approximate date of death, and a valid photo ID. Most Franklin County town clerk offices charge around $10 to $15 per certified copy, though fees are set by each municipality and can vary.
For deaths from 1926 onward, the RVRS offers three ways to get a certified copy. Walk-in service at 150 Mount Vernon St in Dorchester is available Monday through Friday, 8:45 AM to 4:45 PM. In-person copies cost $20 each and are usually ready the same day. Mail requests cost $32. Online ordering through VitalChek runs $54 for the first certificate, with additional copies at $42 each. That total includes VitalChek's processing fee. Email the RVRS at vital.recordsrequest@state.ma.us for questions. The state's complete ordering guide walks through every option.
The Franklin County Registry of Deeds is at 425 Main Street, P.O. Box 1495, Greenfield, MA 01302. Phone: (413) 772-0239. Email: franklinrod@sec.state.ma.us. That office handles land records from 1787 to the present. Pre-1787 Franklin County deeds are at the Hampden County Registry in Springfield. The Registry of Deeds does not hold death certificates.
The Franklin County Probate and Family Court, at 43 Hope Street, P.O. Box 590, Greenfield, MA 01302 (phone 413-774-7011, email franklinprobate@jud.state.ma.us), handles estates and family matters. You will likely need a certified death certificate to open a probate case there, but the court itself does not issue certificates.
VitalChek is one of three ways to request a Franklin County death record from the state RVRS for deaths recorded from 1926 onward.
What Franklin County Death Records Contain
Massachusetts death certificates follow a standard format. Every certificate lists the full name of the person who died, the date and place of death, age at death, and sex. Cause of death and manner of death appear as reported by the attending physician or medical examiner. The record also notes whether an autopsy was performed and, if so, by whom.
Other standard fields include the decedent's birthplace, usual occupation, and residence at time of death. Parent names are included. Spouse name is listed when applicable. Disposition of remains, including burial or cremation location, is also part of the record. The attending physician, funeral director, and local town registrar all sign before the certificate is officially filed. MGL Chapter 46, Section 9 sets out the specific information required on every Massachusetts death certificate. The full Chapter 46 statutes are listed at the Massachusetts General Laws page.
Note: Pre-1787 land deeds for Franklin County towns are held in Springfield at the Hampden County Registry of Deeds. If your estate research spans that period, start with that office.
Historical Franklin County Death Records
For older Franklin County deaths, the Massachusetts Archives is the right place to look. The Archives at 220 Morrissey Blvd in Boston holds death records from 1841 through 1930. Free digital images from 1841 to 1925 are viewable online through FamilySearch. Certified copies from the Archives cost $3 each and take about 4 to 6 weeks to process. Contact the Archives at 617-727-2816.
Since Franklin County was formed from Hampshire County in 1811, deaths before that year may appear in Hampshire County's older records. The Hampshire Probate and Family Court in Northampton holds probate records from 1660 forward, covering the area that became Franklin County before the split. For genealogical work on Franklin County families in the colonial era, that court's historical records are a valuable resource.
The New England Historic Genealogical Society at American Ancestors maintains Massachusetts vital records indexes that include Franklin County material. Their collections can help locate a record before you make a formal request. Several Franklin County town libraries and local historical societies also hold copies of older vital records and town reports.
Death Records Access and Law in Franklin County
Franklin County death records are public records. MGL Chapter 46, Section 2A establishes that Massachusetts vital records are open to public inspection. No one needs to prove a family relationship or demonstrate a legal purpose to request a Franklin County death certificate. This applies equally at the town clerk level and at the RVRS.
Corrections to Franklin County death records are governed by MGL Chapter 46, Section 13. Start an amendment at the town clerk that holds the original record. Most corrections require supporting documentation. The RVRS can assist with amendments for records they hold at the state level. Visit the state death certificate page for details on fees and eligibility.
Towns in Franklin County
Franklin County has 26 towns and no cities. None of the county's communities reach the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. To search for death records in any Franklin County town, contact the town clerk in that specific community or use the state RVRS for records from 1926 onward. The 26 towns include Ashfield, Bernardston, Buckland, Charlemont, Colrain, Conway, Deerfield, Erving, Gill, Greenfield, Hawley, Heath, Leverett, Leyden, Monroe, Montague, New Salem, Northfield, Orange, Rowe, Shelburne, Shutesbury, Sunderland, Warwick, Wendell, and Whately.