Search Plymouth County Death Records
Plymouth County death records are held at the town or city clerk in the community where each death was registered, with Plymouth Town Clerk and Brockton City Clerk being two of the main local offices, and the state RVRS in Dorchester serving as the central backup for records from 1926 to the present.
Plymouth County Overview
Plymouth County Death Records: Where to Start
Plymouth County is unusual in having two county seats: Plymouth and Brockton. Each city clerk operates independently, and the same is true across all the county's municipalities. When a death occurs in Plymouth County, the clerk in that specific town or city registers the record. There is no single county clerk that handles all Plymouth County death certificates. You go to the office in the place where the death happened.
Plymouth Town Clerk is a key starting point for deaths that occurred in the town of Plymouth itself. The office is at 26 Court Street, Plymouth, MA 02360. Phone: 508-747-1620 x296. Email: lisa.obrien@plymouth-ma.gov. Town Clerk Lisa O'Brien and her staff handle requests in person and by mail. Office hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, Tuesday 7:30 AM to 6:30 PM (extended evening hours), and Friday 7:30 AM to 12:00 PM. The fee is $15 per certified copy.
For deaths in Brockton, the Brockton City Clerk handles records. That office is at 45 School Street, Brockton, MA 02301. Phone: 508-580-7194. Email: cityclerk@cobma.us. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Brockton charges $10 per copy and holds records dating back to approximately 1844. In fiscal year 2024, the Brockton office registered 451 deaths. Amendments to records there cost $35 per record.
One important distinction: burial permits in Plymouth County are issued by the local Board of Health, not the city or town clerk. Death certificates and burial permits are separate documents, even though they relate to the same event. Keep that in mind if you are handling arrangements and need both.
Note: Plymouth County vital records do not transfer across state lines. If the death occurred in a different state, you need to contact that state's vital records office, not a Massachusetts clerk.
How to Get Plymouth County Death Records
Start with the clerk in the town or city where the death was registered. The two major offices are Plymouth Town Clerk and Brockton City Clerk, described above. For smaller towns across Plymouth County, contact their local clerk directly. Most accept in-person and mail requests; some smaller towns may have limited hours.
The Plymouth Registry of Deeds website is a useful reference for researching property and estate connections tied to Plymouth County deaths. Plymouth County Registry of Deeds operates an online search system called TitleView, free to use off-site.
The Registry of Deeds at 50 Obery Street, Plymouth, MA 02360 (phone: 508-830-9200) does not hold death certificates but is relevant for estate and probate research connected to Plymouth County deaths.
The state RVRS is the most reliable centralized option for Plymouth County deaths from 1926 forward. In-person requests cost $20 and are filled same day at 150 Mount Vernon St, 1st Floor, Dorchester. Mail requests are $32 per copy with a 7 to 10 business day turnaround. Online orders through VitalChek run $54 for the first certificate, $42 for each additional. RVRS phone: (617) 740-2600. Email: vital.recordsrequest@state.ma.us. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:45 AM to 4:45 PM.
The Plymouth town website is a direct resource for contacting the Town Clerk and finding current fees and hours. Town of Plymouth official website has clerk contact details and service information.
The town site includes links to clerk services, hours of operation, and information on requesting vital records including death certificates.
| Plymouth Town Clerk | 26 Court Street, Plymouth, MA 02360 |
|---|---|
| Plymouth Phone | 508-747-1620 x296 |
| Plymouth Hours | Mon/Wed/Thu 7:30 AM-4:00 PM; Tue 7:30 AM-6:30 PM; Fri 7:30 AM-12:00 PM |
| Plymouth Fee | $15 per certified copy |
| Brockton City Clerk | 45 School Street, Brockton, MA 02301 |
| Brockton Phone | 508-580-7194 |
| Brockton Hours | Mon-Fri 8:30 AM-4:30 PM |
| Brockton Fee | $10 per copy; amendments $35 |
Note: The Plymouth County Probate and Family Court at 52 Obery Street, Plymouth, MA 02360 (phone: 508-747-8400) handles estate matters. It does not issue death certificates, but you may need a certified copy to open a probate case there.
What Plymouth County Death Certificates Show
A Massachusetts death certificate lists the decedent's full name, date of death, place of death, age, and sex. It includes the cause of death, manner of death, and whether an autopsy took place. The attending physician or medical examiner certifies these medical details.
The personal information section covers birthplace, occupation, parent names, and spouse name if applicable. Residence at time of death and burial or cremation information are also recorded. The funeral director and local registrar both sign off before the record is finalized and entered into the official system.
MGL c.46 §9 sets out the legal requirements for what a Massachusetts death certificate must contain. Older Plymouth County records may have fewer fields, and pre-1841 records exist only in local registers or church records. The format has evolved considerably since statewide registration began.
Death Records Laws in Plymouth County
Death records in Massachusetts are public records. Under MGL c.46 §2A, anyone can request a copy. No family relationship or legal standing is required. This open-access policy applies to Plymouth County records the same as it does across the state.
The full legal framework governing vital records is MGL Chapter 46. It covers how death records are created, who is responsible for registering them, how they are stored, and how the public can access them. Local registrars in each Plymouth County municipality carry out the day-to-day work of registering deaths in their community.
Corrections to death records are covered by MGL c.46 §13. To amend a record, contact the clerk's office where it was registered. Brockton charges $35 per amendment. Other towns set their own amendment fees. Supporting documents are required, and the process can take weeks or longer depending on the nature of the change.
Note: Brockton charges $35 to amend a death record. Plymouth may have different amendment fees. Always confirm the current fee schedule with the relevant clerk's office before submitting paperwork.
Historical Plymouth County Death Records
Plymouth County has some of the oldest continuous records in the United States. The Plymouth Colony records date back to the 17th century, and vital records for the town of Plymouth through 1850 are available online through a searchable database. These early records are a primary source for researchers tracing New England families back to the colonial period.
The Massachusetts Archives in Boston holds statewide death records from 1841 through 1930. Digital images for 1841 to 1925 are free to access through FamilySearch. Many Plymouth County records from this period have been indexed and are searchable by name. FamilySearch is one of the best free tools for this range of records.
For deaths before 1841, Plymouth County researchers typically use church records, Mayflower descendant databases, and published vital records books. The Pilgrim Society and the Pilgrim Hall Museum in Plymouth maintain research collections relevant to early Plymouth Colony families. American Ancestors also holds a strong set of Massachusetts materials, including Plymouth County records from the 17th and 18th centuries. Probate estate files from this county often include inventories and family details not captured in any vital record.
Note: Plymouth Colony records predate Massachusetts statehood by more than 150 years. If you are researching Mayflower descendants or early colonial families, the Pilgrim Hall Museum and Pilgrim Society archives are specialized resources worth consulting alongside state and FamilySearch databases.
Cities in Plymouth County
The following Plymouth County cities have dedicated death records pages with clerk contact details and local access information.
Other Plymouth County communities including Bridgewater, Middleborough, Marshfield, Duxbury, Scituate, and Pembroke are below the population threshold for individual pages. Contact the relevant town clerk for records in those communities.
Nearby Counties
Plymouth County borders five other counties. Each uses the same local-clerk system for death records, with RVRS serving as the state-level backup for all of them.