Lancaster Death Records
Lancaster death records are supported by one of the strongest local history research communities in Pennsylvania. The LancasterHistory Research Center holds over 600 manuscript groups and offers hands-on genealogy training. Lancaster is the county seat of Lancaster County, with a population near 60,000. Pre-1906 death records are at the Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans Court. Deaths from 1906 forward come through the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The Lancaster County Death Registration Index 1893-1907 adds a local layer to the statewide system.
Lancaster Quick Facts
LancasterHistory Research Center
The LancasterHistory Research Center supports research into Lancaster County history and genealogy. It is located at 230 North President Avenue in Lancaster. Hours are Wednesday through Friday and the first Saturday of each month, 9:30 am to 2:00 pm. Contact: (717) 392-4633, ext. 126, or research@lancasterhistory.org. Advance registration is strongly encouraged. Visitors under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. The Research Center's holdings are extensive, covering records from 1729 to the present.
Archives contain over 600 manuscript groups ranging from 1729 to the present. These collections include family papers, church records, business records, and municipal documents. For death research, the most useful items include probate files, cemetery records, obituary collections, and family Bible transcriptions. Staff can help identify which collections are relevant to a specific family or time period. The depth of LancasterHistory's holdings makes it one of the best-equipped local history research centers in Pennsylvania. Researchers coming from outside Lancaster should plan to spend at least half a day to make the most of the visit. Bringing complete names, approximate dates, and any known addresses will help staff direct you to the most relevant materials.
Note: The Research Center is open limited hours. Advance registration ensures a research appointment and avoids a wasted trip if space is limited.
LancasterHistory Genealogy 101
LancasterHistory offers a Genealogy 101 class at 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster. The class orients beginners to researching family history online and through LancasterHistory's collections. No prior experience is required. Tickets cost $20 for members and $25 for non-members. The instructor is Aimee Caya, Director of Library and Research Services, who has led this program since 2022.
The class covers online resources alongside local, county, state, and federal records. Topics include wills, census records, military records, immigration records, and land records. Death records fit naturally into this broader framework, since locating a death certificate often requires knowing when and where someone lived. The class also covers how to use LancasterHistory's collections effectively. For someone new to genealogy or unfamiliar with Lancaster County specifically, the class is an efficient way to learn what resources exist and how to use them. The fee includes access to the Research Center's materials during the class session.
Lancaster County Death Registration Index 1893-1907
The Lancaster County Death Registration Index 1893-1907 is available through the county. This index covers the transition period from county-level registration to the statewide system that began in 1906. It includes deaths recorded during the final years of the Orphans Court system and the early years of state registration. Researchers working on Lancaster families from the late 1800s and early 1900s should check this index as part of their search.
The Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans Court is at 50 N. Duke St., Lancaster, PA 17602. Phone: (717) 295-5994. This office holds pre-1906 death records, marriage records, and probate filings. Estate records from this period often document the date and cause of death, names of heirs, and descriptions of property. These records can be especially useful when a death certificate is missing or illegible. The LancasterHistory Museum covers over 300 years of Lancaster County history. Exhibits feature stories of James Buchanan, the 15th US President, and abolitionist Congressman Thaddeus Stevens. The Thaddeus Stevens and Lydia Hamilton Smith Center for History and Democracy is scheduled to open in spring 2026. Visiting the museum can provide historical context for death records, since understanding the era and community helps interpret what the records contain. For death certificates from 1906 forward, use the PA Department of Health system. Mail to: Division of Vital Records, PO Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103. Phone: 724-656-3100 or 844-228-3516. Online orders go through mycertificates.health.pa.gov with VitalChek.
Note: The free PA State Archives Death Indices 1906-1975 cover Lancaster County deaths in the statewide system. Search these online before ordering a certified copy.
How to Request Lancaster Death Certificates
Lancaster residents have three main ways to request a certified death certificate. Online ordering through mycertificates.health.pa.gov is the fastest option. VitalChek is the only authorized online vendor. The fee is $20 per certificate plus a $10 online processing fee. Complete the form, upload a copy of your ID, and pay by credit card. Processing begins quickly, and the certified copy ships by mail.
Mail requests avoid the online fee. Download the application form from the PA Department of Health website. Include a photocopy of your valid government-issued photo ID. Make a check or money order payable to "Vital Records" for $20 per certificate. Mail to: Division of Vital Records, PO Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103. Phone: 724-656-3100 or 844-228-3516. Allow several weeks for processing by mail.
Walk-in service is available at Vital Records Branch Offices in Philadelphia and Harrisburg, among other locations. Harrisburg is closest for Lancaster County residents. Walk-in offices accept check or money order only. Same-day service may be available if you arrive early in the morning. Bring valid government-issued photo ID to any walk-in appointment. For estate or probate purposes, ordering multiple copies at once saves time. Each copy is $20. Most estate proceedings require three or more certified copies to satisfy all institutions involved. Eligible applicants include the spouse, ex-spouse, parent, step-parent, sibling, child, step-child, grandparent, and grandchild of the deceased. Legal representatives and those with a direct financial interest may also apply. Death certificates become public records 50 years after the date of death. For older records, no proof of relationship is required. The PA vital records page has current forms and instructions for all request methods.
Note: Lancaster County has no walk-in Vital Records office. Harrisburg is the nearest walk-in location for Lancaster residents needing in-person service.
Lancaster County Death Records
Lancaster County surrounds the city of Lancaster and includes many townships and boroughs with their own historical records. The county page covers additional death record resources and research tools for the Lancaster County area.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Neighboring cities in south-central Pennsylvania have their own death record resources. Select a city below for local guidance.