Philadelphia Death Records
Philadelphia death records span more than two centuries of vital history. The city is Pennsylvania's largest, with roughly 1.6 million residents. Multiple offices hold these records depending on the date of death. The City Archives holds the oldest records, dating back to cemetery returns from 1803. The Pennsylvania Department of Health handles all deaths from 1906 to the present. Researchers have several reliable paths to find what they need for Philadelphia specifically.
Philadelphia Quick Facts
Philadelphia City Archives Death Records
The Philadelphia City Archives holds vital records stretching back to the early 1800s. Cemetery returns cover 1803 through June 1860. Birth and death records run from July 1860 to June 1915. These older records are not available through the state system. You must contact the City Archives directly to access them. The office is located at 548 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123.
City Archives hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. You can request records by mail or in person using the birth, death, or marriage record application form. Mail requests take two to four weeks to process. Accepted payment includes cash, money order, debit or credit card, and business or certified checks. Personal checks are not accepted. A 3.5% convenience fee applies to credit and debit card payments. The Department of Records manages City records, provides public access, handles real estate documents, and oversees the City Archives. Historical land and vital records are also searchable through phila-records.com, though that site requires a paid subscription for digital images. Records on that platform may help supplement what you find at the Archives itself.
The City Archives request page has the forms and instructions you need. If you know the approximate date of death, gathering that detail before you contact them will speed up the search. Staff can also help narrow down a date range if you only have partial information.
Note: The City Archives does not provide death certificates for deaths after June 1915. Contact the Pennsylvania Department of Health for those records.
Philadelphia Vital Records Office Death Certificates
Philadelphia has its own Pennsylvania Department of Health walk-in office for death certificates. The Philadelphia Vital Records Public Office is located at 110 North 8th Street, Suite 108. Phone: (215) 560-3054. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Same-day service may be available for requests submitted before 10:00 am. Standard processing time is four business days. This office is one of six walk-in locations in Pennsylvania that can provide certified death certificates directly.
Death certificates cost $20 per certified copy. This fee applies whether you apply in person, by mail, or online. The state offers two versions of a death certificate. One includes full medical information, such as cause and manner of death. The other version, available only for deaths after 2019, omits medical details. Most legal and genealogical purposes require the version with medical information. Payment at the walk-in office requires check or money order only.
Mail requests go to: Division of Vital Records, PO Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103. Phone: 724-656-3100 or 844-228-3516. Online orders process through mycertificates.health.pa.gov, with VitalChek as the only authorized vendor. Online orders carry an additional $10 processing fee. Death certificates become public records 50 years after the date of death. Learn more about PA Vital Records Public Offices statewide.
Note: The PA Department of Health does not handle deaths before 1906. Those records belong with the City Archives or the Pennsylvania State Archives.
Philadelphia Medical Examiner Death Records
The Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office handles deaths that require investigation, such as unexpected, violent, or unexplained deaths. The office is at 400 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19130. Email: medicalexaminer@phila.gov. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Only the legal next of kin can request records from this office. Processing takes up to 12 weeks for complex cases.
The Medical Examiner's Office does not issue death certificates. That function belongs to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The MEO handles investigative reports, autopsy findings, and toxicology results. These are separate from the official death certificate. If you need the death certificate and the death was investigated by the MEO, you still order the certificate through the state. To request Medical Examiner records, use the city's online request form and provide proof of your relationship to the deceased.
Pennsylvania State Archives Philadelphia Death Index
The Pennsylvania State Archives holds original death certificates for deaths from 1906 through 1974. Digital copies covering 1906 through 1972 are available on Ancestry.com, free for Pennsylvania residents. These older records are a key resource for genealogical research involving Philadelphia families. The State Archives also maintains free Death Indices for 1906 through 1975. These indices let you confirm a death occurred and locate the corresponding certificate before ordering a copy.
Access the free PA State Archives Death Indices 1906-1975 online. Search by name, year, and county. Results show the death certificate number, which you then use to order a copy. For deaths before 1906, Philadelphia records fall under the City Archives system described above. The Orphans Court handled most pre-1906 death registrations in other counties, but Philadelphia maintained its own registration system dating back much further.
Note: Death certificates at the State Archives become part of the public record 50 years after the date of death, matching the statewide rule.
How to Request Philadelphia Death Certificates
Philadelphia has its own walk-in office at 110 North 8th Street, Suite 108. Phone: (215) 560-3054. This is one of the most accessible walk-in offices in Pennsylvania, reachable by SEPTA subway, bus, and regional rail. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Same-day service may be available for requests submitted before 10:00 am. Standard processing is four business days. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID and payment by check or money order. Credit cards and cash are not accepted at the walk-in counter.
Online ordering through mycertificates.health.pa.gov via VitalChek is available at any time. The fee is $20 per certificate plus a $10 online processing fee. Upload a copy of your ID and pay by credit card. The certified copy ships by mail. Mail requests avoid the online fee: send your application, a photocopy of your ID, and a check or money order for $20 per copy to Division of Vital Records, PO Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103. Allow several weeks for mail processing.
For estate and legal purposes, ordering three or more certified copies at once is efficient. Each copy costs $20. Banks, courts, and agencies involved in estate settlement typically each need their own certified copy. Ordering together avoids repeat applications. Death certificates become public records 50 years after the date of death. For deaths before 1976, any person may request a copy. For recent deaths, eligible requestors include the spouse, ex-spouse, parent, step-parent, sibling, child, step-child, grandparent, grandchild, and legal representatives. A valid photo ID and completed application are required in all cases. The PA vital records death certificates page has the current application form, fees, and eligibility requirements. Researchers seeking records before 1906 should use the City Archives at 548 Spring Garden Street rather than the Department of Health.
Note: The Philadelphia walk-in office handles death certificates for all of Pennsylvania, not just Philadelphia County. Researchers needing certificates from other counties can use this office for any statewide request.
Philadelphia County Death Records
Philadelphia is a consolidated city-county. All county-level death record resources and research tools for the Philadelphia area are available through the county page. That page covers additional offices, county court records, and links to related resources for genealogical research.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Residents of nearby cities access death records through their own county offices and state resources. Select a city below to find death record information for that area.