Pittsburgh Death Records
Pittsburgh death records reach back to the 1870s, making this city one of Pennsylvania's richest sources for historical vital data. Pittsburgh is Allegheny County's largest city, with a population of roughly 300,000 today. City death registers from 1870 through 1905 are available online. Post-1905 records come through the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Researchers can also visit the Pittsburgh Vital Records Branch Office at 411 7th Avenue for in-person service and same-day processing.
Pittsburgh Quick Facts
Pittsburgh Vital Records Office
The Pittsburgh Vital Records Branch Office serves Allegheny County and western Pennsylvania. It is one of six walk-in offices run by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The office is at 411 7th Ave., Suite 360, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Phone: (412) 565-5113. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, excluding state holidays.
Same-day processing is available for walk-in requests at this location. Bring valid government-issued photo identification. Payment is by check or money order only. The fee is $20 per certified copy of a death certificate. Cash and credit cards are not accepted at this office. If you need multiple copies, each copy costs $20. The Pittsburgh office can process requests for deaths occurring anywhere in Pennsylvania since 1906, not just Allegheny County. That makes it a convenient resource for western Pennsylvania researchers seeking records from neighboring counties as well.
The PA Vital Records Public Offices page lists all six walk-in locations and their hours. For mail requests, send to: Division of Vital Records, PO Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103. Phone statewide: 724-656-3100 or 844-228-3516. Online orders go through mycertificates.health.pa.gov via VitalChek, the only authorized vendor, with an added $10 processing fee.
Note: The Pittsburgh walk-in office handles deaths from 1906 forward only. Older city registers require different sources described below.
Pittsburgh Historical Death Registers 1870-1905
Pittsburgh maintained its own death registers before the state took over in 1906. City of Pittsburgh Death Registers covering 1870 through 1905 are available online through FamilySearch.org at no cost. These registers document deaths that occurred within the city limits during that period. FamilySearch has digitized and indexed many of these records, making name searches practical from home. This is one of the most accessible historical death record collections for Pittsburgh research.
Pittsburgh was not alone in keeping early records. Several nearby municipalities also have historical registers available through FamilySearch. Allegheny City Death Registers run from 1875 through May 1907. McKeesport Death Registers cover 1887 through 1905. Sewickley Death Registers cover 1894 through 1905. Wilkinsburg Death Registers cover 1899 through 1905. All of these are useful when researching Pittsburgh-area families who may have lived in one of these neighboring communities. Prior to 1906, Pennsylvania births and deaths were recorded only sporadically by counties and some cities. Pittsburgh was among the few cities that kept consistent records during this era, which is why its pre-1906 collection is especially valuable.
The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh also holds duplicate records. The main branch at 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 has birth and death registers from 1870 through 1905. Staff can assist with in-person research. Carnegie Library's history collection is one of the strongest in western Pennsylvania for local genealogy. Combining FamilySearch's online indexes with the Carnegie Library's physical holdings gives researchers a solid foundation for pre-1906 Pittsburgh death research.
Note: FamilySearch does not charge for access to Pittsburgh death registers. Create a free account to begin searching.
Pittsburgh Death Index at PA State Archives
For deaths from 1906 onward, the Pennsylvania State Archives holds original death certificates through 1974. Digital copies for 1906 through 1972 are available on Ancestry.com, and Pennsylvania residents can access them for free. The State Archives also offers free Death Indices for 1906 through 1975 online. These indices are searchable by name and year and provide death certificate numbers that you use to order copies.
Access the free PA State Archives Death Indices 1906-1975 to begin a Pittsburgh death search. Results include name, county, and year, along with the certificate number. Once you have the number, you can order a copy through the Division of Vital Records or visit the Pittsburgh walk-in office. Death certificates are public records 50 years after the death date. For recent deaths, eligible family members and legal representatives can order copies even before the 50-year mark.
Allegheny County Death Records and Courts
Allegheny County probate records and estate filings relate closely to death records research. The Allegheny County Register of Wills is at the City-County Building, 414 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Phone: (412) 350-4188. Wills and estate records often document family relationships, dates of death, and property holdings. These records complement death certificates when building a complete picture of a family's history.
For county court records and additional Allegheny County death research resources, the Allegheny County Courts public records page provides links and guidance. The county court system maintains its own filing history going back many decades. Estate filings from the late 1800s and early 1900s can sometimes reveal death information when certificates are missing or incomplete. Combining county court records with the Pittsburgh death registers and PA State Archives indices gives researchers the most complete picture available for Allegheny County deaths.
Note: The Register of Wills handles probate matters and estate filings. It does not issue or hold official death certificates.
How to Request Pittsburgh Death Certificates
Pittsburgh residents have three options for requesting a certified death certificate. Walk-in service at 411 7th Ave., Suite 360 is the fastest. Same-day processing is available Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID and payment by check or money order. The fee is $20 per copy. Cash and credit cards are not accepted at this office.
Online ordering through mycertificates.health.pa.gov via VitalChek adds a $10 processing fee on top of the $20 certificate cost. Upload a copy of your ID and pay by credit card. The certified copy ships by mail. This method is available at any time and is convenient when a walk-in visit is not practical. Processing begins promptly, and most online orders arrive within a reasonable timeframe.
Mail requests avoid the online processing fee. Download the application form from the PA Department of Health website. Include a photocopy of a 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 mail processing. For estate and probate work, ordering three or more certified copies in a single request is efficient. Banks, courts, and government agencies typically each require a separate certified copy. Submitting one order for all the copies you need avoids multiple trips or repeat mail requests. Death certificates become public records 50 years after the death date. For deaths before 1976, any person may request a copy without proving a family connection. For recent deaths, eligible requestors include the spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, legal representative, or a person with a direct financial interest in the estate. A "No Record Certification of Death" is issued when the search cannot locate the requested record, confirming the search was completed. The PA vital records page has current forms and instructions.
Note: The Pittsburgh walk-in office processes requests for deaths occurring anywhere in Pennsylvania, not just Allegheny County. Western Pennsylvania researchers can use it for neighboring county records too.
Allegheny County Death Records
Allegheny County encompasses Pittsburgh and dozens of surrounding municipalities. The county page covers additional resources for death records, probate filings, and genealogical research throughout the county.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Researchers looking for death records in other Pennsylvania cities can find local guidance below. Each city has its own offices and record collections.