Beaver County Death Index
Beaver County death records exist at the county level from two distinct registration periods: 1852 through 1854, and 1893 through 1906. Both sets of records are held by the Register of Wills and Orphans' Court at the Beaver County Courthouse. Probate records go back to 1800, when the county was organized. Marriage records cover two periods as well, with entries from 1852 through 1854 and again from 1886 onward. For deaths from 1906 forward, the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records in New Castle holds the records. The PA State Archives death index covers 1906 through 1975 and is free to search online.
Beaver County Quick Facts
Beaver County Register of Wills Death Records
The Register of Wills and Orphans' Court is at the Beaver County Courthouse, 810 Third Street, Beaver, PA 15009. The phone number for this office is 724-770-4550. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. To request a death record copy, send a written request to this office. Include a $5.00 research fee per name along with a self-addressed stamped envelope. Payment should be by check or money order made payable to "Register of Wills."
The Register of Wills holds death records from both county registration periods. The 1852 through 1854 records come from Pennsylvania's first attempt at statewide vital registration. That effort was short-lived, but Beaver County was among the counties that kept surviving records from it. The 1893 through 1906 period followed a second state registration law that lasted until the current system began in 1906. Both sets of records capture deaths that otherwise have no other official record. Probate records from 1800 serve as the earliest county-level source of death-related data. Marriage records from 1852 through 1854 and again from 1886 are also maintained in this office.
The Archives.com guide to Beaver County vital records provides a useful overview of what survives and where each type of record is held. Marriage and divorce certificates are available from the Register of Wills and the Prothonotary respectively. The research fee for a marriage record copy is $4.00, and certified copies cost $5.00. Divorce decrees cost $0.50 per page through the Prothonotary, which can be reached at 724-770-4570.
Pennsylvania Death Index Records for Beaver County
The PA State Archives provides free online access to the Death Index for 1906 through 1975. Beaver County deaths during this period are fully indexed. Access the index at the PA State Archives vital statistics page. The index gives the name, death year, and certificate number needed to obtain the full document.
Death certificates from 1906 through 1974 are physically held at the State Archives. Digital copies for 1906 through 1972 are on Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania residents can use Ancestry at no cost through participating public libraries. Soundex phonetic indexing applies to the 1920 through 1924 and 1930 through 1951 ranges. This can help find records for Beaver County residents whose surnames have multiple spellings. Death certificates become public record 50 years after the death date.
For deaths from 1906 forward, order certified copies through the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records. Each certified copy costs $20. Order online at mycertificates.health.pa.gov, by phone at 724-656-3100, or by mail to PO Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103. The New Castle office also offers walk-in service and is near Beaver County. The PA Department of Health vital records page has current details on how to order.
Note: Beaver County was organized on March 12, 1800, so no county-level records exist before that date.
Beaver County Probate Records and Death Data
Probate records from 1800 are the earliest systematic source of death information in Beaver County. When a resident died and left property, the estate was opened in the Orphans' Court. These filings show the death date, the names of heirs, and the assets of the deceased. The Register of Wills maintains these records from 1800 through the present. For deaths between 1800 and 1852, probate files are often the only documentary evidence that a person died in Beaver County.
The 1852 through 1854 death records from Beaver County survive as part of the statewide collection held at the county level. These early registers were transcribed and indexed by genealogical volunteers and are available in some online databases. The gap from 1855 through 1892 has no formal death register at either the county or state level. During that window, church burial records, cemetery transcriptions, and newspaper obituaries are the most reliable sources for Beaver County deaths.
Researchers working on Beaver County genealogy should also check the collections at the Beaver County Historical Research and Landmarks Foundation. That organization maintains local history files, cemetery records, and newspaper archives that supplement the courthouse holdings. For deaths involving industrial accidents, which were common in Beaver County's steel and manufacturing history, coroner's inquest records at the courthouse may provide additional detail not found in the death register.
Ordering Beaver County Death Certificates
Birth and death records from 1906 to the present are held by the Division of Vital Records in New Castle. Each certified death certificate copy costs $20. Order online at mycertificates.health.pa.gov through VitalChek, the only authorized online vendor. Phone ordering is available at 724-656-3100 or toll-free at 844-228-3516. Mail requests go to PO Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103. The New Castle walk-in office is convenient for Beaver County residents and is one of several walk-in locations across the state.
The PA State Archives provides free online access to the Death Index for 1906 through 1975 at the PA State Archives vital statistics page. Searching the index is free and gives the certificate number needed for a copy request. Digital copies of death certificates from 1906 through 1972 are on Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania residents can access Ancestry at no cost at most public libraries. Death certificates become public record 50 years after the date of death. For any Beaver County death from 1975 or earlier, no restriction applies. For more recent deaths, eligible requestors include the deceased's spouse, children, parents, siblings, and legal representatives. Details on eligibility are on the PA Department of Health vital records page.
What Beaver County Death Records Contain
A Beaver County death certificate from the state registration era typically includes the full name of the deceased, date and place of death, age, birthplace, occupation, cause of death, name of the attending physician, and names of surviving family members. The informant's name is also on the certificate, and that person is often a close relative. This information can open new avenues of research by naming previously unknown relatives or providing the exact birthplace needed to search records in another country or state.
County-level death records from the 1893 through 1906 period often contain similar information but in less standardized format. The 1852 through 1854 death registers are shorter and may give only the name, date, and cause of death. Even so, these early entries are invaluable because they provide official confirmation of a death during a period when probate records might be the only other source. Combining all three record types gives Beaver County researchers a strong base for building out family trees and confirming vital events.
Nearby Counties
Beaver County sits in the far western corner of Pennsylvania. Neighboring counties share similar industrial histories and may have overlapping records for families near county lines.