Philadelphia County Death Records
Philadelphia County death records span more than two hundred years. Cemetery returns go back to 1803 and are held at the Philadelphia City Archives. Formal birth and death records from July 1860 to June 1915 are also at the City Archives on Spring Garden Street. The Register of Wills at City Hall handles probate records and marriage licenses. For deaths from 1906 onward, the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records holds certified copies. Philadelphia is a consolidated city-county, so all records cover the entire city and county as one unit.
Philadelphia County Quick Facts
Philadelphia City Archives Death Records
The Philadelphia City Archives holds birth and death records from July 1860 to June 1915. Cemetery returns from 1803 to June 1860 are also part of the collection. The City Archives is located at 548 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. These records represent one of the longest continuous local vital records collections in Pennsylvania.
Records at the City Archives can be requested in person or by mail. Both methods require a completed application for a birth, death, or marriage record. Mailed requests typically arrive in two to four weeks. If no record is found, the archives issues a "No Record Statement." Accepted payment methods include cash, money orders, debit and credit cards, and business or certified checks. Personal checks are not accepted. A fee of 3.5% applies to debit and credit card transactions. Visit the Philadelphia archival records page for current fees and application forms.
Historical land and vital records are also available through phila-records.com, which provides digital images from a subscription-based search platform. This site is managed by the Philadelphia Department of Records and gives researchers online access to many types of historic Philadelphia documents. A subscription is required for full image access.
Note: Cemetery returns from 1803 to June 1860 and formal death records from July 1860 to June 1915 are both held at the Philadelphia City Archives at 548 Spring Garden Street.
Philadelphia Register of Wills and Orphans' Court
The Register of Wills is an elected office in Philadelphia. The officeholder serves as both Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans' Court. The office is located at City Hall, Room 180, Philadelphia, PA 19107. Phone: (215) 686-6255 for probate inquiries. The Register of Wills probates wills, handles estate inventories, and maintains permanent legal records connected to estates.
The office also issues marriage licenses and keeps marriage records dating back to 1915. For genealogists, marriage records can complement death research by confirming family relationships and naming surviving spouses. The Register of Wills is the right office for anyone researching an estate that was filed in Philadelphia County. Estate files often contain death dates, heirs' names, and property details that can supplement a formal death certificate.
The Register of Wills website provides information on how to access probate records. Records can be searched by estate name. Certified copies of probate documents are available for a fee. The office is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours. Call ahead to confirm current procedures before visiting City Hall in Philadelphia.
Note: The Register of Wills handles probate, wills, and marriage records. Death records from the pre-1915 period are at the City Archives on Spring Garden Street, not at City Hall.
Philadelphia Vital Records Public Office
The Philadelphia Vital Records Public Office is located at 110 North 8th Street, Suite 108. Phone: (215) 560-3054. Same-day service may be available for requests submitted before 10 a.m. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. This office handles death records from June 1915 onward for Philadelphia. It is the local access point for more recent vital records within the city.
The PA Division of Vital Records also lists Philadelphia as one of its walk-in locations. For deaths from 1906 through June 1915 that fall within the state system but predate the local office's records, the PA State Archives holds the original certificates. Digital images of those certificates from 1906 to 1972 are available on Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania residents can access Ancestry.com for free at many Philadelphia public libraries through a statewide partnership.
Certified copies of death certificates cost $20 each through the PA Division of Vital Records. You can also order through VitalChek online at mycertificates.health.pa.gov or by calling 724-656-3100 or 844-228-3516. The PA Vital Records public offices page lists all walk-in locations including Philadelphia. The PA Department of Health vital records page has complete ordering instructions.
Note: The Philadelphia Vital Records Public Office at 110 N. 8th Street handles local requests for more recent death records. For records before 1915, go to the City Archives on Spring Garden Street.
Philadelphia Medical Examiner Records
The Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office (MEO) investigates deaths that occur under unusual or unexpected circumstances. The MEO is located at 400 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130. Email inquiries can be sent to medicalexaminer@phila.gov. Processing time for MEO records can be up to 12 weeks. Only legal next of kin or a person with a valid court order can request records from the Medical Examiner's Office.
Medical Examiner records are separate from death certificates issued by the Division of Vital Records. The MEO creates its own case files that include autopsy reports, toxicology results, and investigative notes. These records provide detailed medical information about the cause and manner of death. They are not part of the regular vital records system and require a separate request process. Visit the Philadelphia Medical Examiner records page for current request procedures and fees.
For most genealogical research purposes, the death certificate from the City Archives or Division of Vital Records will provide sufficient information. The Medical Examiner's records are typically sought when the cause of death is contested, or when detailed medical findings are needed for legal, insurance, or medical research purposes. The strict access rules reflect the sensitive nature of Medical Examiner case files.
Note: Medical Examiner records require proof of legal next-of-kin status or a court order. Processing takes up to 12 weeks. These records are separate from standard death certificates.
PA State Death Index for Philadelphia County
The Pennsylvania State Archives provides free online death indices from 1906 to 1975. These cover Philadelphia County deaths throughout that span. Visit the PA State Archives death indices page to search by name. Two indexing methods apply. Deaths from 1920 to 1924 and from 1930 to 1951 use the Russell Soundex method, which groups surnames by sound rather than spelling. Deaths from 1906 to 1919, 1925 to 1929, and 1952 to 1975 use alphabetical surname groupings.
Once you find a name in the index, record the State File Number. That number is required to order a certified copy from the archives. For Philadelphia County deaths between 1952 and 1975, the index returns to alphabetical order. The State Archives holds original death certificates from 1906 to 1974. For deaths from 1975 onward, the Division of Vital Records or the Philadelphia Vital Records Public Office holds the records. Death certificates become public records 50 years after the date of death.
Philadelphia County generates a large number of death records each year given its population size. The state index covers all Philadelphia deaths from 1906 to 1975 without exception. For the most recent deaths, the Division of Vital Records in New Castle is the source regardless of where in Pennsylvania the death occurred. Philadelphia also has a local walk-in option through the Vital Records Public Office at 110 N. 8th Street, Suite 108.
Note: The State File Number found in the PA State Archives death index is required when ordering a certified copy. Without it, processing your request may take longer.
Cities in Philadelphia County
Philadelphia County is a consolidated city-county. The city and county share the same boundaries. All death records for the county are filed through Philadelphia city offices and the state system.
Nearby Pennsylvania Counties
Philadelphia County borders four Pennsylvania counties. If your ancestor lived just outside city limits, check the neighboring county death records as well.