Chicopee Death Records Lookup
The Chicopee Death Index covers records from 1848, the year Chicopee was incorporated as a city after separating from Springfield. Death records for Chicopee are maintained by the City Clerk's Office at City Hall, with additional records available through the Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics and the State Archives. This guide explains how to request a certified Chicopee death certificate, where to search for free, and what county-level resources are available in the area.
Chicopee Overview
Chicopee City Clerk - Death Records
The Chicopee City Clerk's Office at 17 Springfield Street manages death records for all deaths registered in Chicopee. Records go back to 1848. Walk-in requests are accepted during regular business hours without an appointment. Staff can check the records index before you submit a formal request or pay any fee. The office is a short drive from Springfield, making it convenient for residents of the Pioneer Valley.
| Address | Chicopee City Hall, 17 Springfield Street, Chicopee, MA 01013 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (413) 594-1414 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM |
Chicopee was separated from Springfield in 1848 and incorporated as a city the same year. Deaths in what is now Chicopee before 1848 were registered under Springfield. For pre-1848 deaths in the Chicopee area, you will need to search Springfield vital records at the State Archives.
The RVRS handles state-level vital records access for deaths from 1926 forward. The following screenshot shows the RVRS ordering page, which explains how to request a Chicopee death certificate through the state system.
Use the state's vital records ordering page to begin a request for a Chicopee death certificate from the RVRS system.
The ordering page outlines fees for in-person, mail, and VitalChek online requests and lists the information required to process a Chicopee death record request.
Note: Chicopee deaths before 1848 were registered under Springfield, so any search for deaths from that earlier period must use Springfield vital records rather than Chicopee records.
How to Request a Chicopee Death Certificate
Chicopee death certificates are available in person, by mail, or through the state system for records from 1926 onward. Here is what each method requires.
In Person: Visit the City Clerk's Office at Chicopee City Hall, 17 Springfield Street. Fill out a request form, show a valid photo ID, and pay the fee. In-person requests are typically processed the same day. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
By Mail: Send a written request to Chicopee City Clerk, 17 Springfield Street, Chicopee, MA 01013. Include the deceased person's full legal name, date of death, number of copies needed, your return address, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and payment. Allow one to two weeks for processing and return delivery.
Online (RVRS/VitalChek): For Chicopee deaths from 1926 to the present, order through the RVRS at 150 Mount Vernon Street in Dorchester. VitalChek online costs $54 for the first copy, mail requests cost $32, and in-person RVRS visits cost $20 per copy. All certificates are mailed, not delivered digitally.
Under MGL Chapter 46, Section 9, Chicopee death records are public documents accessible to any adult. No family relationship is needed. Certified copies under Section 12 are legally valid for estate and court matters. The physician must file the certificate within 24 hours of death under Section 2A.
Searching Chicopee Death Records Online
Several free platforms cover Chicopee historical death records. The right source depends on when the death occurred.
FamilySearch offers free access to digitized Massachusetts vital records through their Massachusetts Vital Records guide. Many Chicopee deaths from the late 1800s and early 1900s are indexed by name. A free account gives you access to scanned images of original records, not just index entries.
The Massachusetts State Archives provides free digital images for deaths from 1841 through 1924 at the vital records collection page. You can browse Chicopee entries by year at no cost. Certified copies of those same records are available from the Archives for $3 each. Since Chicopee was incorporated in 1848, the Archives collection covers most of the city's early history as an independent municipality.
For deaths from 1926 to the present, the RVRS at 150 Mount Vernon Street in Dorchester holds the statewide copy. These records are not available for free online browsing. You must submit a formal request through the city clerk or the RVRS system to obtain a certified copy.
Note: For Chicopee-area deaths before 1848, search Springfield vital records in the State Archives collection, since Chicopee was part of Springfield before its incorporation as a city.
Chicopee Historical Death Records
Chicopee became an independent city in 1848 after separating from Springfield, which was then and remains now the largest city in Hampden County. Chicopee's death records begin with that 1848 separation. The city grew quickly in the mid-1800s, driven in part by industrial expansion along the Chicopee River. That industrial history is reflected in the death records of the period, which document workers and their families from the manufacturing era.
The Chicopee Public Library at 449 Front Street has a local history collection that includes city directories, town reports, and newspaper archives. These materials can supplement official death records, particularly for the industrial period of the late 1800s and early 1900s. Staff at the library can help you navigate available resources for both Chicopee-specific and earlier Springfield-era records.
The Hampden County Registry of Deeds at 50 State Street in Springfield handles land records for Chicopee. Deed transfers often reference deaths and can help establish death dates and surviving heirs, especially for estates that included property. The Hampden County Probate and Family Court at the same 50 State Street address in Springfield handles probate matters for Chicopee residents.
For deaths from 1848 through 1925, the State Archives in Boston is the official state source for certified copies. For deaths from 1926 forward, the RVRS in Dorchester holds the statewide record. For deaths in the Chicopee area before 1848, use Springfield records at the State Archives.
Note: The Hampden County Probate and Family Court at 50 State Street, Springfield, MA serves Chicopee residents and may hold estate files that include death-related information for prominent Chicopee families from the 19th and early 20th centuries.
What Chicopee Death Certificates Contain
A Chicopee death certificate uses the standard Massachusetts form. It records the decedent's full legal name, date of birth, date of death, and the specific address in Chicopee where the death occurred. Cause of death is listed as certified by the attending physician or medical examiner.
The manner of death is classified as natural, accident, homicide, or suicide. Other required fields include occupation, Social Security number, and both parents' names with the mother's maiden name listed separately. The funeral home name, body disposition method, and the certifying physician's name and license number all appear on the completed form.
Under MGL Chapter 46, Section 9, death records are public in Massachusetts and may be requested by any adult. Section 12 governs who may issue certified copies and what fees are permitted. Section 2A establishes the statewide requirement that deaths be registered within 24 hours. Section 13 sets out the formal process for amending a filed death certificate if it contains an error.
Getting a Certified Copy in Chicopee
Three official sources can provide a certified Chicopee death certificate. The right source depends on when the death was registered.
The Chicopee City Clerk at 17 Springfield Street is the best local source for any death registered in Chicopee. Call (413) 594-1414 to confirm a record is on file before visiting. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
The RVRS at 150 Mount Vernon Street in Dorchester holds records from 1926 to the present. In-person copies cost $20, mail requests are $32, and VitalChek online orders are $54 for the first copy. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:45 AM to 4:45 PM. Phone is 617-740-2600 and email is vital.recordsrequest@mass.gov.
The State Archives at 220 Morrissey Boulevard in Boston holds records from 1841 through 1925. Certified copies cost $3 each. Free digital images are available online for 1841 through 1924. Contact the Archives at 617-727-2816 or archives@sec.state.ma.us. The state ordering page links all options in one place.
Nearby Cities
Other qualifying cities near Chicopee in western Massachusetts include the following.
Hampden County Death Records
Chicopee is located in Hampden County. The county page covers probate records, court locations, and death records across Hampden County cities and towns.