Quincy Death Records Lookup
Quincy death records are kept by the Quincy City Clerk at 1305 Hancock Street, with the Death Index covering deaths from approximately 1888 to present. Certified copies cost $10 in the office or $12 by mail, and genealogy copies for non-legal use are available for just $2 each.
Quincy Overview
Quincy City Clerk - Death Records
The Quincy City Clerk maintains death records for deaths that occurred in Quincy or were registered here. The office is at Quincy City Hall, 1305 Hancock Street, Quincy, MA 02169. Call 617-376-1131 or fax 617-376-1082. You can also email the office at ncrispod@quincyma.gov. City Clerk is Nicole L. Chisppo, C.M.C. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
Quincy keeps death records from approximately 1888. Earlier records, covering deaths from 1841 onward, are at the Massachusetts State Archives. Free digital images for 1841 to 1924 are available through the State Archives online. Those scans let you view the record without ordering a copy.
The state vital records ordering page at mass.gov shows how to order Quincy records from the state RVRS for deaths from 1926 onward.
That page covers all three ordering methods: in person at the RVRS in Dorchester, by mail for $32, and online through VitalChek for $54 for the first copy.
Death certificates in Massachusetts must be filed within 24 hours of death. The funeral director typically files the record with the city. Once filed in Quincy, a copy goes to the RVRS for the statewide death index.
| Address | Quincy City Hall, 1305 Hancock Street, Quincy, MA 02169 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 617-376-1131 |
| Fax | 617-376-1082 |
| ncrispod@quincyma.gov | |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM-4:30 PM |
How to Request a Quincy Death Certificate
Quincy offers in-person and mail options for getting a death certificate. The fees are different depending on the type of copy you need.
Certified copies for legal use cost $10 in the office or $12 by mail. Genealogy copies, which are not valid for legal purposes but work fine for family research, cost just $2 each. If you don't know the exact date of death, there's a $10 non-refundable search fee. That search fee is returned if a record is not found, but the $10 search cost stays with the office regardless of whether you get a copy.
To request in person, visit the City Clerk at 1305 Hancock Street during business hours. Provide the name of the person, the type of record you need, the date of death if known, the father's name and place of birth, the mother's maiden name and place of birth, and your contact information. Pay the fee and receive the certificate while you wait.
For mail requests, include all the same information in a letter, along with your payment (check or money order payable to City of Quincy), and mail to: Quincy City Clerk, 1305 Hancock Street, Quincy, MA 02169.
Under MGL Chapter 46, Section 9, Quincy death records are public. Anyone can request a copy without needing to show a family relationship.
Note: The $10 search fee applies when you don't know the exact date of death, and it is non-refundable even if no record is found, though the copy fee is returned if the record does not exist.
Searching the Quincy Death Index Online
Free online resources are available for older Quincy death records. FamilySearch is the best free starting point. The Massachusetts Vital Records page on FamilySearch covers what's indexed for Norfolk County. Many Quincy deaths from the late 1800s and early 1900s appear in those free collections.
The Massachusetts State Archives holds Quincy death records from 1841 to 1925. Free digital images for 1841 to 1924 are available through the State Archives vital records collection. These scanned images are free to view and useful for genealogy research, though they're not certified copies. Certified copies from the Archives cost $3 each. Contact the Archives at (617) 727-2816 or archives@sec.state.ma.us.
The RVRS at mass.gov holds Quincy records from 1926 onward and can issue certified copies.
The RVRS page shows hours of M-F 8:45 AM to 4:45 PM, the Dorchester address, and how to contact the office for record requests.
Ancestry.com has digitized Massachusetts vital record collections. The Thomas Crane Public Library in Quincy has genealogy resources and may provide database access for free to library cardholders.
Quincy Historical Death Records
Quincy death records begin around 1888. Before that, the area's records were maintained under different local jurisdictions. The Massachusetts State Archives holds records for the Quincy area going back to 1841 under the statewide registration system that began under what became MGL Chapter 46.
Free digital images from the State Archives cover 1841 to 1924. For records in that range, viewing the free scanned image is a good first step before deciding if you need a certified copy. The Archives charges $3 per certified copy, less than the Quincy City Clerk's fees.
The Thomas Crane Public Library in Quincy has a genealogy and local history collection with city directories, old newspapers, and other materials that can help you research Quincy deaths beyond what's in the official indexes. Library staff can help you navigate those resources.
Norfolk County Probate Court handles estate matters for Quincy deaths. Probate records are public and can add detail to what you find in a death certificate, including the names of survivors and the disposition of property.
What Quincy Death Certificates Contain
Massachusetts death certificates follow a standard statewide format. A Quincy death certificate shows the deceased's full name, date of birth, date of death, place of death, cause of death, and manner of death. Manner of death is classified as natural, accident, homicide, suicide, or undetermined.
Other fields include the parents' names, the deceased's occupation, Social Security number, and the method of body disposition such as burial or cremation. The state requires these fields on every death certificate, so Quincy records contain the same information as any other Massachusetts city.
Certified copies carry the City Clerk's official seal and are valid for probate, insurance, and property matters. Section 12 of MGL Chapter 46 governs how certified copies are issued. Genealogy copies available from Quincy for $2 do not carry the legal seal and are for research use only. Section 2A of MGL Chapter 46 covers restricted records that may require extra documentation before release.
Note: When requesting a Quincy death certificate, providing the father's name and mother's maiden name helps the clerk identify the correct record, especially when multiple people share a name.
Getting Certified Copies from Multiple Sources
Quincy certified copies can come from the City Clerk, the state RVRS, or the State Archives depending on the time period. Knowing which source to use saves time and money.
For deaths from 1888 onward, the Quincy City Clerk is usually the fastest and most affordable option. In-office copies cost $10, less than what the RVRS charges. Mail copies cost $12, still less than the RVRS's $32 mail rate. If you're ordering multiple copies for an estate or insurance claim, ordering directly from Quincy makes sense.
For deaths from 1926 onward, the RVRS in Dorchester is an alternative. The RVRS holds the state copy and can issue certified copies through three channels: in person at $20, by mail at $32, or online through VitalChek at $54 for the first copy. Contact the RVRS at 617-740-2600 or vital.recordsrequest@mass.gov.
For deaths before 1926, especially older Quincy deaths from 1841 to 1925, the State Archives at 220 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston is the right place to look. They have the state's indexed copies and charge $3 per certified copy. Free digital images cover 1841 to 1924 for research purposes.
Nearby Cities
These qualifying cities near Quincy also have local death records through their city clerk offices.
Norfolk County Death Records
Quincy is in Norfolk County. The Norfolk County page covers probate court resources and county-level death record information.