Search Somerville Death Index
Somerville death records are maintained by the Somerville City Clerk at 93 Highland Avenue, and the Death Index covers deaths that occurred in Somerville or were registered here. Certified copies cost $15 per record and can be requested in person, by mail, or online through the city's payment portal, with Thursday evening hours available for after-work visits.
Somerville Overview
Somerville City Clerk - Death Records
The Somerville City Clerk maintains death records for deaths that occurred in Somerville or that were registered to Somerville residents. The office is at Somerville City Hall, 93 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA 02143. Call (617) 625-6600, Extension 4100.
Office hours are Monday through Wednesday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Thursday 8:30 AM to 7:30 PM (extended), and Friday 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM. The Thursday evening hours are useful for people who can't make it during regular daytime hours.
Somerville death records go back to approximately 1870. Earlier records are at the Massachusetts State Archives. If you're searching for a Somerville death before 1870, the State Archives and free online images for 1841 to 1924 are the best place to start.
The genealogy record search page at somervillema.gov explains the local research process for Somerville records before 1910.
That page outlines three ways to request a genealogy search: online through the city's payment portal, by mail with a $10 search fee, or in person at City Hall.
| Address | Somerville City Hall, 93 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA 02143 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (617) 625-6600, Ext. 4100 |
| Hours Mon-Wed | 8:30 AM-4:30 PM |
| Hours Thursday | 8:30 AM-7:30 PM (extended) |
| Hours Friday | 8:30 AM-12:30 PM |
How to Request a Somerville Death Certificate
Somerville offers three ways to get a certified death certificate: in person, by mail, and online. All three result in a certified copy sent by mail or handed over at the counter. The fee is $15 per record. Genealogy searches (to find older records) cost $10, and if the record is found, you order a certified copy for $15.
For in-person requests, visit the City Clerk at 93 Highland Avenue during office hours. Pay by cash, check, money order, or credit card (Visa, MasterCard, or Discover only). Make checks payable to "City of Somerville." One thing to know: you will not get the certificate immediately at the counter. The request is placed in a queue and mailed to you. The office does not deliver records electronically since certified copies must bear the raised City Seal.
Online ordering is available at epay.cityhallsystems.com. You can order up to 10 death certificates per transaction. There is a $1 charge per order for processing and mailing. Credit card transactions carry additional fees. Electronic funds transfers are free of the extra charge. Refunds are given if the record cannot be found.
Mail requests require a form with a $10 search fee (check or money order payable to "City of Somerville"). Do not send cash. If the record is found within 10 business days, the office will contact you and you can order the certified copy for $15 each. Mail to: City Clerk's Office, 93 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA 02143.
Under MGL Chapter 46, Section 9, Somerville death records are public. Any person can request a copy.
Note: Somerville certified copies require the raised City Seal and cannot be delivered electronically, so all requests whether in person, by mail, or online result in a physical mailed certificate.
Searching the Somerville Death Index Online
Several free resources cover older Somerville death records. FamilySearch is the best free starting point. The Massachusetts Vital Records page on FamilySearch explains what collections are indexed for Middlesex County. Many Somerville deaths from the late 1800s and early 1900s appear there without any subscription.
The Massachusetts State Archives holds death records from 1841 to 1925. Free digital images for 1841 to 1924 are available through the State Archives vital records collection. Those free scans are useful for genealogy but are not certified copies. Certified copies from the Archives cost $3 each. The Archives is at 220 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, phone (617) 727-2816, email archives@sec.state.ma.us.
For Somerville records before 1910, the city's genealogy page points to additional sources. The Somerville Public Library provides on-site access to Ancestry.com (available in the library only) and has a local history room with city directories. The Massachusetts Archives at sec.state.ma.us and the National Archives Northeast Region at archives.gov/boston are also useful for older Somerville research.
The RVRS at mass.gov holds Somerville records from 1926 to present and can issue certified copies.
That page shows RVRS contact details, hours, and how to order Somerville records from the state through in-person, mail, or VitalChek options.
Somerville Historical Death Records
Somerville death records begin around 1870. The city was incorporated in 1842, but the earlier local vital records from before 1870 are less consistently organized. Those early records, along with records from 1841 to 1925 generally, are available at the Massachusetts State Archives. Free digital images covering 1841 to 1924 make it easy to view older records without ordering a certified copy.
Under MGL Chapter 46, Section 13, Massachusetts required death registration starting in the mid-1800s. Somerville records from that era are in the statewide indexed system. The State Archives has those records and can issue certified copies for $3 each.
Somerville has a significant immigration-era history. The Death Index includes records from families who came to the city in the late 19th and early 20th centuries from Ireland, Italy, Portugal, and other countries. Church records from that period can supplement the official records for immigrant deaths that may have been filed inconsistently.
The Somerville Public Library has a local history room with city directories, old newspapers, and reference materials. The Boston Public Library genealogy guide at guides.bpl.org points to additional Massachusetts resources for Somerville research. The National Archives Northeast Region in Boston holds federal records that may supplement local death records.
What Somerville Death Certificates Contain
Somerville death certificates follow the standard Massachusetts format. Each record 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. These fields are consistent statewide because the form is required by state law under MGL Chapter 46.
Certified copies carry the City Clerk's raised official seal and are legally valid for probate, insurance, and property matters. Section 12 of MGL Chapter 46 governs the issuance of certified copies in Massachusetts. That section requires the official seal for the copy to be valid. Electronic images or plain photocopies without the seal are not accepted for legal use.
Restricted records under Section 2A may require additional documentation before the office releases them. The clerk will notify you and explain what you need to provide if a restriction applies.
Note: Somerville will contact you within 10 business days when a genealogy search is complete, and you can then decide whether to order a certified copy for $15 each.
Getting Somerville Death Records from Multiple Sources
Somerville death records are available from three main sources: the Somerville City Clerk, the Massachusetts State Archives, and the RVRS. The right source depends on the time period and what you need the copy for.
The Somerville City Clerk is the primary source for deaths from about 1870 onward. Certified copies cost $15. The online portal at epay.cityhallsystems.com handles up to 10 certificates per transaction with a $1 processing fee. Mail requests have a $10 search fee followed by a $15 copy fee. In-person requests are placed in a queue and mailed to you.
The Massachusetts State Archives is the right source for deaths from 1841 to 1925. Certified copies cost $3 each, and free digital images are available for 1841 to 1924. If you only need an image for research, the free digital version from the State Archives may be all you need. Contact the Archives at (617) 727-2816 or archives@sec.state.ma.us, located at 220 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston.
For deaths from 1926 onward, the RVRS at 150 Mount Vernon Street, Dorchester holds the state copies. In-person copies cost $20. Mail copies cost $32. Online orders through VitalChek via mass.gov cost $54 for the first copy. The Somerville City Clerk is cheaper for most requests, but the RVRS is an alternative if you're already using state services for other records.
Nearby Cities
These qualifying cities near Somerville also maintain local death records through their city clerk offices.
Middlesex County Death Records
Somerville is in Middlesex County. The Middlesex County page covers probate court resources and county-level death record information.