Massachusetts Counties Death Index

Massachusetts death records are filed by city and town clerks and sent to the state. Each of the 14 counties has a Probate Court and Registry of Deeds that hold related records. Select a county below to find local office contact details, clerk information, and resources for searching the Massachusetts Death Index in that county.

All 14 Massachusetts Counties

How County Records Connect to the Death Index

Massachusetts death records are not kept at the county level directly. They are maintained by individual city and town clerks for recent records, and by the state for older ones. However, county Probate Courts and Registries of Deeds hold related records that can be valuable for death research. Probate records may contain wills, estate inventories, and guardianship files that document deaths when vital records are incomplete or missing. Estate inventories often list surviving family members. Wills may include burial instructions and family relationships not captured in the death certificate itself.

The Probate Court in each county handles estate administration, typically filed after a death. These records can confirm a death date, name survivors, and show how assets were distributed. For deaths that occurred before 1841, when statewide records began, Probate Court files are often the best source of death information available in Massachusetts.

County Registries of Deeds hold land transfer records. Property sold or transferred after a death often appears in deed records shortly after the estate is settled. These deed records can help establish a time frame for a death when no vital record exists. Both Probate and deed records are open to the public and can be searched in person or through online portals maintained by each county office.