Franklin County Death Records
Franklin County death records are part of the Massachusetts Death Index and cover one of the state's most rural counties in the Connecticut River Valley region. The Massachusetts Death Index includes Franklin County records from 1841 onward, with those from 1926 through the present held at the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics in Dorchester, and older records at the Massachusetts State Archives in Boston. All 26 towns in Franklin County maintain their own local death registrations through their town clerks. This page explains where to search, how to order copies, and what other sources are available for Franklin County death research.
Franklin County Overview
How Franklin County Death Records Work
Massachusetts handles death records at the city and town level. Franklin County has 26 towns, all of which maintain local vital records through their town clerks. When someone dies in Greenfield, the Greenfield city clerk registers it. When someone dies in Montague or Deerfield, their respective town clerks handle the registration. Those records are then sent to the state level.
The Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS) in Dorchester holds death records for Franklin County from 1926 through the present. The Massachusetts State Archives holds records from 1841 through 1925. Before 1841, church records, cemetery inscriptions, and early town records are the primary sources. Franklin County was established in 1811 from part of Hampshire County. Towns like Deerfield and Northfield have town records going back to the 17th century.
Under MGL Chapter 46, Section 9, any death must be filed within 24 hours. This requirement has been in effect for many decades, creating a reliable record base for modern deaths in the county. Earlier records can be more variable in completeness, particularly for small and remote Franklin County towns.
Note: Some early Franklin County town records may still be held at the local town clerk offices rather than at the State Archives, so contacting the town directly can sometimes yield results not found elsewhere.
Franklin Probate and Family Court
The Franklin Probate and Family Court is at 101 Munson Street in Greenfield. This court handles estate matters for all 26 towns in Franklin County. When a Franklin County resident died and left property, a probate case was often opened here. Probate files can include wills, estate inventories, lists of heirs, and guardianship records. These records are public and serve as an important secondary source for death research in Franklin County.
| Address | 101 Munson Street, Greenfield, MA 01301 |
|---|---|
| Website | Franklin Probate and Family Court |
The Mass.gov page for this court has current contact details and hours. The screenshot below shows that page.
Check the Mass.gov link above for current hours before making an in-person visit, as hours can change.
Historical Franklin County probate records are available through the Massachusetts State Archives and on FamilySearch. For more recent cases, the court maintains an online docket through the Massachusetts trial court system. Older bound volumes and index books are held at the courthouse itself and can be searched in person or through a written request to the clerk.
Franklin County Registry of Deeds
The Franklin Registry of Deeds is at 425 Main Street in Greenfield. Deed records can be a useful companion to vital records research. After a death, heirs typically record new deeds to transfer property. An executor's deed or an administrator's deed in the Registry can confirm a death occurred, name the administrator of the estate, and link to the related probate case.
| Address | 425 Main Street, Greenfield, MA 01301 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (413) 774-6010 |
The Registry does not appear to have a separate public online search tool. You can visit in person or call the number above for information on available records and how to access them. Many Massachusetts registries participate in the state's land records online system, which may include some Franklin County records.
The RVRS remains the primary state source for Franklin County death certificates from 1926 forward. The Registry of Deeds records are a supplement to that, not a replacement.
The Massachusetts State Archives, shown above, holds Franklin County death records from 1841 through 1925 and provides free digital images for the 1841 through 1924 range.
Note: Franklin County deed records for properties along the Connecticut River may reflect unique ownership histories tied to agricultural and water rights, which can appear in estate settlement documents.
Searching Franklin County Death Records Online
FamilySearch provides free access to Massachusetts vital records from 1841 through 1924, including Franklin County deaths. The State Archives offers free digital images in the same range. Both are good free starting points for historical Franklin County death research.
For deaths from 1926 onward, you need to contact the RVRS or the local town clerk where the death occurred. Ancestry.com has a Massachusetts death records collection as part of its subscription service. Free access to Ancestry may be available through Massachusetts public libraries, including the Forbes Library in Northampton (just across the county line) and the Greenfield Public Library.
Franklin County has strong local genealogical resources. The Greenfield Public Library holds local history collections. The New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) has Massachusetts-wide collections that include Franklin County. Because Franklin County is largely rural, local cemetery records and town histories are especially useful for pre-1841 research. Many towns have published their vital records in the so-called "Tan Books," which compiled Massachusetts vital records through 1850 and are freely available on FamilySearch.
What a Franklin County Death Certificate Shows
A Massachusetts death certificate includes the decedent's full name, date and place of death, age, sex, race, marital status, and usual residence. The cause of death, attending physician or medical examiner, informant name and relationship, and place of burial or cremation are also recorded.
Death records in Massachusetts are public. MGL Chapter 46, Section 2A governs access. Most people can request a copy without proving a relationship to the deceased. Certified copies carry an official seal and serve legal and administrative purposes. If you need a record to close an estate, claim insurance, or transfer property in Franklin County, a certified copy from the RVRS or local town clerk is the document you need.
Errors on a death certificate can be corrected through an amendment under MGL Chapter 46, Section 13. The funeral director or a family member initiates the amendment by submitting a request to the RVRS along with supporting documentation. Common corrections involve name spellings, dates, or place of birth.
How to Order a Franklin County Death Certificate
Three main options exist. You can order from the RVRS for deaths from 1926 onward. You can contact the local town clerk where the death was registered. Or you can order from the State Archives for deaths from 1841 through 1925.
The RVRS is at 150 Mount Vernon Street, Dorchester, MA 02125. Phone: 617-740-2600. Email: vital.recordsrequest@mass.gov. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:45am to 4:45pm. In-person copies are $20 each. Mail orders are $32 per copy. Online orders through VitalChek are $54 for the first copy.
The State Archives is at 220 Morrissey Boulevard in Boston. Phone: 617-727-2816. Email: archives@sec.state.ma.us. Certified copies are $3 each. Digital images from 1841 through 1924 are free to view online without ordering a formal copy.
The state's ordering page has step-by-step instructions and current fee information. Local Franklin County town clerks can also issue certified copies for deaths registered in their town, which may be faster than waiting for an RVRS response.
Cities in Franklin County
No qualifying cities in Franklin County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city records page. Greenfield is the county seat and largest city. Montague is the most populous town. Neither qualifies for a city page on this site. Both are mentioned here for reference only.
Nearby Counties
Franklin County borders these Massachusetts counties, each with their own death index pages.