Allentown Pennsylvania Death Records
Allentown is Pennsylvania's third largest city and the county seat of Lehigh County. Death records for Allentown residents are processed through Lehigh County rather than the city directly. Pre-1906 records are held at the county level, while all deaths from 1906 forward are maintained by the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records in New Castle. Allentown also benefits from an IACME-accredited coroner's office that handles sudden and unexpected deaths throughout Lehigh County, adding a second category of official death documentation.
Allentown Quick Facts
Lehigh County Register of Wills Death Records
The Lehigh County Register of Wills is the starting point for Allentown death records research covering the years 1893 through 1905. This office holds the county's official birth and death registrations from that period, before the Commonwealth assumed statewide control of vital statistics. The Register of Wills is located at 455 West Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA 18101. The phone number is (610) 782-3170.
Researchers looking for Allentown deaths during the late 1800s and early 1900s will find the county office more productive than searching at the city level. Allentown does not maintain its own historical vital records office. The city's Health Bureau handles current public health matters but does not serve as a repository for historical death records. Vital records have always flowed through the county system in Lehigh County.
When visiting or contacting the Register of Wills, bring as much identifying information as possible. Full legal name, approximate year of death, and a known address within Allentown will help staff locate the correct entry. Records from this period are not always indexed online, so in-person research can be more effective than a phone inquiry for specific genealogy questions.
| Office | Lehigh County Register of Wills 455 West Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA 18101 Phone: (610) 782-3170 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM |
| Records | Birth and death records 1893–1905; probate and wills records |
Note: Allentown death records from 1893 to 1905 are held at the Lehigh County Register of Wills; records from 1906 onward must be requested from the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records in New Castle.
Lehigh County Coroner Death Certificates
The Lehigh County Coroner's Office plays a significant role in Allentown death records because it certifies deaths that are sudden, unexpected, or occur outside of medical supervision. The coroner is located at 4350 Broadway, Allentown, PA 18104. The phone number is (610) 782-3426.
What makes the Lehigh County Coroner's Office stand out is its IACME accreditation. IACME is the International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners, and Lehigh County has held that accreditation since 2005. This means the office meets nationally recognized standards for death investigation practices, documentation quality, and professional training. For researchers and family members, IACME accreditation is a signal that the records generated by this office are produced under rigorous protocols.
Coroner-issued death certificates differ from physician-signed certificates in one key way. When a physician is present and the cause of death is known, the attending doctor signs the certificate. When a death is sudden, violent, or the cause is undetermined, the coroner steps in, investigates, and issues the certificate. Both types of certificates carry equal legal weight. Researchers should understand this distinction because it affects which office holds the original documentation.
The image below shows the Lehigh County Coroner's Office website, which provides information about the office's role in certifying Allentown and Lehigh County deaths.
The Lehigh County Coroner's Office in Allentown has maintained IACME accreditation since 2005, reflecting its commitment to professional standards in death investigation and certification.
Allentown Death Records From 1906 to Present
All Allentown death certificates from 1906 forward are held by the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records. You can request certified copies by mail to PO Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103, or by phone at (724) 656-3100. Online orders are available through the MyCertificates portal. Third-party processing is also available through VitalChek. The state charges $20 per certified copy.
Pennsylvania's vital records law, found at 35 P.S. §450.801, limits who may receive certified copies of death certificates. Immediate family members, legal representatives, and others with a direct interest in the record may apply. Genealogical researchers can often obtain records for individuals who have been deceased for 50 or more years under the state's open records provisions.
This image from the Allentown city website provides an overview of municipal services in Pennsylvania's third largest city.
The Allentown city website at allentownpa.gov lists city departments and public services, though vital records for Allentown residents are managed through Lehigh County and the state vital records office.
Note: Under 28 Pa. Code Chapter 1, Pennsylvania regulates how vital records are registered and certified; compliance with these rules is required for all official death certificate requests.
Allentown Death Records Genealogy Research
Allentown has a rich history that makes genealogical research in Lehigh County particularly rewarding. The city served a strategic role during the American Revolution. The Liberty Bell was secretly hidden in Allentown in 1777 to protect it from British forces. Families with roots in Allentown going back to that era may find death records connected to colonial-period wills and church records that predate formal civil registration.
The PA State Archives death indices are searchable online and cover Lehigh County materials from the statewide registration period. The archives, managed by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, provide index access at no cost. Researchers can use these indices to identify certificate numbers before ordering certified copies from the Division of Vital Records.
FamilySearch also maintains digitized Pennsylvania vital records that include some Lehigh County death entries. This free resource is worth checking before pursuing paid copies, especially for pre-1920 research.
The image below is from the Allentown Health Bureau, which handles current public health services for city residents separate from the historical vital records system.
The Allentown Health Bureau manages current public health programs for city residents, while historical death records for Allentown are maintained by Lehigh County and state agencies.
Allentown Lehigh County Death Records
Lehigh County serves as the county-level repository for Allentown vital records research. The county's Register of Wills holds pre-1906 death registrations, and the county's coroner office issues certificates for sudden and unexpected deaths throughout the Allentown area.