Adams County Pennsylvania Death Records
Adams County death records offer a direct path to learning about ancestors who lived and died in this historic corner of south-central Pennsylvania. The county seat of Gettysburg lends the region a depth of history unlike anywhere else in the state. Local death records held at the Adams County Register of Wills cover pre-1906 registrations, while the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records handles certificates from 1906 forward. Whether your research starts in the Civil War era or reaches into the twentieth century, Adams County has resources to help you find what you need.
Adams County Quick Facts
Adams County Death Records at the Register of Wills
The Adams County Register of Wills has served as the official custodian of county-level vital records since the county's formation. The office holds historical death registrations dating back to the early years of statewide record-keeping. Birth and death records from 1893 through 1905 remain on file here, giving researchers a starting point before the Commonwealth took over registration duties in 1906. The Register also serves as Clerk of the Orphans' Court and maintains wills and estate records that can be just as useful to genealogists as formal death certificates.
Adams County itself was established in 1800. Before that date, this land was part of York County, so researchers tracing lines prior to 1800 will want to look at York County records as well. The Register of Wills office on Baltimore Street in Gettysburg is the right place to begin any search for death records or estate filings from the county's first century of existence.
| Office | Adams County Register of Wills 111 Baltimore Street, Gettysburg, PA 17325 Phone: (717) 334-6781 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM |
| Records | Death and birth records 1893–1905; wills and estate records from 1800 |
Note: For death records dated 1906 or later, requests must be sent to the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records in New Castle, not to the county office.
State Death Certificates for Adams County
Pennsylvania began requiring statewide death registration in 1906. All death certificates from that year forward are held by the PA Division of Vital Records in New Castle. Certified copies cost $20 each. If you place your order online through the state portal, an additional $10 processing fee applies. Mailing your request directly to the Division of Vital Records at P.O. Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103-1528 avoids the online fee.
The state also works with VitalChek, an authorized third-party service for online certificate orders. Access to death certificates is governed by 35 P.S. §450.801, which sets a 50-year restriction on records. Death certificates less than 50 years old are only available to qualified applicants, including immediate family members and legal representatives. Genealogy requests for older records can be submitted by mail with a 10-year date range; the fee for that search is $25.
The CDC's guide to Pennsylvania vital records provides a helpful overview of what to expect when ordering certificates from the state.
Pennsylvania State Archives and Adams County Death Indexes
The Pennsylvania State Archives holds death certificates for the period 1906 through 1975. These records, which include Adams County deaths, are accessible to researchers through the Archives' online search tools and in-person visits. Death indices for this period allow you to confirm a death and then request the actual certificate.
For Pennsylvania residents, Ancestry.com is available free of charge through the State Archives partnership. This gives you access to a broad range of Pennsylvania vital record collections without any subscription cost. Non-residents can use Ancestry through a paid subscription or visit a public library that provides free access.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health has more information about death certificates, access rules, and ordering procedures on its vital records page. Researchers new to Pennsylvania genealogy will find the state's requirements and timelines clearly explained there.
The image below comes from the Pennsylvania State Archives vital statistics records page, which hosts death indices and related collections for Adams County and all other Pennsylvania counties.
Pennsylvania State Archives vital statistics records collection provides searchable death indices covering the period from 1906 through 1975.
The Archives' online index makes it possible to search Adams County death records by name before requesting a certified copy or full-image document.
Note: FamilySearch offers free access to several Adams County collections, including wills and administrations from 1800 to 1864 and a decedents index covering 1864 through 1937.
Adams County Historical Society and Gettysburg Research
The Adams County Historical Society is one of the most important research institutions in the county. Located at 625 Biglerville Road in Gettysburg, the Society operates the Battle of Gettysburg Research Center, which houses a remarkable collection of Civil War era records. While the center is best known for military history, the records it holds also shed light on death records tied to the 1863 battle and its aftermath. Researchers tracing ancestors who died at or near Gettysburg during the Civil War will find the Society's holdings invaluable.
The Historical Society can be reached by phone at 717-334-4723 or by email at info@achs-pa.org. Staff there are experienced in helping genealogists work through the layers of county and state records that apply to different time periods. Adams County's Civil War connection means that death records here can intersect with military records, pension files, and burial registers in ways that are unique to this part of Pennsylvania.
The image below is drawn from the Pennsylvania State Archives death indices page, which also links to resources relevant to Civil War era mortality in Adams County.
Pennsylvania State Archives death indices include resources that help researchers connect Adams County death records to the broader historical record of the region.
These indices cover deaths statewide and can be filtered to focus on Adams County records within specific date ranges.
FamilySearch Collections for Adams County Records
FamilySearch maintains a dedicated Adams County, Pennsylvania genealogy page that lists free online collections available to researchers. The collections most relevant to death records include wills and administrations from 1800 to 1864, Orphans' Court dockets from 1800 to 1853, and estate files covering 1849 through 1976. The decedents index for 1864 through 1937 is particularly useful because it spans the gap between early county records and the state registration period.
The Adams County eSearch system provides online access to property and estate records, which can help fill in details when formal death records are incomplete or missing. Estate filings often contain names of heirs, dates of death, and details about the decedent's estate that are not found anywhere else.
The FamilySearch wiki page also lists marriage books from 1852 through 1931. These records help researchers build family trees around the death records they find and confirm relationships between individuals named in estate documents.
Note: Pre-1800 Adams County research should focus on York County records, since Adams County did not exist as a separate entity until 1800.
How to Order Adams County Death Certificates
The process for ordering Adams County death certificates depends on the year of death. For records from 1906 to the present, contact the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records directly. The mailing address is P.O. Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103-1528, and the phone number is (724) 656-3100. Online ordering is available at mycertificates.health.pa.gov. Certified copies cost $20 each, with a $10 fee added for online orders.
For deaths between 1893 and 1905, contact the Adams County Register of Wills at 111 Baltimore Street, Gettysburg, PA 17325. Staff at that office can guide you through the process of requesting copies of historical registrations. For deaths prior to 1893, no formal registration system was in place, but church records, cemetery registers, and estate files may document the death. The Adams County Historical Society is the best resource for those older records.
Pennsylvania law under 28 Pa. Code Chapter 1 requires that a death certificate be filed within 96 hours of death. This rule has governed record-keeping for many decades, helping to ensure that modern Adams County death records are complete and timely.
The image below is from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission's Ancestry partnership page, which is one of several ways residents can access Adams County death records at no cost.
Pennsylvania's free Ancestry access program allows state residents to search death records and other vital record collections through Ancestry's platform.
PA residents can log in through the State Archives portal to search Adams County death records in the Ancestry database at no charge.
Nearby Counties
Adams County borders several other Pennsylvania counties, each with its own record-keeping history. Researchers tracing families who moved between these counties will want to check records in neighboring jurisdictions as well.