Armstrong County Death Records and Vital Certificates
Armstrong County death records document the lives of residents in this river-valley county of western Pennsylvania since the late 1800s. Kittanning, the county seat, sits on the Allegheny River and served as the center of county government since Armstrong County was carved out of three surrounding counties in 1800. Death records from 1893 through 1905 are held at the Armstrong County Register of Wills, while the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records has managed all death certificates since 1906. This guide walks you through where to find the records you need.
Armstrong County Quick Facts
Armstrong County Register of Wills and Death Records
The Armstrong County Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court is located at the county courthouse in Kittanning. This office handles the historical birth and death registrations that were kept at the county level from 1893 through 1905, before Pennsylvania established its statewide vital records system. The Register also maintains marriage records from 1885 forward and probate documents going back to the county's founding year of 1800. Researchers who need pre-1906 Armstrong County death records should start here.
Armstrong County was created in 1800 from parts of Allegheny, Westmoreland, and Lycoming counties. That origin means that deaths occurring in what is now Armstrong County before 1800 would have been recorded, if at all, in one of those three predecessor counties. The county's creation date is an important boundary for any genealogical search in this area of western Pennsylvania.
| Office | Armstrong County Register of Wills 500 Market Street, Kittanning, PA 16201 Phone: (724) 548-3256 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM |
| Records | Birth and death records 1893–1905; marriage records from 1885; probate records from 1800 |
Note: The Armstrong County Government website provides contact details and department listings that can help you reach the correct office before making a trip or mailing a request.
State Death Certificates for Armstrong County Residents
Pennsylvania took over death registration from counties beginning in 1906. All Armstrong County deaths from that year through today are documented by the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records. The Division is located at P.O. Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103-1528, and can be reached at (724) 656-3100. Certified copies of Armstrong County death certificates cost $20 each. Online orders through mycertificates.health.pa.gov carry an additional $10 processing fee. If cost is a concern, mailing the request directly avoids that extra charge.
The authorized third-party service VitalChek also processes Pennsylvania death certificate orders, including those for Armstrong County. The state and VitalChek both require proof of eligibility for records less than 50 years old. Under 35 P.S. §450.801, recent death certificates are restricted to close family members and other qualified individuals. Records that have passed the 50-year mark are more broadly available, especially for genealogy purposes.
For genealogy requests where the exact year of death is not known, the state offers a mail-in search covering a 10-year date window for $25. This can save time when working with limited information about an Armstrong County ancestor.
Pennsylvania State Archives and Armstrong County Records
The Pennsylvania State Archives holds death certificates for the entire state from 1906 through 1975, including those for Armstrong County. The Archives provides online death indices for this period, making it possible to search for a name and confirm a death before ordering the certificate from the Division of Vital Records. The Archives is located in Harrisburg but offers significant online access for researchers who cannot visit in person.
Pennsylvania residents have free access to Ancestry.com through the State Archives partnership program. This is particularly useful for searching Armstrong County death records alongside census, military, and other genealogical collections. Non-residents can access the same Ancestry collections through a paid subscription or through a library that offers free member access.
The FamilySearch Armstrong County genealogy page lists free online collections for the county. FamilySearch is a free service and a good starting point before spending money on ordered copies. The wiki page also describes what types of records exist for Armstrong County and where they are held.
Armstrong County Death Records Before 1893
Formal death registration in Armstrong County began in 1893. Before that date, death records do not exist in any official county or state system. Researchers looking for earlier deaths must rely on church registers, cemetery records, newspaper notices, and estate files. Probate records at the Register of Wills sometimes contain a death date or age at death, making them a useful substitute source when no death certificate exists.
Church records from the 1800s are an especially valuable source for Armstrong County deaths. Many of the county's early settlers were members of German Lutheran, German Reformed, Presbyterian, or Methodist congregations that kept their own registers of births, marriages, and deaths. These records are often available on microfilm at FamilySearch or through local historical societies in the Kittanning area.
Cemetery records add another layer of information. Many cemeteries in Armstrong County have been indexed and made available online by volunteers through genealogy websites. A tombstone inscription can confirm a death date and sometimes provide family relationship details not found in other sources.
Under 28 Pa. Code Chapter 1, death certificates must be filed within 96 hours in Pennsylvania. This rule applies to modern records; it did not govern the pre-1906 period when counties handled registration on their own timelines.
Ordering Certified Armstrong County Death Certificates
The steps for ordering depend on when the death occurred. Deaths from 1893 through 1905 require a request to the Armstrong County Register of Wills at 500 Market Street, Kittanning, PA 16201, phone (724) 548-3256. Deaths from 1906 through the present require a request to the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records. The Division accepts mail orders, online orders, and fax orders. Phone orders are not accepted.
For online orders, visit mycertificates.health.pa.gov. For mail orders, send a completed application form, proof of identity, and payment to the Division of Vital Records at P.O. Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103-1528. The CDC guide to Pennsylvania vital records explains the process and lists what to include with your application.
The image below is from the Armstrong County Government website, which lists all county departments including the Register of Wills office that handles pre-1906 Armstrong County death records.
Armstrong County Government provides contact information and office hours for the Register of Wills and all other county departments.
The county government site is updated regularly and lists current phone numbers and mailing addresses for all Armstrong County offices that handle death and vital records.
Note: The Pennsylvania Department of Health genealogy page has specific instructions for ordering older Armstrong County death records that have passed the 50-year restriction period.
Nearby Counties
Armstrong County is surrounded by several counties in western and central Pennsylvania. Families often crossed county lines, so checking death records in neighboring counties is a common part of genealogical research in this region.