Beaver County Pennsylvania Death Records
Beaver County death records are held at two key locations depending on when the death occurred. The county's Register of Wills maintains birth and death registrations from 1893 through 1905, while the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records holds all death certificates from 1906 forward. Located along the Ohio River in western Pennsylvania, Beaver County has a long record-keeping history that spans the industrial era and beyond. This guide explains how to access death records and vital certificates from both county and state sources.
Beaver County Quick Facts
Beaver County Register of Wills Death Records Office
The Beaver County Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court is the county office responsible for historical vital records. Located at 810 Third Street in the borough of Beaver, the office maintains birth and death records from 1893 through 1905, along with marriage records from 1885 and probate records stretching back further. With the exception of adoption records, all records at this office are considered public documents and can be accessed by researchers and members of the public.
One thing that sets Beaver County's Register of Wills apart is its commitment to public education. The office offers free informational programs covering topics such as wills, inheritance taxes, guardianships, marriage licenses, and the use of historical records for genealogy research. These programs are a good resource for anyone new to navigating Beaver County death records or the probate system. Contact the office directly to ask about upcoming programs and scheduling.
| Office | Beaver County Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court Courthouse, 810 Third Street, Beaver, PA 15009 Phone: (724) 728-3934 Ext. 11273 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM |
| Records | Birth and death records 1893–1905; marriage records from 1885; probate records |
Note: Adoption records are the only records at this office that are not available to the general public; all other Beaver County vital and probate records are open for inspection.
Death Certificates from 1906 to Present
Pennsylvania assumed responsibility for death registration in 1906. Since then, all Beaver County death certificates have been filed with the state rather than with the county. To order a certified copy, contact the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records. The mailing address is P.O. Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103-1528. The phone number is (724) 656-3100. Online orders can be placed at mycertificates.health.pa.gov, with certified copies priced at $20 each and an additional $10 fee for online processing.
The state's authorized online partner, VitalChek, provides an alternative online ordering channel. Both the state portal and VitalChek process Beaver County death certificate requests. Under 35 P.S. §450.801, death certificates less than 50 years old are restricted to qualified applicants including immediate family members and legal representatives. Records older than 50 years are more broadly accessible for genealogy and research purposes.
Pennsylvania State Archives and Beaver County Vital Records
The Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg holds Beaver County death certificates from 1906 through 1975. Researchers can search online death indices for this period to confirm whether a certificate exists before ordering it. For deaths between 1975 and the present, the Division of Vital Records is the only source for certified copies.
Pennsylvania residents can access Ancestry.com at no cost through the State Archives partnership. This free access covers a wide range of collections, including Pennsylvania death records, that can be useful for Beaver County genealogy research. Non-residents can access Ancestry through a paid account or at a library that provides free access to patrons.
The FamilySearch Pennsylvania Vital Records page is another free resource. FamilySearch has indexed many Pennsylvania death records and offers both free image viewing and name search capabilities for most of its collections. This makes it easier to identify Beaver County deaths before committing to a formal certificate request.
Finding Beaver County Death Records Before 1893
Formal death registration in Beaver County did not begin until 1893. Earlier deaths must be traced through indirect sources. Church records are often the most complete source for deaths in the 1800s. Beaver County had active communities of Presbyterian, Methodist, and German immigrant congregations, and many of these churches kept registers of deaths and burials. These records have been microfilmed by genealogical organizations and are available through FamilySearch and library collections.
Cemetery records provide another avenue. Beaver County has dozens of cemeteries, many of which have been indexed and posted online by genealogy volunteers. A tombstone inscription often includes a birth year, death date, and family relationships that help confirm identity when no formal death record exists. Local historical societies sometimes maintain separate indexes of cemetery transcriptions for the county.
Estate files at the Register of Wills can also serve as proxy death records. When a person died and left property, a probate case was opened. The file often contains the date of death, a list of heirs, and an inventory of assets. These cases go back to the early 1800s in Beaver County and can fill gaps when no other record of death survives.
Under 28 Pa. Code Chapter 1, Pennsylvania requires that a death certificate be filed within 96 hours of death. This rule applies to modern records and helps ensure completeness in the post-1906 period, when all Beaver County deaths go through the state registration system.
Beaver County Death Records for Genealogy Research
Genealogists researching Beaver County families will find that the most productive approach combines multiple record types. Start with the state death index for 1906 through 1975 to establish a baseline. Then check the county Register of Wills for earlier deaths and estate files. Church and cemetery records can fill gaps in the formal record system, especially for deaths before 1893.
The image below is from the Beaver County Government website, which lists all county departments and their contact information.
Beaver County Government provides online access to department listings, including the Register of Wills office that holds Beaver County death records from the 1893 to 1905 period.
The county government website is the best starting point for finding current contact details before mailing or calling about Beaver County death records.
The CDC guide to Pennsylvania vital records provides a general overview of how the state's death record system works, including information that applies directly to Beaver County certificate requests.
Nearby Counties
Beaver County is located in the far western corner of Pennsylvania, sharing borders with counties that have similar industrial and immigrant heritage. Records from these neighboring counties may be relevant to families who moved throughout the region.