Lehigh County Death Records, Pennsylvania

Lehigh County is home to Allentown, Pennsylvania's third largest city, and shares the Lehigh Valley with neighboring Northampton County. The county was formed in 1812 from Northampton County and has been an industrial and commercial hub for over two centuries. Death registration at the county level began in 1893. Lehigh County also maintains an accredited coroner's office, one of a small number in Pennsylvania to hold professional certification, which plays an active role in investigating sudden and unexplained deaths. This guide explains how to access death records at the county, state, and historical levels.

Lehigh County Death Records at the Courthouse

The Lehigh County Courthouse at 455 West Hamilton Street in Allentown is the main location for county-held records. The Register of Wills office handles vital records from the local registration period. Death records from 1893 to 1905 were recorded at the county before the state assumed responsibility for registration in 1906.

The Court of Common Pleas and related offices also maintain records that can document deaths indirectly, including probate filings and estate records. These records begin well before formal death registration and can confirm deaths for ancestors who died without a registered death certificate.

Note: For certified copies of death certificates from 1906 onward, contact the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records rather than the county courthouse.

Lehigh County Coroner's Office and Death Investigations

The Lehigh County Coroner's Office plays a distinct role in death records. The Coroner determines cause and manner of death for cases involving sudden, unexpected, or violent circumstances. These include accidents, suicides, homicides, and deaths where no physician was attending at the time. The Coroner's findings are incorporated into the official death certificate for each case.

The Lehigh County Coroner's Office holds accreditation from the International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners (IACME) and has maintained that status since 2005. This makes it one of the few accredited coroner offices in Pennsylvania. Accreditation reflects adherence to national standards for death investigation practices.

Coroner Daniel A. Buglio, D-ABMDI, leads the office. The office is located at 4350 Broadway, Allentown PA 18104, and can be reached at 610-782-3426.

Death Records at the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records

All deaths in Lehigh County from 1906 onward are registered with the state. The Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records in New Castle handles requests for certified copies. Certificates for deaths within the past 50 years are restricted to immediate family members and authorized representatives.

Orders can be placed at mycertificates.health.pa.gov or through VitalChek. Mail requests go to PO Box 1528, New Castle PA 16103. Each certified copy costs $20.

Historical Lehigh County Death Records and Online Indexes

The Pennsylvania State Archives death indices cover the early registration period from 1893 to 1905 and are searchable online for free. These indexes allow researchers to confirm a death occurred and locate the corresponding certificate number before making a formal request.

FamilySearch holds a range of digitized Pennsylvania records. The FamilySearch Pennsylvania Vital Records guide describes what is available and how to access it. Many Lehigh County records from the early 20th century have been indexed and are searchable at no charge.

Newspaper obituaries from the Allentown and Bethlehem area provide another layer of detail. The Morning Call and its predecessor papers stretch back well over a century and are indexed through library and online newspaper archive services. Obituaries from these sources often list church affiliation, place of birth, and surviving relatives.

Note: For Bethlehem area records, note that Bethlehem straddles the Lehigh-Northampton county line. Deaths on the Northampton County side of the city were registered there, not in Lehigh County.

Lehigh County History and Genealogy Background

Lehigh County was formed in 1812 from the eastern portion of Northampton County. German immigrants settled the region heavily in the 18th century, and that heritage persists in place names, church records, and family surnames throughout the county. Pennsylvania German culture shaped the region's early record-keeping, including church death registers that predate civil registration by many decades.

The county's population grew rapidly in the 20th century as Allentown developed into a major industrial and commercial center. The Bethlehem Steel era brought workers from many backgrounds to the area. This immigration history makes Lehigh County genealogy both rich and complex, with records from many ethnic communities and religious traditions.

Today Lehigh County has over 380,000 residents, making it one of Pennsylvania's more populous counties. Historical records are well preserved and increasingly accessible through digital platforms and the county's active historical community.

Cities in Lehigh County

Allentown and Bethlehem are the two major cities in Lehigh County. Note that Bethlehem extends into Northampton County, so records for Bethlehem residents may be found in either county depending on their address.

Nearby Counties

The Lehigh Valley region spans Lehigh and Northampton Counties, and family records often appear in both. Researchers frequently need to check multiple nearby counties for complete coverage.

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