Death certificates, free indexes, obituaries, and probate — who can order what, and when records open.
How Pennsylvania Death Records Work
Pennsylvania opens death certificates at 50 years as public archival records. The state pairs that with a real digitization program: certificate images for 1906–1972 are on Ancestry, free to Pennsylvania residents through the state partnership. Inside 50 years, certified copies go to extended family and direct financial interest; after, anyone may get an uncertified archival copy.
State registration began in 1906 (earlier deaths sit with county orphans' courts), and the $20 fee is waived for armed forces members. Content reviewed July 30, 2026 by the SearchSystems editorial team.
Often you don't need the certificate at all — you need proof the death happened. Death indices are online through the State Archives, with 1906–1972 images on Ancestry — free for PA residents. Where an index exists, it answers the question for free.
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Obituaries and the SSDI
The obituary route is faster than most official channels: newspaper obituaries via library databases, funeral-home notices, and the Social Security death index carried on the big genealogy platforms together confirm most deaths within minutes.
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Let probate prove it
Probate is the overlooked confirmer: if an estate was opened, the county court file proves the death, names the parties, and often matters more than the certificate itself — run it through Pennsylvania court records.
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When only the certificate will do
When it truly must be the certificate: the rules above apply — 50 years after death in Pennsylvania — and the custodian card at the top is the direct channel. For family history at scale, pair this page with the Pennsylvania birth certificates guide, whose clock runs differently.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do Pennsylvania death certificates become public?
Pennsylvania opens death certificates at 50 years as public archival records.
What can non-family requesters get?
Inside 50 years, certified copies go to extended family and direct financial interest; after, anyone may get an uncertified archival copy.
Can I search Pennsylvania deaths online for free?
Death indices are online through the State Archives, with 1906–1972 images on Ancestry — free for PA residents.
What if I just need to confirm a death or find an obituary?
Skip the certificate entirely: newspaper obituaries (many are indexed by library databases), the Social Security death index carried on the big genealogy platforms, and probate case files in the county court that handled the estate all confirm a death without touching the restricted certificate.
