Death records are primary source records because they are completed at, or close to, the time of the death by someone who was present at the death. Death records are especially helpful, because they are the most recent record available about an ancestor and may often exist for persons who have no birth or marriage records. The validity of information on death certificates can be a little tricky, however, because information on the deceased individual (other than the time, date and place of death) is provided by someone who knew the deceased (an informant). Therefore, a death certificate is considered a secondary source for information such as the birth place, birth date and parents' names of the deceased.

What information will a death certificate provide? This will vary widely by location and time period. In general, vital records forms usually allow space for the following information but are not consistently filled in by the users. 

Death records usually contain: 

• name

• date of death 

• place of death

and may contain:

• age at death

• cause of death

• exact time of death

• date and place of birth (if known)

• current residence

• occupation

• parents' names and birth places (rarely, but sometimes)

• spouse's name, including maiden name for wife (if applicable)

• whether single, widowed or divorced

• place of burial

• name of funeral home

• name of physician or medical examiner

• name of informant & their relationship to the deceased

• officials or witnesses present at death

The most important thing to remember when researching in death records is that birth and other such information in a death record may not be accurate because the informant may not have had complete information.

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