How to Find Names of People Who Are Deceased
There are many reasons why you may need to find the name of a deceased person. Perhaps you are trying to locate ancestors or get information on property that belonged to someone who has passed away. The tools to help you with your search can be found online or by visiting a local government agency in the state where the deceased lived.
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Instructions
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Make a list of everything you know about the person or people you are trying to identify. You may be looking for the name of a relative, a veteran or a list of people who died in 1989. Any information--an address, the date the person died, their Social Security number, a nickname or former employer--could help your search.
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Visit your state office of vital records, which keeps information on all births, deaths, marriages and divorces. The office is usually part of the state health department and can be found online or in the phone book, under the state government listings. Or go to www.vitalrec.com and choose a state or territory.
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Mail or deliver a letter asking for for the information you want. The department will have request forms for actual death certificates, but to obtain a list you will likely have to submit your own written request. If you are looking for a specific person, such as the previous owner of a certain property, submit any and all information you have along with your request. If you are looking for a list of names, you will need specific criteria, such as time, geographical or event information. For example, you could get a list of people who died in the Civil War.
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Go to an online genealogical service such as Ancestry.com. These are fee-based systems that help people track late family members.
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