Search for Death Records in Kentucky

Free Kentucky Death Records Lookup

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Our comprehensive guide to the death records in the state of Kentucky will help you in finding death records as well as provide you with relevant information about the deceased and the life they lived.

Death Records in Kentucky -
The Ultimate Guide 2024

Kentucky Death Databases

In the state of Kentucky, death records registrations started in 1911 on a statewide level, with compliance beginning in 1917. Counties in the state have copies of these death records.

Before 1852

Before the year 1952, there were no death records filed both by the state and by the counties. In order to locate the date and place of death of your ancestors, you would need to try alternative sources.

1852 to 1910

As from 1852, the law in Kentucky required for counties to file death records. While not all records are complete, there are a few databases with digital images and indexes that you can try to locate your ancestor’s data. Between 1852 and 1964, you can visit ancestry.com which is available for free at family history centers. You can have a look at a coverage table index at FmilySearch.org for the period 1843 to1970.

After 1910

Death records in Kentucky started being filed in 1911. If the entries above did not give you any details from the indexes provided, you can get a copy of the death record from the following locations at a fee; the Kentucky Department of Health and Family Services and the County of Death.

Death Certificates in Kentucky

In the state of Kentucky, death records start off as private records then they become publicly available 50 years after the record file date. There are restrictions to obtaining death certificates for individuals who passed on within the last 50 years. Below is a list of people who are eligible to request for a death certificate:

A registrant with whom the record is associated with
Spouse
Parents
A descendant such as child / grandchild
An individual with common ancestry (relative such as cousin, aunt, uncle, sibling or grandparent)
Registrant’s legal guardian
Agency / individual acting on the registrant’s behalf
Legal representative to registrant’s estate

How to Find Kentucky Death Records

Getting a hold of Kentucky death records from Archives.com is the most reliable option of doing so. After account registration, you will have total access to the death records for Kentucky once you log in to the platform.

Follow the steps below to go about it:

Step 1: Visit Archives.com and sign in to your user account using your email address and password.

Step 2: Navigate through the options and click on the “Search” button, upon which the Kentucky state death records page is loaded.

Step 3: Tick the box adjacent to “Vital Records,” then click on the “Death” button immediately below it. The site eliminates every other record and retains only death records for display, which you can then proceed to download.

Step 4: Enter the deceased’s details. Be sure to provide as much information as possible.

Step 5: Key in Kentucky in the ‘Location’ box.

Step 6: Scroll through the list of records until you get the details of the person whose records you are interested in viewing.

Step 7: Click on the deceased’s name to view the death record available online. Usually you can obtain their full name and their maiden name in case you were previously married. You can also obtain their burial arrangements, including information on whether they were cremated or buried.

Alternative Sources for Kentucky Death Information

Kentucky Death Records FAQs

What is an Official Death Certificate?

An official death certificate refers to a document that is issued directly by the Kentucky state government or any similar organization. This document has information about a deceased including the individual’s name, their physical address, date of birth, as well as date of death.

What are death records?

Death records are official documents that give any relevant information about a deceased individual. If you are conducting genealogical research, death records are highly crucial as they provide most of the information that is important in helping you learn more about your ancestry. Most death records are held by the state the individual lived or died in, but they often lack the burial state of the deceased. Both cemeteries and churches hold death records, as is the case with state governments. Information you can get from death records includes the full name, date of birth, date of death, and place of death.

Are Kentucky Death Records Open to the Public?

According to the Kentucky law vital records including birth records, divorce records, marriage records, adoption records, death records, and other life records are available to all eligible parties with a direct relationship to the individual named on the record.

What Information Do I Need to Search for Kentucky Death Records Online?

Requesters who wish to get a hold of a death record must be well acquainted with basic facts associated with it including Deceased’s name, valid reason for death record request, death date, county or city of death and a valid proof of identification.

Conclusion

The state of Kentucky is extremely particular about the accuracy of its tax and voting records, and this is reflected in its state records. As a result, they strive to keep a comprehensive death record up to date. Following the death of a person, tax collectors contact family members or next of kin to collect any unpaid state taxes that may be owed to the state. In the event of a probate proceeding, these death records will be extremely useful because your family members or next of kin will not have any difficulties in obtaining any legal information. With our comprehensive guide to Kentucky death record searches, you’ll be able to locate any type of record that you might require in a matter of minutes.

Disclaimer: OurPublicRecords mission is to give people easy and affordable access to public record information, but OurPublicRecords does not provide private investigator services or consumer reports, and is not a consumer reporting agency per the Fair Credit Reporting Act. You may not use our site or service or the information provided to make decisions about employment, admission, consumer credit, insurance, tenant screening, or any other purpose that would require FCRA compliance.