How to Find a Deceased Loved One's Cause of Death: Step-By-Step

After a loved one dies, there are a lot of questions that might pop into your mind. One of the most common questions is about the cause of death. How do you find a deceased loved one’s cause of death? 

Jump ahead to these sections:

• Is Someone’s Cause of Death Always Released Publicly?
• What Information Will You Need to Find Someone’s Cause of Death?
• How to Find a Deceased Loved One’s Cause of Death
• How to Find Historical Causes of Death

Depending on the documents available, this can be a tricky question to answer. Genealogy is a complex field, and it’s not always accessible depending on your relationship with the deceased. Sometimes it can feel like pounding on a locked door that will never open. Still, it’s natural to have questions about the life and death of your loved ones. 

This guide will share how you can find a deceased loved one’s cause of death. Whether they died of old age or something else entirely, this answer might help you find the closure you’re looking for after a loss. 

Is Someone’s Cause of Death Always Released Publicly?

First, you might be wondering whether the cause of death is public. In most cases, the answer is yes for close relatives. Each state has its laws on death records and public access. Some states, for example, have complete freedom of information regarding death records. On the other hand, others limit information on the death certificate (such as the cause of death) to only close family. 

Most states allow the following to access the cause of death information:

• Parents, legal guardians, spouse of the decedent
• Adult children, grandchildren, and siblings of the decedent
• Parties with a tangible interest (lenders, insurance agencies, etc.)
• Anyone authorized by a court order
• A legal representative of any of the above

Your loved one’s cause of death information is typically part of their death record. This type of vital document is used to preserve information about those living (and dying) in a specific state. Each state has its process for requesting public records, so check with your local office and the steps below. 

Alternatively, you might find someone’s cause of death through other means. For example, some families choose to include the cause of death in an obituary. You might be able to find a death notice, obituary, or online memorial with the relevant cause of death information. Ultimately, this is at the discretion of the deceased's close family regarding how much information they wish to make public. 

What Information Will You Need to Find Someone’s Cause of Death?

Next, if you want to find someone’s cause of death, the easiest way is through an internet search or vital records request. An internet search is when you search for someone’s historical records on a search engine or an ancestry tool like Family Search. These search tools might populate results like online memorials and obituaries, all of which could have someone’s cause of death. 

To do an internet search, you’ll need as much information about the deceased as possible. Similarly, if you have to make a vital records request, you’ll need specific legal information about your loved one. This varies by state, but it generally includes:

• Full legal name of the decedent
• Final place of residence or place of death
• Date of death (or span of years)
• Identifying relationships (spouse, parents, adult children, etc.)

Finally, you might also need to prove you’re eligible to request this information. State and local governments protect most recent deaths. This is because fraudsters and scam artists target the identities of the recently deceased. Only those who meet the criteria outlined in the section above can access these documents in this specific state. Remember that most vital record requests require a small fee ($5 - $25) for the search efforts. 

How to Find a Deceased Loved One’s Cause of Death

Are you ready to find a loved one’s cause of death? This process might seem intimidating, especially if you’re new to genealogy. It can be tricky to understand your best approach, so follow the steps below closely. It’s helpful to use the support of a loved one through this process. 

Step 1. Determine if they died

To begin, it’s important to make sure your loved one is, in fact, deceased. While it might seem obvious to know how to find out if someone died, this can be confusing if you’ve fallen out of contact with him or her. Contact other family members, neighbors, or online resources to determine if your loved one has passed. 

Step 2. Conduct an online memorial search

Next, do an online search before investing in more complicated methods of finding vital records. You can start with Google, but there are more specific websites like Ancestry that might be more successful. These genealogy websites compile death certificates and other key information to have a full list of people who passed. 

Sometimes, you might find an online obituary or memorial regarding your loved one. Many newspapers, for example, populate these obituaries online, so they’re easy to search. When searching, be sure to use clear, identifying information. For instance, if you’re seeking a grandparent, you might search, “John Smith, died 1995, Charleston, WV.” Because you’re likely to encounter similar names, you want to be especially clear. 

Step 3. Request the death certificate

If you don’t have much luck with an online search, it’s time to request a death certificate through their state. It’s not always common to include the cause of death with the obituary, so don’t be surprised if you can’t find this information. Some families like to protect this information and keep it private for their comfort. 

The most comprehensive tool used by most states is VitalChek. This is an online platform for ordering death certificates quickly. You can also visit in person if you live near a local vital record office. While there’s an additional fee for completing a request online, it’s certainly more convenient. 

Step 4. Complete your online request

Through VitalChek, it’s easy to place your order in minutes. You’ll need to share key information about the deceased, like their name, place of death, and important relationships (parents, etc.). The clearer the information, the more likely you’ll get a result. If you’re not sure about specific details (like the date of death), it’s okay to estimate. 

However, keep in mind there are no guarantees. Your search may not be successful, though you can always try again. State vital records professionals are skilled at searching for even the most hidden documents, but some records aren’t easy to find. This is especially true before the rise of digital tools.

Step 5. Wait for your request

Assuming you qualify for a death certificate as a close relative or qualified party, you should get your record within a few weeks. Depending on your state, you could experience longer or shorter wait times. While it only takes a few minutes to submit your request, it still needs to be processed by a human. 

When you receive your death certificate, this is a legal document. It’s certified by your county, and you can use it for various purposes. Whether you’re filling out insurance paperwork or learning more about your family tree, this is a chance to learn more about those you love.

How to Find Historical Causes of Death

If your loved one passed in the last 50 years, you’ll most likely find their records using the steps above. However, this isn’t always the case for historical causes of death. If they had passed in the early 20th century, there would have been fewer regulations around recording the cause of death. That being said, there are still ways to conduct your own research. 

Newspapers

Many newspapers have been archived through the decades. You can find newspaper issues from years past, often online. In the past, newspaper obituaries were one of the most reliable ways to inform the community of a death. This means it’s likely your loved one’s death was listed in a public obituary of some sort. When in doubt, contact the local paper in that area to see what archives are available. 

Church records

Before the Social Security Death Index, most of the burden of recording death information fell on local religious leaders. Churches commonly stored information about residents and their causes of death. This is also where many people were buried. If your loved one was a specific church member, this might be a place to learn more about their life and death.

Funeral home

If your loved one worked with a specific funeral home, they might also have documents. While this might be limited, more funeral homes have strict recordkeeping. At the very least, your local funeral home can direct you to more resources in your area. 

Research disasters and epidemics

If someone in your family’s record disappears after a specific year mysteriously, it’s worth looking into disasters and epidemics. Your ancestor might have been involved with an earthquake, another natural disaster, or a pandemic. Using your research skills, you can piece together a story about what likely caused your ancestor's death. 

Talk to family members

Last but not least, consider talking to older family members. They can be a wealth of information about family members from the past. Not only might they know things you haven’t considered, but they can help you understand new possible pathways. When it comes to genealogy, you have to leave no stone unturned. 

Learn More About Your Deceased Loved Ones

Ultimately, there are no certainties when it comes to ancestry. While many are interested in where they come from and who they’re related to, it’s not always easy to tell your full story. As modern folks, we do our best to create narratives of the past. At the end of the day, these are only as true as our limited records. 

Luckily, recordkeeping is improving every day. It’s now possible to find a clear cause of death for most people in our modern era, which connects us with the past. Above all, this is a reminder of just how important it is to make our own plans.