In Mississippi, death records are available for many people. Death records for the most recent deaths are available locally through the county public health department. This information is often only available to the immediate family members or the next of kin. For those who are looking for records that are older, the process to finding them takes a bit longer. It is a good idea for you to invest in a bit of research time. Researching this data does not have to be difficult to do, though. You can take several take to find virtually all of the information that you need.

The state of Mississippi enacted laws in the early 1900's to require that both birth and death records to be kept on hand at the state level. Most death records prior to 1912, though, are harder to find because they are not available at the state level. For those who are looking for death records from 1912 onward, the best resource for getting this information is through the Vital Statistics Agency. This agency keeps a set of records on hand that can be searched to verify your information. You can contact them or visit them at the following address.

State Department of Health

Vital Records

2423 North State Street

Jackson, Mississippi 39216

In most cases, you will have to pay a nominal fee to obtain these records. It can take several weeks to gather this information as well. The more information that you have, the easier it will be to complete this type of search. It is quite important to have the person's full legal name as well as information regarding the date of the death and the county location of the death, if it is possible. The more information you have, the more likely you are to find the information you need.

Keep in mind that for records that are older than 1912, the search gets a bit more challenging. You will need to first start your records search at the local level. Township clerks in Mississippi do have some records available, especially those cities that are very old. In addition, the area had a very prominent religious history. Many of those religious organizations began in the 1800's or earlier and they, too many have a record of the death of members or family members that may provide the information you need. Local searches like this can be more challenging but they can be very accurate when records are available.

Finding Mississippi death records may not be easier for older records, but the process of getting this information for more recent deaths is far easier. By contacting the Vital Records facility, you can often get a copy of the death record. In addition to this, you can also check local county health departments. These county health departments are the best source of information for immediate needs for death records, including those for individuals who just died. This information does remain open to the public in the state of Mississippi.

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