# How Do You Tell if Someone is Dead?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-tell-if-someone-is-dead/8364>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 10, 2000, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-tell-if-someone-is-dead/8364 "2000-03-10T01:00:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\
**Post date:** [March 10, 2000, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-tell-if-someone-is-dead/8364/1 "2000-03-10T01:00:00Z")

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A guy I went to college with was threatening suicide shortly after graduation. No one has heard from him since then, but for all I know he could have just moved to another city and left no forwarding adress?

Short of calling the records clerks in each of the 50 states, is there a quick (and free) way of telling whether or not the guy is dead?

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**Author:** ![JamesCarroll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@JamesCarroll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JamesCarroll)\
**Post date:** [March 10, 2000, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-tell-if-someone-is-dead/8364/2 "2000-03-10T03:30:00Z")

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I’m fine. Thanks for asking.

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**Author:** ![Cooper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@Cooper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cooper)\
**Post date:** [March 10, 2000, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-tell-if-someone-is-dead/8364/3 "2000-03-10T04:00:00Z")

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If you know where he is from you might try to find his parents? Or his highschool? They have ways of keeping track of you! Ostensibly for inviting you to reunions…

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**Author:** ![SingleDad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9e8a1a/32.png) [@SingleDad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SingleDad)\
**Post date:** [March 10, 2000, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-tell-if-someone-is-dead/8364/4 "2000-03-10T04:06:00Z")

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Try the [Social Security Death Index](http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/vital/ssdi/main.htm)

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**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\
**Post date:** [March 10, 2000, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-tell-if-someone-is-dead/8364/5 "2000-03-10T06:15:00Z")

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Or conversely, check in phone directories and the like to see if the guy is still alive.

I would second the Social Security Death Index, however I believe you only get listed in there if Social Security pays out a death benefit for you. If your friend didn’t qualify for one, you won’t find him there.