# Tracking down a death date **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 22, 2009, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-down-a-death-date/503870 "2009-07-22T16:43:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-down-a-death-date/503870/1 "2009-07-22T16:43:56Z")
I’m trying to find out the death date of someone who died about 20 years ago (not a celebrity). I know their approximate d.o.b. and their approximate death date (both within about 5-7 years), but I want to nail it down specifically. What’s the best route? ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-down-a-death-date/503870/2 "2009-07-22T16:49:33Z")
Most states have a dept. called vital records that has that info. But there are limits on what you can find out so they may not give out what you need. For example here in NC you can’t get a divorce date without knowing the marriage date (I think that is needed) Also for deaths social security has a death index that I believe is pretty open for anyone to search, just google for it. ---
**Author:** ![nivlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3bc359/32.png) [@nivlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nivlac)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-down-a-death-date/503870/3 "2009-07-22T16:53:05Z")
Have you tried [this resource?](http://govdeathrecords.com/?tid=dr12&gclid=CMO9qoLj6ZsCFRMUagodI3Ct5A) ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-down-a-death-date/503870/4 "2009-07-22T16:59:05Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > Most states have a dept. called vital records that has that info. But there are limits on what you can find out so they may not give out what you need. For example here in NC you can’t get a divorce date without knowing the marriage date (I think that is needed) > > Also for deaths social security has a death index that I believe is pretty open for anyone to search, just google for it. Alas, he died young. Born ~1965, died ~1986. Not showing up in SS index. ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-down-a-death-date/503870/5 "2009-07-22T19:09:23Z")
> [@nivlac](#): > > Have you tried [this resource?](http://govdeathrecords.com/?tid=dr12&gclid=CMO9qoLj6ZsCFRMUagodI3Ct5A) $29.94 for the cheapest registration plan, to find the one name he wants? Such a deal. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-down-a-death-date/503870/6 "2009-07-22T19:50:21Z")
> [@furt](#): > > Alas, he died young. Born ~1965, died ~1986. Not showing up in SS index. I would have said SS Death Index, too. Is this person an American with an SS number? If so, did you do a Soundex search or possible variant spellings? ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-down-a-death-date/503870/7 "2009-07-22T20:22:11Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I would have said SS Death Index, too. Is this person an American with an SS number? If so, did you do a Soundex search or possible variant spellings? I did, but nothing is coming up. NJ also requires $, and moreover wants me to mail them a copy of my ID and, dumbest of all, requires that I give them the date of death … which is exactly what I’m trying to find out in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-down-a-death-date/503870/8 "2009-07-23T01:36:53Z")
In some states, for example Illinois, death records are not public record, in some they are. In Illinois it USED to be public record, and they did used to make you give a date of death. I recall one time I had to go in person and pay a few times, to get the correct date I was looking for. I submitted the form, they said “No such record.” I then re-submitted the form with a different death date, and they said “No such record.” Eventually I hit it. It might be cheaper to go in person. I know in Illinois (last time I looked) they charged you for mail, email and on line database searches, but if you requested the record in person they would get it for you for nothing. Would this person have had an obituary? You could try different papers? Do you know where they lived, in reality, when I worked in college part time, for an investigator, doing the clerical stuff, he would have me knock on doors and ask. I would lie and say “Hi, I’m Mark and I’m looking for my brother Mike, he used to live here…” And people were always co-operative especially if you limit the questions to vauge questions and let them give you exact answers