Find Death Records in Duluth

Death records for Duluth are maintained by St. Louis County and the Minnesota Department of Health. Duluth is the county seat of St. Louis County and home to roughly 87,000 people along the shores of Lake Superior. Deaths that occur in Duluth are registered at the county level, and this page explains how to request a certified death certificate, who is eligible, where to find older historical records, and what local resources are available for genealogy research in the Duluth area.

St. Louis County Vital Records Office

Death records for Duluth are held by St. Louis County. The county auditor-treasurer's office handles vital records, including death certificates. Visit stlouiscountymn.gov/departments/auditor-treasurer/vital-records for current address, hours, and contact information. Duluth is the county seat, so the main county offices are located within the city.

St. Louis County holds death records from 1997 forward. For deaths that occurred in the county before 1997, the county also retains older records going back to 1908. Before 1908, there was no statewide death registry in Minnesota. For deaths before that year, you will need to look at county historical records or other sources.

The Duluth City Clerk office at duluthmn.gov/city-clerk handles city administration but does not issue death certificates. Vital records requests for Duluth deaths go to St. Louis County or to the state MDH office. The City Clerk's page can help you find current contact information for city services and direct you to the right county office if you need help locating the vital records department.

The screenshot below was captured from the Duluth City Clerk website, which provides information about local government services for Duluth residents.

The Duluth city site can help you navigate local services and find the St. Louis County contacts you need for a death certificate request.

How to Request a Duluth Death Certificate

You can get a death certificate for a Duluth death in person, by mail, or online. All three methods work, though in person at the county office is the fastest option.

In person, visit the St. Louis County office in Duluth. Check stlouiscountymn.gov for the current address and hours. Bring a valid photo ID and payment. Under Minnesota Statute 144.225, certified copies are available to the spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, or legal representative of the deceased. Attorneys and government agencies with a legal need also qualify. The fee is $13 for the first certified copy and $6 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time. Same-day processing is typically available for in-person requests.

By mail, download the application form at health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/docs/dcappia.pdf. Complete and notarize it, then send it with a check or money order payable to MDH and a copy of your photo ID to: Minnesota Department of Health, P.O. Box 64882, St. Paul, MN 55164-0882. Phone: 651-201-5970. Mail orders take longer than in-person visits. If you have a deadline, plan ahead or consider the county in-person option.

Online, order through VitalChek at vitalchek.com. VitalChek adds a $7 standard service fee or $17.50 for rush. The certificate is mailed after processing. Noncertified copies are $13 each and available to anyone without eligibility requirements.

Who Can Request Certified Copies

Certified copies of death certificates carry the official state seal. They are needed for settling estates, claiming life insurance, transferring property, and other legal purposes. Under Minn. Stat. 144.225, only certain people can request them.

Eligible requesters include the spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, or legal representative of the person named on the record. Attorneys handling a relevant legal matter and government agencies with a legal need may also request certified copies. If you do not fall into these categories, you must show a specific legal need for the record.

Noncertified copies do not carry the state seal but contain the same information. They cost $13 each and are open to anyone. They work for genealogy, personal files, or background research. Check the MDH eligibility page at health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/tangible.html before applying if you are unsure about your eligibility.

Historical Death Records for Duluth

Duluth has a long history as a port city and regional center, and historical death records for the area go back well before the state registry started in 1908. For deaths before that year, you need county and local historical sources.

The St. Louis County Historical Society, also known as The History People, is the main local historical archive for the Duluth area. Their website at thehistorypeople.org explains what records they hold and how to access them. They maintain collections of obituaries, local death records, church records, and other historical materials related to Duluth and St. Louis County. This is a key resource for genealogy research and for deaths that occurred before the state began keeping statewide records.

The Duluth Public Library at duluthlibrary.org also holds local history collections and newspaper archives. Duluth newspaper archives going back to the late 1800s can help you find death notices and obituaries that predate formal death certificates. The library's genealogy resources include microfilm collections and access to online genealogy databases.

The Minnesota Historical Society at libguids.mnhs.org/vital/death holds statewide historical death records. Their Gale Family Library in St. Paul is open Thursday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Call 651-259-3300 for research help. MNHS holds death registers and related records for St. Louis County as part of their broader statewide collection, and can be a useful resource for older Duluth deaths.

Duluth also has a city cemeteries page at duluthmn.gov/parks/cemeteries that may help locate burial information when working backward from a death to find a record.

Nearby Qualifying Cities

Duluth is the only qualifying city in northeastern Minnesota. For other areas of the state, see the full cities list or browse by county.