Find Death Records in Blue Earth County

Blue Earth County death records are maintained by the county recorder in Mankato and by the Minnesota Department of Health. If you need to search for a death certificate or obtain a copy of a death record tied to Blue Earth County or any Minnesota county, both offices can help. This page explains the three ways to request a record, the difference between certified and noncertified copies, what each costs, who can access restricted records, and where to find older deaths that predate the state registry.

Blue Earth County Vital Records Office

The Blue Earth County Recorder's Office in Mankato handles death records for the county. The office is at the Blue Earth County Government Center, 410 S 5th St, Mankato, MN 56001. Standard office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The county's vital statistics page is at co.blue-earth.mn.us/167/Vital-Statistics, and the main county site is at co.blue-earth.mn.us.

Blue Earth County holds death records from 1997 forward for any death in Minnesota, not only deaths in the county itself. For deaths in Blue Earth County specifically that occurred before 1997, the county retains records going back to 1908. The Minnesota Department of Health holds a statewide set of death records from 1908 to the present. MDH is reached at 651-201-5970 or by mail at P.O. Box 64882, St. Paul, MN 55164-0882. Their main death records page is at health.state.mn.us.

Blue Earth County also has a historical society that may hold supplemental research materials. The Blue Earth County Historical Society at bechs.org maintains local history collections, obituaries, and related records. These can be useful when researching deaths outside the official county registry.

The MDH death records page is the primary statewide resource for requesting death certificates in Minnesota. The screenshot below shows that page.

Visit the MDH death records page for a full overview of the Minnesota death certificate process.

The MDH site covers all Minnesota counties and explains the ordering process, fees, and eligibility requirements that apply statewide.

How to Get a Death Certificate in Blue Earth County

Three methods are available for requesting Blue Earth County death certificates: in person at the county office in Mankato, by mail to MDH, or online through VitalChek.

In person is the fastest way. Go to the Blue Earth County Recorder's Office at the Government Center in Mankato. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID and payment. You will need to provide the full name of the person who died, the date of death, and the city or county where the death took place. If you need a certified copy, be prepared to show you meet the eligibility requirements under Minnesota Statute 144.225. That statute limits certified copies to the spouse, child, parent, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, and legal representatives of the deceased. Attorneys and government agencies may also qualify. In-person requests are typically completed the same day.

By mail, download the MDH application at health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/docs/dcappia.pdf. Fill it out completely and sign it before a notary. Mail the notarized form along with a copy of your photo ID and payment to Minnesota Department of Health, P.O. Box 64882, St. Paul, MN 55164-0882. Use a check or money order made payable to the Minnesota Department of Health.

Online, you order through VitalChek, the authorized state vendor. Pay by credit card and the certificate is mailed to you. VitalChek charges $7 for standard delivery or $17.50 for rush. Rush orders still take several business days.

Certified and Noncertified Blue Earth County Death Records

You can get two types of death record copies in Minnesota. The right type depends on what you plan to do with it.

Certified copies carry the official state seal. They are the copies accepted by financial institutions, courts, insurance companies, and government offices. You need a certified copy to settle an estate, claim survivor benefits, or handle most legal processes after a death. The first certified copy costs $13. Each additional copy of the same record, ordered at the same time, is $6. Access is restricted. Under Minn. Stat. 144.225, only qualifying family members and legal representatives can receive a certified copy. If you do not qualify, you will need a court order or documentation showing a specific legal need.

Noncertified copies look like the original record but do not have the state seal. Anyone can request them. No eligibility check applies. The cost is $13. Noncertified copies are used for genealogy, family history projects, or personal reference. They are not accepted as legal proof of death.

Under Minn. Stat. 13.10, death records are classified as private for 10 years after the date of death. After that 10-year period, they are treated as public records. The MDH eligibility page at health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/tangible.html has a full breakdown of who qualifies and what documents to include.

Historical Death Records for Blue Earth County

For deaths before 1908 in Blue Earth County, the state of Minnesota does not hold records. The Minnesota Historical Society is the primary resource for pre-1908 research across the state.

The MNHS Gale Family Library is at 345 W Kellogg Blvd in St. Paul, open Thursday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The phone number is 651-259-3300. MNHS holds microfilm, death registers, church records, probate files, and other historical sources from around the state. Their death records guide at libguides.mnhs.org/vital/death explains what they hold for Minnesota counties. Contact MNHS directly to find out what Blue Earth County materials are in the collection.

The Blue Earth County Historical Society at bechs.org is also a useful resource for older deaths. They hold local history collections, obituaries, and genealogical materials that may cover deaths not found in official county registers. The county recorder in Mankato may also hold older registers predating 1908. It is worth calling both offices to ask what pre-1908 materials survive locally.

Online Death Record Search for Blue Earth County

Online tools can help you search for or order Blue Earth County death records without traveling to Mankato.

MDH offers an online verification tool for deaths registered in Minnesota from 1997 to the present. It can confirm whether a record is in the state system but does not provide a full copy of the document. It is useful when you just need to verify a date or confirm a record exists. See what MDH offers online at health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/services.html.

For full certified or noncertified copies, VitalChek at vitalchek.com handles online orders for the state. You pay by credit card and the certificate is mailed to you. Records from before 1997 are not available online and must be requested by mail or in person. Reach MDH at 651-201-5970 or at health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/contact.html for help with older requests.

Cities in Blue Earth County

Death records for all cities and townships in Blue Earth County are processed through the county recorder in Mankato.

No cities in Blue Earth County meet the 100,000 population threshold for a dedicated city page. The county includes Mankato, North Mankato, Lake Crystal, Mapleton, and Garden City, among others. All death records for these communities go through the county recorder's office.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Blue Earth County. If you are not sure which county holds the death record you need, check where the death occurred.