Murray County Death Records

Murray County death records are held by the county recorder in Slayton for deaths from 1997 forward and by the Minnesota Department of Health for the statewide archive going back to 1908. This page covers how to request certified copies from either office, what you need to provide, what the records cost, and where to search for deaths that occurred before state registration started.

Murray County Vital Records Office

The Murray County Recorder's Office in Slayton handles death certificates for the county. Slayton is the county seat, and the recorder is located at the county courthouse there. The office accepts in-person and mail requests for certified copies. You can find current contact details at the county website, www.co.murray.mn.us. Call ahead to confirm hours before driving to Slayton, since small county offices sometimes adjust their schedules.

The county holds death records from 1997 forward. These cover deaths that occurred anywhere in Minnesota, not just in Murray County. For deaths in the county that happened before 1997, the recorder also keeps older records going back to 1908. Deaths before 1908 fall outside the statewide registry, since Minnesota did not require death registration until that year. The Minnesota Department of Health holds the full statewide collection from 1908 onward and can be reached at health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/death.html.

There is no satellite vital records office in Murray County. The recorder in Slayton is the only in-person location in the county.

The Minnesota Department of Health maintains the statewide death records portal that covers all Minnesota counties including Murray. The screenshot below was taken from the MDH vital records page.

The MDH page covers fees, forms, eligibility rules, and online ordering options that apply to any Murray County request made through the state office.

How to Get a Death Certificate in Murray County

There are three ways to get a Murray County death certificate: in person at the county recorder in Slayton, by mail to MDH, or online through VitalChek. In person is the fastest option.

If you go to the Murray County Recorder's Office in person, bring a valid photo ID and payment. Staff can process your request the same day in most cases. You need the full name of the person who died, the date of death, and the place where the death occurred. If you need a certified copy, you must show you qualify under Minnesota law. Under Minnesota Statute 144.225, certified copies go to the spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, or legal representative of the person named on the record. Others may need to show a clear legal reason for needing the record.

To order by mail, download and complete the MDH death certificate application at health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/docs/dcappia.pdf. Sign it in front of a notary before mailing. Send the notarized form with payment by 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. MDH handles Murray County deaths from 1908 forward. Call 651-201-5970 with questions.

Online orders go through VitalChek. VitalChek adds a $7 service fee for standard delivery or $17.50 for rush processing. The certificate is mailed to you, so online orders take longer than an in-person visit.

Certified and Noncertified Death Records in Murray County

Minnesota issues two types of death record copies: certified and noncertified. Knowing which one you need saves time and extra steps.

A certified death certificate carries the official state seal and is accepted by courts, insurance companies, banks, and government agencies. It is what you need to settle an estate, claim life insurance, or transfer property. Certified copies cost $13 for the first copy and $6 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time. Under Minn. Stat. 144.225, access is limited to the spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, or legal representative of the deceased. Attorneys on a legal matter and government agencies with a documented need may also request certified copies. If you do not qualify, you will need to explain your legal interest.

A noncertified copy shows the same data but does not carry the state seal. It is open to anyone and also costs $13. Noncertified copies are good for genealogy or personal research but are not accepted by most legal or financial institutions.

Check the MDH eligibility page at health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/tangible.html for more detail on who qualifies and what documentation to include.

Historical Death Records for Murray County

For deaths that occurred before 1908, the Minnesota Department of Health does not hold records. That is the year the state began requiring death registration. For older records, look at county sources or historical collections.

The Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) holds a large collection of historical death records from across the state. The Gale Family Library at MNHS is at 345 W Kellogg Blvd in St. Paul, open Thursday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Call 651-259-3300 before visiting to ask what Murray County materials they have. MNHS holds county death registers, church records, and other sources that predate the state registry. The death records guide at libguides.mnhs.org/vital/death explains what they hold and how to search it.

Murray County itself may also keep older local registers going back before 1908. Contacting the county recorder directly is a useful first step for pre-1908 research. Church records and cemetery registers in southwestern Minnesota are also worth checking, especially for communities that were settled in the mid to late 1800s and where formal registration was not always consistent in the earliest years.

Online Death Record Access for Murray County

Several online tools let you search or order Murray County death records without visiting an office in person.

MDH provides a verification tool that confirms whether a death record exists for a specific person. It covers deaths registered in Minnesota from 1997 to the present. It does not give you a copy of the full record, but it can confirm basic facts and dates. Visit health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/death.html to learn more about what MDH offers online.

For full certified or noncertified copies ordered online, VitalChek is the state-authorized vendor. You submit your request, pay by credit card, and the certificate is mailed to you. The extra service fee applies on top of the $13 base cost. Online orders are not instant. Most take several business days to process and mail. If you need the record quickly, visiting the Murray County Recorder's Office in Slayton in person is the faster route. Contact MDH at 651-201-5970 for help with older requests that need to go by mail.

Cities in Murray County

All death records for cities and towns in Murray County are filed through the Murray County Recorder's Office in Slayton.

No cities in Murray County meet the 100,000 population threshold for a dedicated city page. The county includes smaller communities such as Slayton, Currie, Fulda, and Dovray. Death records for all of these communities are handled at the county level through the recorder's office.

Nearby Counties

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