Find Nobles County Death Records

Nobles County death records are available from the county recorder in Worthington for deaths from 1997 forward and from the Minnesota Department of Health for the full statewide archive going back to 1908. This page explains how to request a certified copy from either office, what documents you need, what fees apply, and where to find records for deaths that occurred before state registration started.

Nobles County Vital Records Office

The Nobles County Recorder's Office in Worthington handles death certificates for the county. Worthington 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 information at the county website, www.co.nobles.mn.us. Call ahead to confirm hours before your visit.

The county holds death records from 1997 forward. These cover deaths that occurred anywhere in Minnesota, not just in Nobles 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 at health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/death.html.

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

The City of Worthington's website can help you locate county government offices and plan your visit to the courthouse. The screenshot below was taken from the Worthington city site.

Once you have confirmed the courthouse location through local resources, you can check the Nobles County website for the specific recorder contact details and any forms available for download.

How to Get a Death Certificate in Nobles County

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

If you go to the Nobles 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 document a legal reason for the request.

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 Nobles 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 Nobles 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 working on a legal matter and government agencies with a documented need may also request certified copies. If you do not fall into one of those groups, you will need to explain your legal interest.

A noncertified copy shows the same information 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 Nobles 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 Nobles 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.

Nobles 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 local cemetery registers in the Worthington area are also worth checking for deaths in the late 1800s, since official registration in southwestern Minnesota was not always consistent in the earliest years of settlement.

Online Death Record Access for Nobles County

Several online tools let you search or order Nobles 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 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 take several business days to process and mail. If you need the record quickly, visiting the Nobles County Recorder's Office in Worthington in person is the faster option. Contact MDH at 651-201-5970 for help with older requests that need to be submitted by mail.

Cities in Nobles County

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

No cities in Nobles County meet the 100,000 population threshold for a dedicated city page. The county includes smaller communities such as Worthington, Rushmore, Wilmont, and Adrian. Death records for all of these communities are handled at the county level through the recorder's office.

Nearby Counties

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