Search Ramsey County Death Records

Ramsey County death records are maintained jointly by Ramsey County and the City of St. Paul, the state capital and county seat. Whether you need a certified death certificate for legal use or a noncertified copy for genealogy research, this page covers how to request records, what each office handles, the fees involved, who qualifies for access, and where to find historical deaths going back to the 1800s.

Ramsey County Vital Records Office

Ramsey County is the second-largest county in Minnesota by population, with roughly 550,000 residents. It is the home of St. Paul, the state capital. Death records in the county are maintained jointly by Ramsey County and the City of St. Paul, a setup that reflects how closely the city and county overlap in geography and services. When you request a death record for a death that occurred in Ramsey County, you may deal with either the county's vital records office or the St. Paul City Clerk, depending on where and when the death took place.

Ramsey County holds certified copies of any Minnesota death from 1997 forward, consistent with the statewide rule that applies to all county recorders. Deaths that occurred in Ramsey County between 1908 and 1996 are available through the county or through the Minnesota Department of Health. The St. Paul City Clerk also handles birth and death records for deaths that occurred within the city of St. Paul, making it an important parallel resource for records in the county seat. If you are not sure which office has your record, either one can point you in the right direction.

The Ramsey County website is a good place to start. It explains the joint system and links to both county and city resources. The screenshot below was taken from the Ramsey County main site.

Visit the Ramsey County vital records page for details on how to request a death certificate and what the county's office provides.

The Ramsey County vital records page explains the joint system and provides contact information and links for both the county and city offices.

St. Paul City Clerk: Death Records for Ramsey County Deaths

Because St. Paul is both the county seat and the largest city in Ramsey County by far, the St. Paul City Clerk's office plays a direct role in maintaining death records for the city. Deaths that occur within St. Paul city limits may be handled through the City Clerk's office. This is an unusual setup in Minnesota, where most counties handle all vital records through a single county recorder. In Ramsey County, both the county office and the City Clerk are set up to take requests and can redirect you if needed.

Both offices follow the same fee schedule set by state law: $13 for the first certified copy, $6 for each additional certified copy of the same record ordered at the same time, and $13 for a noncertified copy. You will need to show a valid photo ID and proof of eligibility when requesting a certified copy. For deaths before 1997 that occurred in St. Paul, either the City Clerk or MDH may hold the record.

The St. Paul City Clerk's birth and death records page shows how to submit a request and what documentation to include. The screenshot below was taken from that page.

Visit the St. Paul City Clerk birth and death records page to request a death certificate for a death that occurred within the city of St. Paul.

The City Clerk page explains how to request records, what identification to bring, and how to pay the applicable fee for St. Paul death records.

How to Get a Ramsey County Death Certificate

You can get a Ramsey County death certificate in person, by mail, or online. The right path depends on when the death occurred and what type of copy you need.

For in-person requests, bring a valid government-issued photo ID and payment. You must show you qualify under Minnesota Statute 144.225 if you want a certified copy. That law limits certified copies to the spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, or legal representative of the person named on the record. If you do not qualify for a certified copy, noncertified copies are open to anyone for the same $13 fee.

For mail requests, download the MDH application at health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/docs/dcappia.pdf. Sign it before a notary public and send it with a copy of your photo ID and a check or money order payable to MDH to: Minnesota Department of Health, P.O. Box 64882, St. Paul, MN 55164-0882. MDH holds all Minnesota deaths from 1908 forward, including those in Ramsey County.

Online orders go through VitalChek for Ramsey County. VitalChek adds a $7 service fee for standard delivery or $17.50 for rush service. Credit cards are accepted. VitalChek mails the certificate to your address, so online ordering is not instant even with rush processing. For urgent needs, visiting the Ramsey County office or the St. Paul City Clerk in person is faster.

Historical Ramsey County Death Records

For deaths before 1908 in Ramsey County, you will need to go beyond the state and county recorder systems. The Minnesota Department of Health holds records from 1908 forward. For deaths before that year, historical archives are the main source.

The Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) is headquartered right in St. Paul, which makes it one of the most accessible research resources for Ramsey County historical records. MNHS holds death records, indexes, probate files, church registers, and other primary sources for Ramsey County going back into the 1800s. Their Gale Family Library is at 345 W Kellogg Blvd in St. Paul and is open Thursday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. You can reach them at 651-259-3300. The MNHS death records guide at libguides.mnhs.org/vital/death explains what historical collections are available for Ramsey County and how to access them. Because MNHS is local to St. Paul, doing in-person research on Ramsey County records is more convenient here than in almost any other Minnesota county.

The Ramsey County Historical Society is another resource for local records research. Their collections focus on the history of Ramsey County and St. Paul. They do not issue certified death certificates, but they may hold materials that complement what is at MNHS. You can reach the Ramsey County Historical Society at www.rchs.com. For researchers who cannot visit in person, many MNHS finding aids and some digitized collections are accessible online, which lets you do preliminary research before making the trip to St. Paul.

Online Access to Ramsey County Death Records

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

The MDH online verification tool lets you confirm that a death record exists for a specific person. It covers deaths registered in Minnesota from 1997 forward. It shows basic facts like name and date of death but does not give you a full copy. To get the full record, you still need to submit a formal request. The MDH services page at health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/death.html explains what is available online and what requires a paper or in-person request.

For full certified or noncertified copies ordered online, VitalChek is the state-authorized vendor. You can go directly to the VitalChek Ramsey County page to submit your order. You pay by credit card, and the certificate is mailed to you. Expect a few business days for standard delivery. Rush processing is available for an added fee. Records from before 1997 are not available through online ordering and require a direct request to MDH or the county. For questions about older records, call MDH at 651-201-5970.

The MDH eligibility page at health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/tangible.html has more detail on who can request certified copies and what documentation is required for different types of requesters.

Cities in Ramsey County

Ramsey County includes St. Paul and several other communities such as Roseville, Shoreview, Maplewood, and Little Canada. Death records for communities across the county are filed through Ramsey County or the St. Paul City Clerk as described above. St. Paul is the only city in Ramsey County that meets the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Ramsey County. Death records are filed where the death occurred.