Access Redwood County Death Records

Redwood County death records are maintained by the county recorder in Redwood Falls, Minnesota, with statewide records from 1908 forward also available through the Minnesota Department of Health. This page explains how to request a certified or noncertified death certificate, what fees apply, who can request access, and where to find historical records for research in this southwest Minnesota county.

Redwood County Vital Records Office

The Redwood County Recorder in Redwood Falls is the local source for death certificates in this southwest Minnesota county. The recorder handles all vital records for the county, including death certificates for anyone who died in communities throughout the region. You can find current contact details through the county website at www.co.redwood.mn.us. The recorder's office is your first stop for deaths that occurred in Redwood County.

Redwood County holds death records from 1997 to the present for any death that took place anywhere in Minnesota. The county also holds records for deaths that occurred specifically in Redwood County going back to 1908. For deaths before 1908, neither the state nor the county holds a guaranteed copy. Those older records may exist in county registers or local archives, but they were not part of the formal vital records system that Minnesota started that year.

The Minnesota Department of Health holds the full statewide set of death records from 1908 forward, covering all 87 counties. If you are not sure which county holds the record you need, MDH is a reliable option. You can reach them at health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/death.html or by phone at 651-201-5970. The screenshot below was taken from the MDH death records page.

Visit the MDH death records page to download the application form and find instructions for ordering a Redwood County death record by mail from the state.

The MDH page covers the full ordering process including the application form, fees, eligibility rules, and the mailing address for the state vital records office in St. Paul.

How to Get a Death Certificate in Redwood County

You can get a Redwood County death certificate three ways: in person at the county recorder, by mail through MDH, or online through VitalChek. Each method works, but they differ in speed and cost.

Going in person to the Redwood County Recorder in Redwood Falls is the fastest option. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID and payment for the fee. You will need the full name of the person who died, the date of death, and the county where the death took place. Certified copies are restricted under Minnesota Statute 144.225 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 death certificate application at health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/docs/dcappia.pdf. Fill it out, sign it before a notary public, and mail it with your photo ID and a check or money order payable to MDH. The address is: Minnesota Department of Health, P.O. Box 64882, St. Paul, MN 55164-0882. Mail requests take more time than in-person visits, so plan accordingly if you need the record quickly.

Online orders go through VitalChek, the state's authorized online vendor. The base fee is $13 for the first certified copy, plus a VitalChek service fee of $7 for standard delivery or $17.50 for rush. VitalChek mails the record to you, so even with rush service, you will wait a few days. In-person at the county recorder in Redwood Falls is still the fastest option when you need the record right away.

Certified and Noncertified Death Records

Minnesota issues two types of death record copies. Knowing which one you need saves time.

A certified death certificate carries the official state seal and is accepted by courts, insurance companies, banks, and government agencies. You need a certified copy to settle an estate, file a life insurance claim, transfer a vehicle title, or close a bank account. The fee is $13 for the first certified copy and $6 for each additional copy of the same record if ordered at the same time. Under Minn. Stat. 144.225, only certain people can get certified copies: the spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, or legal representative of the deceased, plus government agencies with a legal need. You must show ID and may need to document your relationship to the person on the record.

A noncertified copy does not have the state seal. It is available to anyone for $13. Noncertified copies work well for genealogy and personal records but are not accepted by courts or financial institutions in place of a certified copy.

If you are not sure whether you qualify for a certified copy, check the MDH eligibility page at health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/tangible.html. That page details what documentation you need based on your relationship to the deceased.

Historical Death Records for Redwood County

For deaths before 1908 in Redwood County, you will need sources beyond the state and county recorder systems. Redwood County was established in 1862, so some county-level records from before 1908 may exist, but coverage is not always complete or well-preserved for every year and location.

The Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) is the best starting point for pre-1908 deaths in Redwood County. Their Gale Family Library in St. Paul holds historical death records, church registers, probate files, and other sources that can help fill in gaps for early deaths in southwest Minnesota. The 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 research guide at libguides.mnhs.org/vital/death explains what collections they hold for southwest Minnesota counties and how to use them.

Local resources in Redwood Falls and across Redwood County can also be valuable for early research. Church records from German and Scandinavian congregations that settled the area, cemetery registers from local burial grounds, and newspaper archives may hold death information not found in formal county or state records. The Redwood County Historical Society is a good contact for pointing you to the right local sources when MNHS collections do not fully cover what you need for a specific family or time period.

Online Death Record Access for Redwood County

Several online tools let you search or order Redwood County death records without visiting an office in person, though each has limits.

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 the name and date of death but does not give you a full copy of the record. The MDH death records page at health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/death.html explains what is available online versus what requires a mail or in-person request.

For full certified or noncertified copies ordered online, VitalChek is the state-authorized vendor. You enter your request details and pay by credit card. The certificate is mailed to you. Expect a few business days for standard delivery. Rush processing is available for an added fee but still takes several days total. Records from before 1997 are not available through any online system. Those require a direct request to the county recorder or a mail request to MDH. For help with older records, call MDH at 651-201-5970.

Cities in Redwood County

All death records for cities and towns in Redwood County are handled through the county recorder in Redwood Falls.

No cities in Redwood County meet the 100,000 population threshold for a dedicated city page. The county includes Redwood Falls and several smaller communities such as Morgan, Clements, and Wabasso. Death records for all of these communities are filed at the county level through the recorder's office.

Nearby Counties

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