Rice County Death Records

Rice County death records are filed with the county recorder in Faribault, Minnesota, with statewide records from 1908 forward available through the Minnesota Department of Health. This page covers how to get a certified or noncertified death certificate, the fees involved, who qualifies for access, and where to find historical records for this south-central Minnesota county.

Rice County Vital Records Office

The Rice County Recorder is located at the Rice County Government Services Building, 320 Third St. NW, Faribault, MN 55021. The recorder handles vital records for all communities in Rice County, including death certificates. You can request a certified or noncertified copy in person, by mail, or online through VitalChek. The county seat of Faribault is in the southern part of the Twin Cities metro area, making it accessible from several surrounding counties.

Rice County holds certified copies of any death that occurred anywhere in Minnesota from 1997 to the present. Deaths that happened in Rice County between 1908 and 1996 are also available from the county recorder or from MDH. For deaths that occurred in Faribault specifically between 1908 and 1997, Rice County holds those records as well. Deaths that occurred in Rice County before 1908 may be available in noncertified form through the county or through historical archives. For pre-1908 deaths, county records going back to the establishment of formal registration are the best local source, while MNHS holds the broader historical collection for the region.

The Rice County Recorder's page has the mailing address and contact details. The screenshot below shows the county recorder's section of the Rice County website.

Visit the Rice County Recorder page for current contact information, office hours, and details on how to submit a request in person or by mail.

The recorder's page lists the mailing address and instructions for submitting requests. Checks for mail-in requests should be made payable to the Rice County Recorder.

How to Request Rice County Death Certificates

There are three ways to get a death certificate from Rice County: in person at the Government Services Building in Faribault, by mail, or online through VitalChek. Each method works, but speed and convenience differ.

For in-person visits, bring a valid government-issued photo ID and payment. The office is at 320 Third St. NW in Faribault. Check the county recorder's page for current hours before you go, since some offices have specific walk-in times or require appointments. You will need the full name of the deceased, the date of death, and your relationship. 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 $13.

For mail requests, include a copy of your valid photo ID, a completed application or written request, and a check or money order payable to the Rice County Recorder. State the full name of the deceased, approximate date of death, and your relationship. You can also download the MDH application form at health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/docs/dcappia.pdf, fill it out, sign before a notary, and send it to MDH at: Minnesota Department of Health, P.O. Box 64882, St. Paul, MN 55164-0882. MDH holds Rice County deaths from 1908 forward.

The Rice County death certificates page explains the steps and links to the online ordering option through VitalChek. The screenshot below was taken from that page.

Visit the Rice County death certificates page for step-by-step instructions and links to the online ordering option.

The death certificates page explains exactly what to include and how to submit your request, and covers the difference between certified and noncertified copies.

Online Orders Through VitalChek and MDH

VitalChek is the online ordering partner for Rice County and many other Minnesota county recorders. Orders placed through VitalChek are routed to the Rice County Recorder for recent deaths or to MDH for deaths between 1908 and 1996. You pay by credit card, and VitalChek handles the submission.

Standard VitalChek orders carry a $7 service fee. Rush processing adds $17.50. The base state fee is $13 for the first certified copy and $6 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time. Noncertified copies are $13. If you need the record quickly but cannot visit in person, rush service is available but costs more. Orders are generally processed faster than mail-in requests regardless of service level.

The Rice County main website also provides links and information on the full range of county services. The screenshot below was taken from the Rice County website.

Visit the Rice County website to browse county services and find links to the recorder, death certificates, and other vital records resources.

The Rice County main site gives you a full view of county services and is a good starting point if you need to navigate to multiple departments during your records research.

MDH maintains a statewide archive of death records from 1908 forward. For any death in Rice County after 1907, MDH can provide a certified copy to eligible requesters. Go to the MDH death records page for the mail application and full instructions for ordering from the state. Online ordering through VitalChek is also available and accepts credit card payment.

Historical Death Records for Rice County

For deaths before 1908 in Rice County, the Minnesota Historical Society is the primary research resource. Rice County was established in 1853, so county-level records from the mid-1800s exist in some form, though coverage varies by year and location.

MNHS holds historical death records, church registers, probate files, and other sources for Rice County going back to the territorial era. The MNHS Gale Family Library is at 345 W Kellogg Blvd, 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. Remote access to finding aids and some digitized collections is available through their website. The MNHS death records guide at libguides.mnhs.org/vital/death explains what historical materials are available for Rice County and how to plan your research.

The Rice County Historical Society in Faribault is another important local resource. They hold materials specific to Rice County that complement the broader MNHS collections, including local newspaper archives with obituaries going back many decades. For genealogy work, combining the county recorder, MDH, MNHS, and the local historical society gives you the best coverage across all time periods in Rice County's history. If you need help with a specific family or time period, reaching out to the Rice County Historical Society directly is a good first step before making a trip to St. Paul.

Cities in Rice County

All death records for Rice County communities are filed through the county recorder at the Government Services Building in Faribault.

No cities in Rice County meet the 100,000 population threshold for a dedicated city page. The county includes Faribault, Northfield, and several smaller communities such as Lonsdale, Dundas, and Morristown. Faribault has a population of approximately 23,000, and Northfield is similar in size. Death records for all Rice County communities are handled at the county level.

Nearby Counties

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