Search Stearns County Death Records

Stearns County death records are held by the county recorder in St. Cloud and by the Minnesota Department of Health in St. Paul. St. Cloud is the county seat and the largest city in central Minnesota, meaning the recorder's office handles a significant volume of death certificate requests each year from across the county and the surrounding region.

Stearns County Recorder's Office

The Stearns County Recorder's Office in St. Cloud is the local source for death certificates in the county. The recorder also handles property records and other vital statistics. The county website is at stearnscountyMN.gov, and the vital statistics page is at stearnscountyMN.gov/428/Vital-Statistics. Check the site for current office hours and contact information before visiting.

The recorder holds death records from 1997 forward for all deaths registered in Minnesota. Stearns County also retains older records for deaths that occurred in the county before 1997, going back to 1908. Prior to 1908, the state did not maintain a centralized registry, so older records must be found through county files or historical archives. MDH holds the full statewide registry from 1908 to the present at health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/death.html.

St. Cloud straddles the Stearns-Benton county line, with most of the city in Stearns County. If a death occurred in the Benton County portion of the St. Cloud area, check with Benton County for the relevant records.

The Stearns County website provides access to recorder services, including vital statistics. The screenshot below shows the county's main web presence at stearnscountyMN.gov.

Visit the Stearns County website to find current contact information for the recorder's office and to confirm hours before your visit.

The county site lists recorder office details and can help you confirm where to go and what to bring.

The city of St. Cloud has its own municipal website at ci.stcloud.mn.us, which provides information on city services. The screenshot below shows the city's web presence.

The city site can help you find directions to the county courthouse and other government offices in St. Cloud.

The Stearns County History Museum at stearns-museum.org also maintains historical archives that may be useful for older death research in the county.

Ordering a Stearns County Death Certificate

Death certificates for deaths in Stearns County can be obtained three ways: in person, by mail, or online.

Visiting the Stearns County Recorder's Office in St. Cloud in person is the fastest approach. Bring a valid photo ID, the full name of the deceased, the date of death, and payment. For certified copies, you must qualify under Minnesota Statute 144.225. Eligible persons include the spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, or legal representative of the deceased. If you do not qualify for a certified copy, you can request a noncertified one instead.

Mail requests can be sent to either Stearns County or to MDH. For MDH, use the application form at health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/docs/dcappia.pdf. Have it notarized before mailing. Send it with a copy of your 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 can process requests for any Stearns County death from 1908 forward.

Online orders go through VitalChek. The base fee is $13, plus a $7 standard or $17.50 rush service charge. Certificates arrive by mail. For faster turnaround, the county recorder's office in St. Cloud is the preferred option.

Types of Death Certificates Available

Minnesota death records come in two forms. Which type you need depends on your reason for requesting it.

A certified copy carries the official state seal and is accepted by courts, banks, insurance providers, and government agencies. You need this to settle an estate, transfer property, claim life insurance, or close accounts. The first certified copy is $13. Additional copies of the same record ordered at the same time cost $6 each. You must be an eligible person under Minn. Stat. 144.225 to receive a certified copy.

A noncertified copy does not carry the state seal and is available to anyone. It also costs $13. This type is useful for genealogy and family research but will not be accepted by most legal or financial institutions. If you are tracing family history, a noncertified copy is usually all you need.

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

Historical Death Records in Stearns County

For deaths before 1908, MDH has no records. State-level collection began that year. Earlier deaths must be traced through county files or historical archives.

The Minnesota Historical Society holds Stearns County death records on microfilm covering 1916 through 1982. This is a useful range for researching deaths that occurred in the early and mid-twentieth century. The Gale Family Library at MNHS is at 345 W Kellogg Blvd in St. Paul. Open Thursday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Call 651-259-3300. The MNHS death records guide at libguides.mnhs.org/vital/death describes the full scope of what they hold.

The Stearns County History Museum at stearns-museum.org also maintains local historical collections. Their archives may include obituary records, church death registers, and other sources that complement the MNHS microfilm collection. For deaths before 1916, the museum may be the better first contact for Stearns County research.

Online Search for Stearns County Deaths

You have several options for searching and ordering Stearns County death records without a visit to a government office.

The MDH online verification tool confirms whether a death record exists for a specific person. It covers deaths registered in Minnesota from 1997 to the present and returns basic identifying information. It does not issue a full copy of the record. Visit the MDH death records page to learn about this service.

Full certified or noncertified copies can be ordered through VitalChek. Pay by credit card and the certificate arrives by mail. Service fees of $7 standard or $17.50 rush apply on top of the $13 base cost. For deaths before 1997, a direct mail or in-person request to Stearns County or MDH is usually required. Contact MDH at 651-201-5970 or check the Stearns County vital statistics page at stearnscountyMN.gov/428/Vital-Statistics for local guidance.

Cities in Stearns County

St. Cloud is the county seat and largest city in Stearns County and the wider central Minnesota region.

Other communities in Stearns County include Sauk Centre, Sartell, Waite Park, Cold Spring, and Avon. Death records for all of these places are handled through the Stearns County Recorder's Office. Sartell is in both Stearns and Benton counties, so records for some Sartell deaths may be in Benton County.

Nearby Counties

These counties share a border with Stearns County. Check the location of the death to determine which county holds the record.