Steele County Death Records Search

Steele County death records are maintained by the county recorder in Owatonna and by the Minnesota Department of Health in St. Paul. This page explains how to request a death certificate for a death in Steele County, what the fees are, and where to find older records going back to the late 1800s.

Steele County Recorder's Office

The Steele County Recorder's Office in Owatonna is the local source for death certificates in the county. The office handles vital records requests and can be reached through the county website at co.steele.mn.us. Check the site for current hours and contact details before visiting or calling.

The county recorder holds death records from 1997 forward for all deaths registered in Minnesota, and also retains older records for deaths that occurred in Steele County going back to 1908. Before that year, the state did not have a centralized system, so older records may only exist at the county level or in historical collections. The Minnesota Department of Health maintains the statewide registry from 1908 to the present at health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/death.html.

Owatonna is the county seat and largest city in Steele County. The recorder's office there handles all vital records for the county, including death certificates, birth records, and marriage licenses.

The Steele County website gives you details on county services including the recorder. The screenshot below is from the county site at co.steele.mn.us.

Visit the Steele County website for current recorder office contact information and hours.

The county site is the best place to confirm details before you make a trip to the recorder's office in Owatonna.

The city of Owatonna also has its own website at ci.owatonna.mn.us with general city information. The screenshot below shows the city's web presence.

The city site can help you find directions to the courthouse and other services in Owatonna.

How to Request a Death Certificate

You can get a Steele County death certificate in person, by mail, or online. Here is how each method works.

In-person requests at the Steele County Recorder's Office in Owatonna are the fastest. Bring a valid photo ID, the full name of the person who died, the date of death, and payment. For a certified copy, you must be an eligible person under Minnesota Statute 144.225. The list of eligible people includes spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, and legal representatives. If you do not qualify, you can request a noncertified copy or show a legal need for a certified one.

For mail requests, use the MDH application form at health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/docs/dcappia.pdf. Get the form notarized before mailing. 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. You can also mail requests directly to the Steele County Recorder for deaths that occurred in the county.

Online orders go through VitalChek. The base fee is $13 plus a $7 standard or $17.50 rush service charge. The certificate is mailed to you. This is convenient but slower than visiting the county recorder in person.

Certified and Noncertified Records

Minnesota death certificates come in two types. The type you need depends on how you plan to use the record.

A certified copy has the official state seal. It is required for estate settlement, insurance claims, property transfers, and most legal or financial processes. The first certified copy costs $13. Additional copies of the same record ordered together cost $6 each. You must be eligible under Minn. Stat. 144.225 to obtain a certified copy.

A noncertified copy is open to anyone and also costs $13. It shows the same information as the certified copy but lacks the state seal. Banks and courts will not accept it as legal proof of death, but it works fine for genealogy, personal records, or family research.

If you are not sure which type applies to your situation, see the MDH eligibility page at health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/tangible.html.

Historical Records for Steele County

Deaths before 1908 are not in the MDH registry. For older records, you need to look at county archives or historical collections.

The Minnesota Historical Society holds Steele County death records on microfilm covering 1870 through 1993. That is a wide range covering more than a century of deaths in the county. The Gale Family Library at MNHS is at 345 W Kellogg Blvd in St. Paul. It is open Thursday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Phone is 651-259-3300. The death records guide at libguides.mnhs.org/vital/death explains the collection in detail and how to search it.

Local sources in Steele County, including the county recorder and local historical groups, may also hold church death registers, cemetery indexes, and other records that can supplement the MNHS microfilm collection. These are especially useful for deaths before 1870 or for records that were not captured in the main county register.

Online Death Record Search

Online tools allow you to search and order Steele County death records without visiting an office.

The MDH online verification service can confirm whether a death is recorded in the state system for deaths from 1997 to the present. It gives basic information but not a full copy. To learn more, visit the MDH death records page.

Full copies can be ordered through VitalChek. Both certified and noncertified copies are available online. Pay by credit card and the certificate arrives by mail within several business days. VitalChek service fees add to the base $13 cost. For deaths before 1997, online ordering through VitalChek may not work, and you will need to contact the county recorder or MDH directly. Call MDH at 651-201-5970 or check the Steele County website at co.steele.mn.us for local ordering information.

Cities in Steele County

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

No cities in Steele County meet the 100,000 population threshold for a dedicated city page. Owatonna is the county seat and largest city, with a population of around 25,000. Other communities include Blooming Prairie and Medford. Death records for all of these communities go through the county recorder.

Nearby Counties

These counties share a border with Steele County. Check where the death occurred if you are not sure which county holds the record.