Find Death Records in Winona County

Winona County death records are filed through the county auditor-treasurer in Winona and through the Minnesota Department of Health in St. Paul. Winona is the county seat and sits along the Mississippi River in southeastern Minnesota. The county handles vital records for all deaths that occurred within Winona County, including the city of Winona and surrounding communities.

Winona County Vital Statistics Office

Winona County death records are handled through the auditor-treasurer's office. The county government website is at winonacounty.gov, and the vital statistics page is at winonacounty.gov/departments/auditor-treasurer/vital-statistics. Check the site for current hours, address, and phone number before visiting or mailing a request.

The county holds death records from 1997 forward for all deaths registered in Minnesota. For deaths that occurred specifically in Winona County before 1997, the county may retain records going back to 1908. Before that year, the state did not keep a centralized registry. Deaths from before 1908 may be found at the county level or through historical archives. The Minnesota Department of Health maintains the statewide registry from 1908 to the present at health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/death.html.

Winona is the county seat and the largest city in the county. The auditor-treasurer's office in Winona handles vital records for the entire county, including smaller communities like St. Charles, Lewiston, and Rushford.

The Winona County website provides information on county services. The screenshot below shows the county web presence at winonacounty.gov.

Visit the Winona County vital statistics page to confirm current contact details and hours before your visit or request.

The county site is the best place to get current information on how to request death certificates in person or by mail from the Winona office.

The Winona County Historical Society at winonahistory.org holds local historical records that can be useful for older death research in the county. Their collections include materials not held by the state.

Getting a Winona County Death Certificate

There are three ways to request a death certificate for a death in Winona County: in person, by mail, or online.

In-person visits to the Winona County Auditor-Treasurer's Office in Winona are the fastest method. Bring a valid photo ID, the full name of the person who died, the date of death, and payment. Certified copies require eligibility under Minnesota Statute 144.225. The law limits access to the spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, legal guardian, and authorized representatives of the deceased. Others can request a noncertified copy or must show a documented legal interest.

Mail requests go to the county or to MDH. For MDH, download and complete the application form at health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/docs/dcappia.pdf. Have it notarized before mailing. Include a copy of your ID and payment to: Minnesota Department of Health, P.O. Box 64882, St. Paul, MN 55164-0882. MDH handles all Winona County deaths from 1908 forward.

Online orders go through VitalChek. Fees are $13 base plus $7 standard or $17.50 rush. VitalChek mails the certificate. For faster results, the county office in Winona is the better choice.

Certified vs. Noncertified Records

Minnesota death certificates come in two types. You need to know which one fits your situation before applying.

Certified copies carry the official state seal and are legally recognized for estate work, insurance claims, property transfers, government filings, and other formal proceedings. The first certified copy costs $13. Additional copies of the same record ordered at the same time cost $6 each. Eligibility under Minn. Stat. 144.225 applies.

Noncertified copies do not carry the state seal. They are open to anyone and cost $13. They include the same data as certified copies but will not be accepted in most legal or financial settings. They are well suited to genealogy research and personal recordkeeping.

Review the MDH eligibility guide at health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/tangible.html if you are not sure which type to request or what documentation to include with a certified copy application.

Historical Records for Winona County

For deaths in Winona County before 1908, MDH has no records. The state registry started that year. Earlier deaths must be traced through county files or historical collections.

The Minnesota Historical Society in St. Paul holds the main archive for older death records across the state. The Gale Family Library at MNHS is at 345 W Kellogg Blvd. Open Thursday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Call 651-259-3300. Their death records guide at libguides.mnhs.org/vital/death covers the full scope of what they hold. For Winona County, MNHS statewide collections may include county registers and church records from the mid-1800s onward.

The Winona County Historical Society at winonahistory.org maintains local historical records. Their archives may include obituary collections, cemetery indexes, church death registers, and other sources that are not available through MNHS or the state. Contacting both MNHS and the Winona County Historical Society is the most thorough approach for pre-1908 research in this county.

Online Death Record Search

Several online options are available for Winona County death records without visiting an office.

The MDH online verification tool can confirm whether a death is registered in Minnesota from 1997 to the present. It returns basic identifying information but does not issue a full copy. Visit the MDH death records page to learn about this service.

To order a full copy online, use VitalChek. Certified and noncertified copies are both available. Pay by credit card and receive the certificate by mail. Service fees of $7 standard or $17.50 rush apply on top of the $13 base. For deaths before 1997, contact the Winona County auditor-treasurer at winonacounty.gov/departments/auditor-treasurer/vital-statistics or call MDH at 651-201-5970.

Cities in Winona County

Death records for all cities and towns in Winona County are filed through the county auditor-treasurer's office in Winona.

No cities in Winona County currently reach the 100,000 population threshold for a dedicated city page. Winona is the county seat and largest city, with a population of around 25,000. Other communities include St. Charles, Lewiston, Rushford, and Houston. Death records for all of these areas go through the Winona County office.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Winona County. If you are not certain which county holds the record you need, start with where the death occurred.