Access Burnsville Obituary Records

Burnsville obituary records and death certificates are handled by Dakota County, which serves as the local registrar for deaths that occur in the city. This page explains how to find death records for Burnsville residents through Dakota County, the free MDH online death index, the Burnsville Historical Society, and newspaper archives.

Dakota County Vital Records

Burnsville is in Dakota County. All death records for the city are filed with Dakota County Vital Records. The main Dakota County office is at 1590 Highway 55, Hastings, MN. There is also a northern service center at 1 Mendota Rd. W., West St. Paul, phone 651-554-6531, which may be more convenient for some Burnsville residents. The main county vital records number is 651-438-4312.

Certified copies cost $13 for the first copy and $6 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Bring valid photo ID when requesting records in person. Both offices process in-person and mail requests. Visit Dakota County Vital Records for current forms and hours. Call 651-438-4312 before visiting to confirm what you need to bring and how long processing takes.

The City of Burnsville website provides community resources and directions to Dakota County vital records services for death certificate requests.

Minnesota Death Search Index

The Minnesota Department of Health runs a free online death index for deaths registered statewide from 1908 through 2001. You can search by name and see the date and county of death. The index confirms whether a record exists before you travel to the county office or mail a request.

The index is at MDH Death Search Index. Once you find the record, you can order a certified copy from Dakota County or from MDH. MDH charges $13 per certified certificate. Full ordering instructions are at MDH Vital Records. The MDH County Registrar Directory lists all county offices statewide. No account is needed to use the index.

Burnsville Historical Society

The Burnsville Historical Society maintains local history materials for the city. Their website is at Burnsville Historical Society. Local historical societies keep obituary clippings from area newspapers, cemetery records, church registers, and other materials that document lives in the community. For someone who died in Burnsville decades ago and whose record is incomplete in official sources, the historical society may have materials that fill the gaps.

Staff and volunteers there can often suggest other local sources not listed in any statewide database. If you are researching a Burnsville family from the mid-1900s or earlier, contacting the historical society is worth doing.

The Burnsville Historical Society holds local history materials that complement official death records and can help researchers trace Burnsville residents across many decades.

Dakota County Historical Society

The Dakota County Historical Society covers the full county including Burnsville. Their website is at Dakota County Historical Society. The society maintains cemetery files, church records, obituary clippings, and genealogy materials going back to the earliest years of settlement. For Burnsville deaths before 1908, the historical society is one of the best sources available. Staff can help you navigate collections and identify the right records for your research.

Newspaper Obituaries

Burnsville residents appear in Twin Cities south metro newspapers and in the Star Tribune, which covers the full metro area. Current Star Tribune obituaries are at Star Tribune Obituaries. For historical notices, the MNHS Digital Newspaper Hub at MNHS Newspapers provides free access to digitized Minnesota papers going back to the 1800s, with coverage of Dakota County-area publications.

Newspaper obituaries carry details that certified death records do not include. They name surviving family members, list the funeral home, and describe where the person lived and was involved in the community. For genealogy research, checking both newspaper archives and official records gives you the most complete picture of who the person was.

Minnesota Historical Society

The Minnesota Historical Society holds statewide collections that cover Dakota County and the south metro area well. Their People Search at MNHS People Search searches cemetery records, church registers, and digitized newspapers at the same time. For Burnsville deaths before 1908, MNHS collections are typically the best available source. Church records and cemetery ledgers at MNHS can document deaths in the area going back to early settlement.

How to Get Burnsville Death Records

Here are the steps to get a certified death certificate for a Burnsville resident.

• Check the index first: Use the free MDH Death Search Index to confirm the record exists (1908-2001).
• Visit Dakota County: The northern service center at 1 Mendota Rd. W., West St. Paul (651-554-6531) or the main office at 1590 Highway 55, Hastings. Bring photo ID and $13 for one copy.
• Request by mail: Get the form from MDH Vital Records and mail it with payment and a copy of your ID.
• Call ahead: Reach the main Dakota County office at 651-438-4312 with questions about hours and documentation.

Under Minnesota Statute 144.225, certified copies go to immediate family members, legal representatives, and others with a direct need. The county office can explain eligibility requirements when you call. Mail requests take about one to three weeks.

Nearby Cities

These nearby qualifying cities also have obituary record pages.

Dakota County Records

Burnsville is in Dakota County. All Burnsville death records are filed with Dakota County Vital Records. Visit the county page for full details on countywide records and how to access them.