Duluth Obituary Records

Duluth obituary records and death certificates are maintained by St. Louis County and the Minnesota Department of Health, with additional historical resources available through the St. Louis County Historical Society, the Iron Range Research Center, and local newspaper archives. This page explains how to find death records for people who lived or died in Duluth.

St. Louis County Vital Records

Deaths in Duluth are recorded with St. Louis County. The St. Louis County Recorder's office handles vital records and is located at 100 North Fifth Avenue West, Room 101, Duluth, MN 55802. You can call them at 218-726-2559. The recorder's office issues certified death certificates for deaths filed in St. Louis County. Full details on their services are at St. Louis County Recorder.

A certified death certificate costs $13 for the first copy and $6 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. You must provide valid photo ID when requesting records in person. The office also accepts mail requests. Call 218-726-2559 before your visit to confirm current hours and any documentation requirements. The recorder holds records going back to the early 1900s. For older records, the St. Louis County Historical Society and other archives are your best options.

The MDH county registrar directory lists St. Louis County's vital records office contact information and helps you confirm where to request Duluth death certificates.

Minnesota Death Search Index

The Minnesota Department of Health provides a free online death index covering deaths registered statewide from 1908 through 2001. You can search by name and see the date of death and county of record. This is not a certified copy, but it confirms that a record exists and helps you gather the details needed to place an order.

The index is at MDH Death Search Index. Once you find the entry, you can order a certified copy from MDH or from St. Louis County. MDH charges $13 for a certified death certificate. Ordering instructions are on the MDH Vital Records death page. The full list of county registrar offices is at MDH County Registrar Directory.

The MDH Death Search Index covers Duluth death records from 1908 through 2001 and is free to use online without creating an account.

St. Louis County Historical Society

The St. Louis County Historical Society (also known as The History People) is a key resource for Duluth genealogy and death research. Their office is at 506 W Michigan Street, Duluth, MN 55802, in the same building as the St. Louis County Heritage and Arts Center. Their website is at St. Louis County Historical Society.

The historical society holds local history materials including cemetery records, church registers, obituary clippings, and newspapers. For deaths before 1908, when Minnesota began statewide death registration, the society's collections are often the primary source. They hold materials that go back to the mid-1800s and cover not just Duluth but the broader St. Louis County area. Staff can guide you through what is available and point you to the right collections for your research.

Iron Range Research Center

The Iron Range Research Center in Chisholm, Minnesota is one of the best genealogy resources in northeastern Minnesota. While based north of Duluth, the center holds records relevant to many Duluth residents who had ties to the Iron Range communities. Their collections include vital records, obituaries, naturalization records, and newspaper files from across the region. The center's website is at Iron Range Research Center.

If you are researching someone who worked in the mining industry or had family in Iron Range communities, the center may hold relevant death records and obituary materials. Many Duluth residents came from Iron Range backgrounds, and the center's collections can fill gaps that county records do not cover.

Duluth News Tribune Obituaries

The Duluth News Tribune is the city's main daily newspaper. It publishes obituaries for Duluth and the broader northeastern Minnesota region. Current and recent obituaries are available online at Duluth News Tribune Obituaries. For historical notices, the Minnesota Historical Society holds digitized and microfilm copies of Duluth-area newspapers going back many decades.

Newspaper obituaries can tell you things that a death certificate cannot. They name surviving relatives, describe where the person lived, list the funeral home, and sometimes give cause of death. For genealogy research, a newspaper obituary and an official death certificate together give you much more to work with than either source alone.

University of Minnesota Duluth Archives

The University of Minnesota Duluth holds archival collections at the Kathryn A. Martin Library. Their archives at UMD Archives include local and regional history materials for northeastern Minnesota. While not a primary source for death certificates, UMD archives hold newspapers, organization records, and other materials that can help you trace individuals who lived in Duluth. These collections supplement what you find at the county and historical society.

Minnesota Historical Society

The Minnesota Historical Society holds statewide collections with good coverage of northern Minnesota and Duluth. Their People Search at MNHS People Search queries multiple databases at once. MNHS holds church records, cemetery files, and digitized newspapers from across the state. The Digital Newspaper Hub at MNHS Newspapers includes Duluth-area papers from various periods. For deaths before 1908, MNHS is often the most comprehensive source available.

How to Get Duluth Death Records

Getting a death certificate for a Duluth resident follows straightforward steps once you know where to go.

• Check the online index: The free MDH Death Search Index covers 1908-2001. Start here to confirm the record.
• In person at St. Louis County: Visit 100 North Fifth Ave West, Room 101, Duluth, with photo ID and $13 for one copy.
• By mail through MDH: Get the form from MDH Vital Records and mail it with payment and a copy of your ID.
• Historical records: Contact the St. Louis County Historical Society or Iron Range Research Center for records older than 1908 or for supplemental materials.

Certified copies go to immediate family members and others with a documented need under Minnesota Statute 144.225. The county office at 218-726-2559 can answer questions about eligibility and processing times. Mail requests typically take one to three weeks.

Nearby Cities

Duluth is the largest city in northeastern Minnesota. Other qualifying Minnesota cities with obituary record pages are listed below.

St. Louis County Records

Duluth is the county seat of St. Louis County. All Duluth death records are filed with St. Louis County. Visit the county page for more information on countywide records and access.