Plymouth Death Records

Plymouth obituary records and death certificates are filed with Hennepin County, which serves as the local registrar for deaths in the city. Researchers can get certified death certificates through Hennepin County, search the free MDH online death index, and find historical obituaries through the Plymouth Historical Society and Hennepin County Library collections.

Hennepin County Vital Records

Plymouth is part of Hennepin County, so death records for the city go through Hennepin County Vital Records. The nearest service center for Plymouth residents is the Ridgedale office at 12601 Ridgedale Drive, Minnetonka, MN. The main county office is at 300 South Sixth Street, Minneapolis. Both offices issue certified death certificates. The county phone number is 612-348-8240.

Certified copies cost $13 for the first copy and $6 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Bring valid photo ID. The county handles in-person and mail requests. Current forms and hours are at Hennepin County Vital Records. For deaths before 1908, you will need to check historical archives. Call 612-348-8240 to confirm what documentation is needed before you visit.

Minnesota Death Search Index

The Minnesota Department of Health runs a free statewide death index online. It covers deaths registered in Minnesota from 1908 through 2001. Search by name to see the date and county of death. This confirms whether a record exists and gives you the details to order a certified copy.

Use the index at MDH Death Search Index. After finding the record, you can order through Hennepin County or MDH. MDH charges $13 per certified certificate. The MDH Vital Records death page has ordering instructions. The MDH County Registrar Directory lists all county offices. No account is needed to search the index.

The MDH death records help page walks through the steps for ordering a certified death certificate for Plymouth and other Hennepin County residents.

Plymouth Historical Society

The Plymouth Historical Society preserves local history for the Plymouth area. Their website is at Plymouth Historical Society. Historical society collections typically include obituary clippings, cemetery records, church registers, and local newspaper files. For deaths that occurred in Plymouth many decades ago, the historical society may hold materials that are not available through official county or state records.

Contacting the historical society is particularly useful when records are incomplete or when you are researching deaths before statewide registration began in 1908. Local history organizations often know about community cemeteries, church records, and other resources specific to the area that are not widely documented elsewhere.

The MNHS obituary request service at MNHS Library Research Services can locate published obituaries from historical Minnesota newspapers when you know approximate dates and the name of the person. Fees vary by service type and the number of papers searched.

The MNHS research service is a practical option for Plymouth researchers who cannot visit the MNHS library in person and need a specific obituary clipping from historical Twin Cities metro newspapers.

Hennepin County Library - Plymouth Branch

The Hennepin County Library Plymouth branch serves residents of the city and surrounding area. Library cardholders get free access to genealogy databases at any branch location, including Ancestry Library Edition, Fold3, and ProQuest Obituaries. The Plymouth branch is described at HCLib Plymouth, and the full genealogy collection guide is at Hennepin County Library Genealogy.

Library branches also hold microfilm for newspapers not yet digitized online and may carry local history materials including city directories. City directories help confirm where residents lived at specific times and can point you toward the right county or town for a death record search. Reference staff can point you to the right collections for your particular research question.

Newspaper Obituaries

Plymouth residents are covered by Twin Cities metro newspapers, particularly the Star Tribune. The Star Tribune serves the western suburbs and publishes obituaries for the entire Hennepin County area. Current obituaries are at Star Tribune Obituaries. For historical notices, the MNHS Digital Newspaper Hub has digitized Minnesota newspapers going back to the 1800s. The hub is at MNHS Digital Newspaper Hub.

Published obituaries usually list surviving family members, the funeral home, and community affiliations. This detail helps connect a death record to the broader family. Checking newspaper obituaries alongside official records gives you more to work with than either source alone.

Minnesota Historical Society

The Minnesota Historical Society holds statewide collections relevant to Plymouth and western Hennepin County. The People Search tool at MNHS People Search searches cemetery records, church registers, and digitized newspapers all at once. For deaths before 1908, MNHS collections are the primary source for many researchers. Church records at MNHS can document deaths in the Plymouth area going back well before official state registration started.

How to Request Plymouth Death Records

Getting a certified death certificate for a Plymouth resident is straightforward once you know the process.

• Check the online index: Use the free MDH Death Search Index to confirm the record (1908-2001).
• Visit Hennepin County: The Ridgedale office at 12601 Ridgedale Drive, Minnetonka is nearest to Plymouth. Bring photo ID and $13 for one copy.
• Request by mail: Get the form from MDH Vital Records and mail with payment and a copy of your ID.
• Call for help: Reach Hennepin County at 612-348-8240 for questions about hours or what to bring.

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 current eligibility rules. Mail requests take one to three weeks in most cases.

Nearby Cities

These nearby qualifying cities also have obituary record pages.

Hennepin County Records

Plymouth is in Hennepin County. All Plymouth death records are filed with Hennepin County Vital Records. Visit the county page for full details on countywide records.