Hubbard County Death Records
Hubbard County obituary records and death certificates are available through the county recorder in Park Rapids and through Minnesota state agencies. This north-central Minnesota county has maintained death records for over a century, and anyone searching for a Hubbard County death notice, historical obituary, or certified death certificate can find help through the local recorder's office, the Minnesota Department of Health, and the Minnesota Historical Society.
Hubbard County Overview
Hubbard County Recorder
The Hubbard County Recorder's office is the local source for death records and vital records in the county. The office is at 301 Court Avenue in Park Rapids. You can reach them at 218-732-5286. The recorder handles requests for death certificates and can tell you what records are on file and how to get copies. The recorder's page at co.hubbard.mn.us/recorder has current details on hours and the request process.
Minnesota law under section 144.225 of the state statutes makes non-certified death record copies available to the public. Certified copies carry more legal weight and are needed for estate and financial matters. Under section 144.226, the fee for a certified death certificate is $13 for the first copy and $6 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Bring a valid photo ID when you visit in person, and include a copy when mailing your request.
| Office | Hubbard County Recorder |
|---|---|
| Address | 301 Court Avenue, Park Rapids, MN 56470 |
| Phone | 218-732-5286 |
| Website | co.hubbard.mn.us - Recorder |
| Death Cert Fee | $13 first copy, $6 each additional |
The recorder's office website below shows the current Hubbard County recorder information and services available for death record requests.
Check the county site for any updates to hours or document requirements before you visit or mail your request.
Searching Hubbard County Death Records Online
The Minnesota Department of Health offers a free statewide death search index at health.state.mn.us/deathsearch. This tool covers deaths recorded from 1997 through the present and is a fast way to confirm a recent death in Hubbard County or find a basic death year. The search returns name matches with the year and county of death. It does not give you the full certificate, but it helps you confirm you have the right record before ordering a certified copy.
Full ordering details for certified copies are on the MDH vital records page at health.state.mn.us/death. The MDH county registrar directory at health.state.mn.us/registrars lists Hubbard County contact details along with other counties statewide.
For deaths before 1997, the online MDH index will not have a record. You will need to turn to historical sources like the Minnesota Historical Society or local county records.
MNHS Historical Death Records for Hubbard County
The Minnesota Historical Society People Search at mnhs.org/search/people is the main online resource for historical Minnesota death records, including Hubbard County. The index covers deaths from 1908 through 2001, which accounts for most of the twentieth century. You can search by name and get basic death data. This is a free public resource that requires no account to use.
MNHS also holds older death cards from 1904 to 1907. These predate the formal statewide vital records system. The MNHS death records help page at mnhs.org/about/deathrecords explains the scope of each collection and how to access non-digitized materials through their research staff.
The MNHS Newspaper Hub at mnhs.org/newspapers/hub includes digitized Minnesota newspapers, some of which covered Hubbard County and the Park Rapids area. Local papers published obituary notices that often contain details about family members, causes of death, and burial locations that official records do not always capture. Searching old newspapers can add important context to a death record search.
FamilySearch at familysearch.org explains what Minnesota death records are available through their free platform and how they connect to MNHS collections. Some Minnesota death indexes are searchable through FamilySearch at no cost.
Hubbard County Historical Society and Local Resources
The Hubbard County Historical Society at hubbardcountyhistory.org operates a local history center with archival materials. Local historical societies often hold cemetery records, old newspaper clippings, and obituary files that never made it into statewide databases. If you are researching someone who lived in the Park Rapids area or rural Hubbard County, the historical society is worth contacting directly.
MNGenWeb's Hubbard County page at hubbard.mngenweb.net provides free genealogy resources compiled by volunteers. The site links to transcribed local records, cemetery indexes, and death-related data. Many researchers find MNGenWeb useful because it pulls scattered local resources together and is free to use with no account needed.
How to Get Hubbard County Death Certificates
To get a certified death certificate for a death that occurred in Hubbard County, start with the county recorder's office in Park Rapids. You can visit in person during office hours or mail your request with a completed form, a copy of your photo ID, and payment. The recorder can tell you what documentation is needed based on your relationship to the deceased.
You can also request certificates through the Minnesota Department of Health directly. The MDH processes statewide death record orders and can handle requests for Hubbard County deaths. Non-certified copies of death records are public under section 144.225 and are often used for genealogy purposes. Certified copies have eligibility rules but are available to immediate family, legal representatives, and others with a legal interest in the record.
- In person at the Hubbard County Recorder in Park Rapids
- By mail to the county recorder with ID and payment
- Through the MDH vital records office statewide
- Historical records via MNHS People Search (1908-2001)
- Free death index search at MDH for deaths from 1997 forward
Cities in Hubbard County
Hubbard County includes Park Rapids and several small communities. No cities in the county meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page. All death record requests for the county go through the Hubbard County Recorder in Park Rapids.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Hubbard County and each maintain their own death records and vital records offices.