Search Murray County Obituary Records

Murray County obituary records and death records are maintained at the county recorder's office in Slayton and through the Minnesota Department of Health, which operates a free online death index and issues certified death certificates statewide. This page explains how to search and request death records in Murray County, including historical sources for genealogical research going back to the 1870s.

Murray County Recorder's Office

The Murray County Recorder's Office in Slayton handles death certificates and other vital records for the county. Certified copies of death certificates are used for legal purposes such as settling estates, applying for survivor benefits, and transferring property. The cost is $13 for the first certified copy and $6 for each additional copy when ordered at the same time. Bring a valid photo ID when visiting in person, and be ready to provide the full name of the deceased, approximate date of death, and county of death.

Mail-in requests should include a completed request form, a photocopy of your ID, and a check or money order made out to Murray County. Call the office to confirm current processing times before sending your request, since wait times vary depending on workload.

Minnesota Death Search Index

The Minnesota Department of Health provides a free online death index that covers all deaths registered in Minnesota since 1908. The MDH Death Search Index is searchable by name and filterable by county. Filtering for Murray County narrows results and makes it faster to find the right record. Results include the name of the deceased, date and county of death, and the death certificate number. Cause of death and family details are not shown in the index.

Checking the MDH index first is a smart step before contacting any office. It confirms that the death is in the state system and provides the certificate number, which you'll need when ordering a full copy. Deaths from the past 50 years have restricted access. Certified copies of those records typically require proof of a qualifying relationship with the deceased. Records older than 50 years are more widely accessible.

The MDH death index covers all 87 Minnesota counties, including Murray County, and is available free to the public at any time of day.

Minnesota Historical Society Records

For historical death research in Murray County, the Minnesota Historical Society is one of the best resources available. MNHS holds newspaper archives from southwestern Minnesota communities, church registers, cemetery surveys, probate records, and other documents that contain death information not available through official vital records. For deaths before 1908, when state registration requirements weren't yet in place, MNHS collections are often the most productive source.

Use the MNHS People Search to look for individuals across multiple record types at the same time. The MNHS death records guide explains what kinds of records are held and offers advice for finding difficult-to-locate death information. In-person research at the MNHS library in St. Paul is available for collections that aren't fully digitized.

Murray County Historical Society

The Murray County Historical Society preserves local historical records that may include obituary clippings, funeral home documents, and cemetery surveys compiled over many years. For deep genealogical research in the county, the historical society often holds materials not found in state systems, particularly for early settlement-era deaths from the 1870s through the early 1900s. Visit murraycountyhistory.org to find out what's available and how to contact staff.

Digitized historical newspapers are another strong source. Slayton and other Murray County communities had local papers that published detailed obituaries over many decades. The MNHS Digital Newspaper Hub provides access to these digitized papers, letting you search for names and find full obituary text that includes survivor names, church memberships, and burial details not captured in official records.

Digitized papers from Slayton and surrounding Murray County communities in the MNHS newspaper archive provide researchers with access to obituaries published over more than a century.

MNGenWeb Genealogy Resources

The Murray County MNGenWeb project at murray.mngenweb.net is a free volunteer site that compiles genealogical records specific to Murray County. You'll find cemetery transcriptions, obituary indexes, and links to other local research resources. The site is maintained by volunteers who are familiar with the county's history and add records over time. It's a useful supplement to state and county official sources.

The FamilySearch Minnesota Vital Records guide provides an overview of what's available statewide and where to access it. FamilySearch has digitized many Minnesota death records and makes them searchable at no cost. This can be especially helpful when tracing individuals who moved between Murray County and nearby counties in southwestern Minnesota.

The Murray County MNGenWeb site offers county-specific genealogical resources including cemetery data, obituary indexes, and research links compiled by local volunteers.

How to Get Death Records in Murray County

Certified copies of death certificates for Murray County can be requested from the county recorder's office in Slayton or from the Minnesota Department of Health. The MDH death records page explains the request process, eligibility requirements, fees, and processing times. MDH can issue certified copies for any Minnesota death record, not just those filed in Murray County.

If your research is for genealogy rather than legal purposes, informational copies may be available with fewer restrictions. Confirm with the office what document type fits your situation before submitting payment. To find the right county contact, use the MDH County Registrar Directory. State access rules for death records are defined in Minnesota Statute 144.225.

The MDH vital records guide covers each step of the death certificate request process, including how to submit a mail request and what identification is required for Murray County records.

Nearby Counties

Murray County is in southwestern Minnesota and borders several counties, each with its own recorder's office and death record system.