Redwood County Obituary Records

Redwood County obituary records and death certificates are held at the county recorder's office in Redwood Falls, with death records dating back to 1869 and birth records to 1864. Searching these records gives you access to some of the oldest vital records in southwestern Minnesota. The county recorder, the Minnesota Department of Health, and the Minnesota Historical Society all maintain collections that can help you find information on a deceased person. Local newspaper archives and the Redwood County Historical Society add depth for genealogy research going back over 150 years.

Redwood County Recorder - Vital Records Office

The Redwood County Recorder is the local office that handles death certificates and vital records for the county. You can request certified copies of death certificates in person or by mail. Staff can help you find records and guide you through the request process. The office is open during regular business hours on weekdays.

The county recorder works alongside the Minnesota Department of Health as a local vital records registrar. For deaths that occurred in Redwood County, the recorder is your fastest in-person option. Mail requests are accepted; include a check or money order and a copy of your ID. Processing times vary, but most requests are handled within a few business days.

Redwood County's records are notable for their age. Deaths recorded from 1869 and births from 1864 make this one of the earlier-starting county vital records collections in southwestern Minnesota. If you are searching for ancestors who lived in the county during the late 1800s, the recorder's office is the right first stop. Staff can often tell you whether a specific year's records are available and in what condition.

The county recorder's office also holds information on the Redwood County recorder page about what documents are needed to request a record. You will generally need to provide the full name of the deceased, the approximate date of death, and your relationship to the person.

This view of the Redwood County recorder resources shows the range of vital records available locally, including death and birth certificates going back to the 1860s.

Minnesota Death Search Index - Free Online Search

The Minnesota Department of Health runs a free online death search index that covers deaths statewide, including Redwood County. This tool is the quickest way to check whether a death was registered in the state and to get basic identifying information. It does not give you a full certificate, but it tells you the name, date, and county of death.

You can access the MDH death search at health.state.mn.us - death search index. The index includes deaths from 1908 forward. For deaths before 1908, you will need to contact the county recorder or the Minnesota Historical Society directly. The MDH index is useful for confirming dates and county before you order a certified copy.

Once you find a record in the index, you can order a certified copy through the MDH vital records office or through the local county recorder. The MDH vital records page at health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/death.html explains the process in detail, including what forms of ID are accepted and how to submit a mail request.

The MDH online death index is free and open to the public, making it a practical first step before ordering a certified copy from the county or state.

Minnesota Historical Society Records

The Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) holds a wide range of death-related records that complement what you find at the county recorder. Their collections include early death registers, funeral home records, church records, and newspaper obituary files. For Redwood County, the MNHS is especially useful for records from before 1900 and for finding obituaries published in local papers.

Start with the MNHS People Search tool at mnhs.org/search/people. This free tool indexes names across many MNHS collections. You can also read about their death records specifically at mnhs.org - about death records, which explains what types of records they hold and how to access them.

The MNHS Digital Newspaper Hub at mnhs.org/newspapers/hub is one of the most useful tools for finding published obituaries. Many Redwood County newspapers have been digitized and can be searched by name. Obituaries from local papers often include information about survivors, the church service, and the place of burial, details that do not appear in a death certificate.

The MNHS newspaper hub gives you searchable access to historical Redwood County papers, where published obituaries often contain family details not found in official records.

Redwood County Historical Society

The Redwood County Historical Society maintains local collections focused on the county's past. Their holdings include old newspapers, family files, photographs, and records that relate to births, deaths, and family history in the area. If you are doing genealogy research on a Redwood County family, contacting the historical society can open up sources that are not available anywhere else.

Visit the Redwood County Historical Society at redwoodcountyhistory.org to learn more about their collections and how to access them. Some records may require an in-person visit. The society also maintains connections with local churches, cemeteries, and other groups that have kept their own records over the years.

Local funeral homes are another source worth checking. Many Redwood County funeral homes have kept detailed records going back many decades, and some have shared records with the historical society or local libraries. If a death occurred decades ago, the funeral home's records may include information about the family that is not in any public database.

MNGenWeb Genealogy Resources

The Redwood County MNGenWeb project is a volunteer genealogy site with free resources focused on the county. It provides links to cemetery records, family histories, digitized documents, and other local genealogy tools. The site is a good starting point if you are new to researching Redwood County family history.

Access the Redwood County MNGenWeb at redwood.mngenweb.net. Volunteers maintain indexes of local records and can sometimes help you find sources you would not find on your own. The site also links to FamilySearch resources at familysearch.org - Minnesota Vital Records, which holds a large collection of digitized Minnesota death and birth records.

FamilySearch has indexed many early Minnesota vital records and made them free to search online. For Redwood County, this means you may be able to find death records from the late 1800s and early 1900s without making a trip to the county or state offices. Always verify what you find with a certified copy if you need the record for legal purposes.

How to Get Redwood County Death Records

Getting a death record in Redwood County is straightforward. You have a few options depending on what you need and how quickly you need it.

For a certified copy, contact the Redwood County Recorder at 507-637-4032 or visit the office at 403 S Mill St, Redwood Falls. You can also order through the MDH vital records office by mail. Certified copies are the legal form required for settling estates, claiming benefits, or other official purposes. The fee is $13 for the first copy and $6 for each additional copy ordered at the same time.

For informational copies or genealogy research, the MDH online death index, MNHS collections, and MNGenWeb are all free and do not require you to prove a relationship to the deceased. These sources are best for confirming dates, finding published obituaries, or building out a family tree. Keep in mind that informational copies are not valid for legal use.

A list of local vital records registrars, including the Redwood County Recorder, is available at health.state.mn.us - county registrar directory. This page gives contact information for all county offices and explains how the state and county systems work together. Under Minnesota Statute 144.225, death records are restricted to close relatives and legal representatives for the first 50 years after death, after which they become public records.

The MDH vital records guide walks you through the steps for ordering a certified death certificate, whether you go through the state office or the local Redwood County recorder.

Nearby Counties

Redwood County borders several other southwestern Minnesota counties. Death records for families who moved between these areas may be split across multiple county offices.