Bringing death in a conversation is not always possible for some people as it is an uncomfortable matter. It becomes more difficult if you don't know a dead person personally. But there are some ways to get to know if someone has passed away. In this article, we will explain how to find out if someone died in the defined ways. 

Try PeopleFinderFree

PeopleFinderFree is a basic people search that has a procedure to find out how someone died. Through its people search feature, it is easier to put personal details of the loved one you are looking for.

You need to just enter the name and get instant results on your screen. PeopleFinderFree tool skims through all the online records like social media, blogs, court records, and much more to give original and valuable data. You can use this tool to find relatives or friends who have died. 

Check Online Obituaries

Searching for online obituaries is the first solution to how do I find out if someone has died. There are online websites to see recent obituaries and historical ones. An online obituary is the written announcement of anyone's death and involves identifiers such as family, accomplishments, members, etc. 

Obituaries are usually published on big news sites or digital memorials. Family members share the death announcements on the online obituary publisher, which broadens the local community to know about death. That is how you can try online obituaries with a search feature to look for a specific name. 

Social Security Death Index (SSDI)

SSDI is the commercial name for the Death Master File generated by the United States Social Security Administration. It is the index of deceased persons whose deaths were reported to the organization. 

The index includes fewer deaths from 1937 to 1961. About 50 percent of the deaths from 1962 to 1971, and 85 percent of deaths from 1972 to 2005. The Social Security Administration monthly updates the Death index. The index will provide you with records with first and last name, birth date, year, state, Social Security number, etc.

Search Social Media

Social media can be a great tool to search for confirming whether a person has passed or not. People use many platforms like Instagram or Facebook to post memorials or announce a death in the family or friends. You need to scroll through the profiles of that person's closest friends and family members to find out if someone has passed away. 

Another approach to use social media to verify the death of someone is to look at the profile of someone you believe has died. After a person dies, family and close friends often flock to the person's profile to give honor through writings.

Use a Genealogy or Historical Site

For searching for older death, social media and online website searches are not a good option. At that moment, you need a different approach to find someone who died decades or centuries ago. For heading to a genealogy website, you need data from past years, including an index of burials, cemeteries, etc.

Following are a few options.

  • Genealogy Website: The most effortless way is a genealogy website, which usually charges a subscription fee for their database usage. 
  • Historical Societies: Historical societies give free access to research tools and their databases.

Look for Government Records

Looking for government records can be a time-consuming task, but you might get surprising information. Most governments give you digital access to records if you know information about the dead person. It is possible to find an online record if a person died in the past 50 years. However, it is challenging to find the exact record in a country other than the U.S.

Do search for terms like 'Death Index' or 'Death Records' with the country or state of the dead person. One should know the possible information such as name, date of death, or place of death.

Search Newspapers

The people who are less technical savvy can use newspapers to announce the death of their loved ones. Many families publish the memorials through newspapers, which might be only the death record that is available publically. 

You need to search the specific newspaper websites if you know where the person died. In case there is no website, contact the newspaper via email or phone and ask for the record of a specific person. Nowadays, modern newspapers and smaller publications have some sort of online search tool.

Visit the Local Courthouse

In some cases, online research for how to find out if someone passed away can get you so far. Now, this is the time to do hands-on research. Start the process from the local courthouse in the area of a dead person. The courthouse should have all the records that are related to the death of an individual. 

It would contain information about testaments, wills, or any estate if a person left behind to his family. Most of the courts charge a minimal fee for the records and the copies made on your behalf. However, some courts provide online facilities to access the records.

Calling the clerk's office to ask about the dead person's details is also a common way to know how to find out how someone died. 

Talk to Family Members

Another solution to find answers about how do I find out if someone died is to talk to their family members. They have personal insights into death and can tell better.

You need to learn about the best sympathy messages as they might not be able to speak in person after losing a loved one. If you don't know about the relatives of a dead person, then try to connect them on social media. Make the whole situation easier with a simple introduction first.

Go to an Archive Facility

One in-person way to get information about the death of a person is to visit an Archive Facility. Every state, country, and city has its own Archive Facility. Here you will get your hands done on historical information, public records, and other documents that will assist you in finding the information.

Check the archive websites or visit yourself where researchers are available to help you. Archive Facility is the best option to search for historical or older deaths. 

Tips for Finding Out If Someone is Died

Death is a difficult topic, so you should be aware of a few things before you begin your search on how to find out when someone died. In this part, we will explain a few tips that will help you, especially when you don't have a personal relationship with the dead person.

  • Be respectful to those who passed on and their families. You need to know while speaking with relatives or loved ones on social media exactly.
  • Use a polite tone to offer your condolences to the family members and friends.
  • While details of the deceased can be available publically, you have no access to how the person died. This is something the family should share with you.
  • If you want instant results, then consider a premium service. It is the fastest and easiest way to get to know about a dead person by paying fees to an online search service. 

FAQs

Here are the answers to the frequently asked questions about the United States Death Records.

1. What Information Does a Death Record Include?

The gathered information from the county and state officials varies from each state. The information may include:

  • Name of a Dead Person
  • Date and Place of Death
  • Age at Death
  • Cause of Death
  • Marital Status

2. Why Would I Want to Search for a Death Record?

Searching for a death record will provide you the date and place of death. It gives access to birth date and place, parents' names to extend generation and county or state of the dead person's parents' birthplace. 

3. Is There a National Database for Death Records?

The National Death Index is a national database that contains over 100 million death records. It assists you in finding out the deceased one's details by linking your own research. NDI encourages the submission of the possible data items to match the death records with user records.

Conclusion

Searching for a loved person's death record can be a tricky and difficult task. This article has explained several ways to determine how to find out if someone died. Conduct your own research, use social media or avail an option of premium service to get help in your searching process. Moreover, you can avail the best in-person resources to seek help in finding the data you need.

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