Nevada Death Records and Death Index

It may surprise you to learn how often genealogists face this particular set of circumstances. They are aware of when their ancestor was born, when they may have married, when their children were born but they just can’t find out when they died.

There are a fair few instances where the only information missing is the death date which can be very frustrating. This is why knowing what death records may be available to you can be vital in your research.

It is important to note that one of the biggest issues in finding a death record can be looking in the wrong place. You may be surprised how often people miss records because they are looking in the wrong county and sometimes even the wrong state.

In this post we will be looking at Nevada state death records and indexes to try and help you find those elusive ancestors. So if you are confident that your ancestor likely died in the state of Nevada then read on and hopefully we can help you out.

About Nevada

Nevada is the 7^th largest state by area and was the 36^th to achieve statehood when it was admitted on October 31^st 1864. It is the fourth largest producer of gold in the world behind China, Australia and South Africa and ahead of states like Alaska who some might imagine produce more.

Known for its relaxed rules on gambling and prostitution approximately 85 percent of the land in Nevada itself is still government owned.

Social Security Death Index 1935 – 2014

All American citizens, naturalized immigrants and resident aliens require a Social Security number for proof of identification and authorization to work. This number follows us throughout our life and when we die this nine digit code is very important.

The Social Security Death Index (SSDI) is a database of death records that was compiled from the United States Social Security Administration Death Master File. This was until 2014 when the rules changed and public access to the Death Master File had to take place through a certification program.

Those researching the deaths of ancestors in this state will likely find that most people who have died between 1936 and 2014 can be found on the Social Security Death Index. This does however only hold true if the person had a Social Security number when they died.

It is estimated that since 1973 the SSDI recorded 93% to 96% of the deaths of individuals aged 65 or over. The index was updated frequently and by June of 2011 there were 89,835,920 records available.

The index can be found on websites such as FamilySearch and Ancestry.com and offers details such as:

• Given name and surname (middle initial since the 1990s)
• Date of birth
• Month and year of death (Full date of death for accounts active after 2000)
• Social Security number
• State or territory Social Security number was issued
• Last place of residence when alive including ZIP code

Click here to search Social Security Death Index 1935 – 2014

U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007

This is more or less an extension of the information you can find from the Social Security Death Index. It has been extracted from the SSDI records but features more details. It does not include all of the names found in the SSDI however but there are at least 49 million names included.

In this record you may find additional information such as:

• Date and place of birth
• Parents names if deceased would be over 75 when you are viewing the records (may be redacted if under 75)
• Citizenship status
• Gender
• Sometimes race or ethnic group

Click here to search U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007

Nevada Death Records, 1911-1965

This collection of records comes from Ancestry.com so it will require a paid membership to use and view fully although you can get basic search results without a subscription. Originally sourced from the Nevada Department of Health it covers all state reported deaths between 1911 – 1965.

The digital images from this collection can give you information such as:

• Name
• Age
• Birth date
• Birthplace
• Sex
• Race
• Address
• Death date, time, place, and cause
• Occupation
• Spouse’s name
• Father’s name
• Father’s birthplace
• Mother’s name
• Mother’s birthplace
• Marital status
• Informant’s name
• Details on accident or injury
• Burial location
• Funeral director

Click here to search Nevada Death Records, 1911-1965

Nevada Death Index, 1980-2012

Although the collection above will give you access to death certificate images up until 1965 it is of no help beyond that. Those looking for more recent records might find this index helpful from Archives.com.

This collection does not have death certificate images but does have the listed deaths between 1980 – 2012. In this information you can find the certificate number which will allow you to order a copy of the death record.

Note there is a charge for this website and Ancesty.com also has this same index on their site.

Click her to search Nevada Death Index, 1980-2012

Nevada: County Birth and Death Records, 1871-1992

This is an index of birth and death records from between 1871 – 1992 and can be found on FamilySearch. Created by the Utah based Church of Jesus Christ and Latter day Saints this website is free to use for those with a registered account.

There are registers and certificates that have been collected from both the state and county levels making for a large database of birth and death records. In total there are around 14,425 images as part of this database.

Click here to search Nevada: County Birth and Death Records, 1871-1992

County Specific Death Indexes, Obituaries and Cemeteries

There is a limited number of online collections stored at the county level in Nevada but there are at least some.

Conclusion

There are limited death records in Nevada although when it comes to state issued death certificates you do have some options for viewing a limited number of years' worth online in digital form. However, older death events may be more difficult to find.

Neil Edwards

Genealogist and family-tree research specialist

Neil was born in Shropshire, England surrounded by centuries of living history. His interest in the past has been a lifelong passion leading to undergraduate degrees in both Economic History & Geography and History & Politics.

This interest in history quickly translated to family history when he moved to the U.S. in 2010. It was here that he began working on his own family tree as well as that of his American wife. That research allowed him to gain a wealth of experience working with both U.S. and European genealogical documents and studying their best uses in researching family history.

Following 9 years of honing his genealogical research skills, Neil was proud to have earned a certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University in late 2019. Neil also took part in the research process for a Duke University study into the families of 19th Century UK Members of Parliament.

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