Access Everett Obituary Records
Everett obituary records are kept at the City Clerk's office on Broadway in the heart of the city. If you need to search for a death record or get a copy of a death certificate for someone who died in Everett, the clerk's office is the place to start. You can also look into state-level databases that hold Everett death records going back to 1841. The Massachusetts Archives and the Registry of Vital Records both have Everett records on file, so there are multiple ways to track down what you need. This page walks through every option for finding obituary records in Everett, from the local clerk to online databases and historical archives.
Everett Overview
Everett City Clerk Death Records
The Everett City Clerk handles all death certificate requests for deaths that took place in Everett. The office is at 484 Broadway in Everett, MA 02149. Call them at 617-394-2220 if you have questions before you go. The clerk keeps death records on file and can issue certified copies of death certificates. This is the most direct way to get an Everett obituary record, and the staff there can help you figure out what they have on file.
Walk-in requests tend to be the fastest. Bring a valid photo ID and know the full name of the person and their date of death. If you only have a rough time frame, the clerk can still search. Some older records may take a bit longer to pull. You can also call ahead to confirm they have a record before making the trip. Mail requests work too if you can't visit in person. Send a written request with the name of the deceased, the date of death, and a check for the fee to the clerk's address.
The Everett City Clerk website has details on office hours and the services the clerk handles, including vital records and death certificates.
The site lists contact info and other city services run through the clerk's office.
| Office | Everett City Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 484 Broadway Everett, MA 02149 |
| Phone | 617-394-2220 |
Search Everett Obituary Records Online
The Massachusetts Archives Vital Records Search is a free tool that covers death records from 1841 to 1910. You can type in a name, pick Everett as the location, select "Death" as the record type, and set your year range. Results show volume and page numbers. Digital images of Everett death records from 1841 to 1925 are free to view on the site. The State Archives will also email scans of up to five records from 1841 to 1930 at no charge if you send your request to archives@sec.state.ma.us.
For more recent Everett obituary records, the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics holds death records from 1936 to the present. This is the state-level office in Dorchester. You can order copies in person for $20, by mail for $32, or through VitalChek for $54. VitalChek also takes phone orders at (866) 300-8535. The RVRS office is open Monday through Friday, and walk-in service is the cheapest option if you can get there.
Records from 1931 to 1935 were recently moved to the State Archives. Contact archives@sec.state.ma.us for those. There is a small gap in online coverage between 1910 and 1936, but the Archives can still help with records in that window through email or mail requests.
Note: Everett death records before 1841 exist only at the city level and are not in the state archives databases.
Getting Everett Death Certificates
There are a few ways to get a death certificate for someone who died in Everett. The first and fastest is to go to the City Clerk at 484 Broadway. Bring your ID. Tell them the name and date of death. They pull the record and print a certified copy. Cash or check is the usual form of payment. The whole thing can take just a few minutes if the record is easy to find.
By mail, write to the Everett City Clerk at 484 Broadway, Everett, MA 02149. Put the full name of the deceased, date of death, and your return address in the letter. Include a check or money order for the copy fee. Mail requests take longer, but they work fine for people who live far from Everett or who can't get to the office during business hours. Call 617-394-2220 first to confirm the fee amount, since local fees can change.
You can also go through the state. The Massachusetts Archives charges $3.00 per certified copy for records from 1841 to 1930. That is the cheapest option by far. Payment is cash or check only, made out to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Mail your request to Massachusetts Archives, Attn: Certified Vitals, 220 Morrissey Blvd., Boston, MA 02125. Processing takes 4 to 6 weeks, so plan ahead. The RVRS handles anything from 1936 on, with fees starting at $20 for walk-in service.
Everett Obituary Research and Genealogy
Genealogy research for Everett obituary records goes well beyond the clerk's office. FamilySearch has free collections that include Massachusetts deaths and burials from 1795 to 1910, plus town clerk vital records from 1626 to 2001. You need a free account to search. Their Massachusetts Vital Records Index covers 1841 to 1895, and there are additional collections for 1911 to 1920. These can turn up Everett records you won't find anywhere else online.
AmericanAncestors.org is another strong resource. Run by the New England Historic Genealogical Society, it has the Massachusetts Vital Records Index for 1841 to 1910, plus later periods. This is a subscription service, but it offers deep coverage of Massachusetts records. They also hold the Boston Jewish Advocate Obituary Index with over 24,500 notices from 1905 to 2007, which can include Everett residents who were mentioned in Boston-area publications.
Ancestry.com has the Massachusetts Death Index for 1970 to 2003 and Massachusetts Death Records for 1841 to 1915. The Social Security Death Index is also on Ancestry. These subscription databases can help you confirm dates and find leads for Everett obituary records before you request certified copies from the clerk or the state.
Everett Death Record Access Rules
Death certificates in Everett are public records. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 46 controls how vital records work across the state. Anyone can request a copy of a death certificate. You do not need to be related to the person. The catch is cause of death. Under Section 46-2A, only the surviving spouse, parent, child, sibling, legal guardian, or legal representative can see that part. If you are not one of those people, the cause of death will be left blank on your copy.
The Massachusetts Public Records Law applies to the Everett City Clerk just like every other municipal office. Agencies must respond to record requests within 10 business days. Copy fees are capped at $0.05 per page for standard black and white copies. For cities with a population over 20,000, which includes Everett, the first two hours of search time are free. After that the maximum charge is $25 per hour. These rules give you a clear path to get records without unreasonable delay or cost.
Note: Certified copies of death certificates from the Everett City Clerk serve as legal documents accepted by courts and government agencies statewide.
Everett Newspaper Obituary Sources
Newspaper obituaries are a valuable source for Everett death records that go beyond what you find on a death certificate. Obituaries often list survivors, service details, and other family connections that government records do not include. For Everett, the local and regional newspapers have carried obituary notices for well over a century.
The Everett Independent and other local papers have published death notices and obituaries for Everett residents over the years. Regional papers like the Boston Globe and Boston Herald also ran obituaries for people across the metro area, including Everett. Many of these papers are available on microfilm at area libraries. The Boston Public Library holds extensive newspaper archives that cover the greater Boston area. Some of these collections have been digitized and are searchable through library databases or sites like Newspapers.com.
Public libraries in Middlesex County can help with obituary research too. Ask at the reference desk about local history collections, microfilm holdings, and any digital newspaper access the library provides. Some libraries offer free access to genealogy databases like Ancestry Library Edition, which includes obituary indexes you can search from inside the building.
Middlesex County Obituary Records
Everett is in Middlesex County. The county does not keep vital records at the county level. Each city and town in Middlesex County maintains its own death records through the local clerk. For a broader look at obituary resources across all of Middlesex County, check the county page.
Nearby Cities
These cities near Everett also keep obituary records at their local clerk offices.