Search Medford Obituary Records
Medford obituary records go back to the early 1800s and are held at the Medford City Clerk's office on George P. Hassett Drive. You can search for Medford death records through state databases that cover 1841 to 1925 at no cost, or request copies from the clerk for more recent years. The state Registry of Vital Records also keeps Medford death files from 1936 to the present. This page walks through how to find and get Medford obituary records, what fees apply, where to look for older records, and what laws control access to death certificates in Medford.
Medford Overview
Medford City Clerk Office
The Medford City Clerk is the main office for death certificates and obituary records in Medford. The clerk keeps all vital records for the city, including births, deaths, and marriages. If someone died in Medford, the death record is on file here. You can visit in person to request a certified copy of a death certificate or send a written request by mail.
The office sits at 85 George P. Hassett Drive in Medford, MA 02155. Call them at 781-393-2424 if you have questions about Medford obituary records before you visit. Staff can tell you what they need from you to pull a record. Bring a valid photo ID when you go in person. The clerk will need the full name of the person who died, the date of death (or at least an estimate), and the place of death. If you can provide the age at death or names of parents, that helps narrow things down when the name is common.
The Medford City Clerk page has details on vital record services and how to reach the office for obituary and death certificate requests.
Check the clerk's page for current hours and any form requirements before you visit.
| Office | Medford City Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 85 George P. Hassett Dr Medford, MA 02155 |
| Phone | 781-393-2424 |
| County | Middlesex |
Medford Death Records Online
The Massachusetts Archives Vital Records Search is a free tool that covers death records from 1841 to 1910. You can search for Medford obituary records by typing in a name, picking Medford as the town, selecting "Death" as the record type, and entering a year range. Results will show volume and page numbers. Digital images of Medford death records from 1841 to 1925 are free to view online through the archives.
If you can't find a Medford record in the online database, the State Archives staff will search for you. Send an email to archives@sec.state.ma.us with the details you have. They will email scans of up to five records from 1841 to 1930 at no charge. The archives sit at 220 Morrissey Blvd in Boston. Certified copies from the archives cost $3 per certificate and take four to six weeks by mail. You can pay by cash or check only, made out to Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
For Medford death records from 1936 to the present, the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics in Dorchester has copies. Walk-in service costs $20 per copy. Mail orders run $32 each and take up to 30 business days. You can also order through VitalChek at $54 for the first copy and $42 for each extra. VitalChek takes credit cards and offers rush shipping if you need something fast.
Note: Medford death records from 1931 to 1935 were recently moved to the State Archives and may need a direct email request to archives@sec.state.ma.us.
Historical Medford Obituary Resources
Medford vital records date back to 1630, when the town was first settled. The published volume "Medford Vital Records to 1850" compiles early birth, marriage, and death entries from the town books. This book is a key resource for anyone looking into Medford obituary records from the colonial and early republic eras. Many libraries hold copies, and some versions are available through genealogy sites like FamilySearch and AmericanAncestors.org.
The Medford Historical Society is another place to look for old obituary information. The society has collections of local papers, photos, and documents that may include death notices and funeral records. Local newspapers in Medford published obituaries going back to the 1800s. Newspaper archives on sites like Ancestry.com and Newspapers.com carry some of these old Medford publications. A subscription is needed for most of those services, though public libraries often give free access to their patrons.
FamilySearch has several free collections with Medford death data. The "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001" set includes Medford entries. There is also "Massachusetts Deaths and Burials, 1795-1910" which may have Medford records. You need a free account to use FamilySearch, but there is no subscription fee.
Get Medford Death Certificates
There are a few ways to get a Medford death certificate. The most direct path is the Medford City Clerk at 85 George P. Hassett Drive. Go in person with a photo ID and the details of the person whose record you need. Staff can pull the file and print a certified copy for you. This is the fastest option.
By mail, send a letter to the Medford City Clerk with the full name of the deceased, the date of death, and your return address. Include a check or money order for the fee. Call 781-393-2424 first to confirm the current cost per copy so you send the right amount. Mail requests take longer than walk-in visits, but they work fine if you live far from Medford.
You can also go through the state. The Registry of Vital Records and Statistics has Medford death records from 1936 onward. In-person visits to the Dorchester office cost $20 per copy. Mail orders are $32, and VitalChek online orders start at $54. The state office accepts check and money order for mail, and VitalChek takes credit cards. For Medford records from 1841 to 1930, the Massachusetts State Archives charges just $3 per certified copy.
Here is what you need for any Medford death certificate request:
- Full name of the deceased (including maiden name if applicable)
- Date of death or best estimate of the year
- Place of death (Medford, MA)
- Your valid photo ID
- Payment for the fee
Medford Obituary Records and City Services
The Medford city website is the official online hub for all city departments and services. You can find links to the City Clerk, contact info, and other departments from the main site. It also lists meeting schedules and public notices that may be relevant if you need to correct or amend a Medford death record.
The Medford city website provides access to city department info, including the clerk's office where obituary records are filed.
Use the site to find current hours, forms, and phone numbers for the Medford City Clerk.
Medford Death Record Access Laws
Death certificates in Medford are public records under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 46. Anyone can request a copy of a Medford death certificate for obituary research, genealogy, legal matters, or personal reasons. The law does restrict one part of the record though. Cause of death is kept private. Under Section 46-2A, only the surviving spouse, parent, child, sibling, legal guardian, or legal representative can see that section. If you are not one of those people, your copy of the Medford death certificate will have the cause of death left blank.
The Massachusetts Public Records Law applies to all record requests in Medford. The city must respond to your request within 10 business days. Copy fees are capped at $0.05 per page for standard copies. For cities with more than 20,000 people (which includes Medford), the first two hours of search time are free. After that, the maximum charge is $25 per hour. These rules apply to all public records, not just death certificates.
Note: Medford certified death certificate fees at the city clerk may differ from state-level fees, so call 781-393-2424 to confirm current pricing.
Medford Death Certificate Contents
A Medford death certificate has a lot of information that helps with obituary research and genealogy work. The standard form includes the full name of the deceased, the date and place of death, age, gender, marital status, and occupation. It lists the person's residence at the time of death and their birthplace. For family tree research, the certificate also shows the names and birthplaces of both parents, including the mother's maiden name. The spouse's name appears if the person was married.
These details make Medford death certificates valuable beyond just confirming a death. The parent names and birthplaces can help you trace a family line back another generation. The residence and occupation fields give a snapshot of the person's life at the end. For older Medford records, this may be the only source of some of these details, especially if no newspaper obituary was published.
Middlesex County Obituary Records
Medford is in Middlesex County. The county covers a large part of eastern Massachusetts and includes dozens of cities and towns. Each one keeps its own death records at the local clerk level. For more on obituary resources across all of Middlesex County, visit the county page.
Nearby Cities
These cities near Medford also maintain obituary records at their local clerk offices.