Search Taunton Obituary Records
Taunton obituary records go back to the late 1600s, when the city was still a small colonial settlement in what is now Bristol County. If you need to look up a death record or find an old obituary tied to Taunton, several local and state sources can help. The Taunton City Clerk holds death records for people who died in the city, and the Taunton Public Library keeps newspaper archives with published obituary notices going back decades. State-level databases at the Massachusetts Archives also hold Taunton death records from 1841 to 1930. This page walks through each source and how to use them to search for Taunton obituary records.
Taunton Overview
Taunton City Clerk Office
The Taunton City Clerk is where death records are kept for anyone who died in the city. Bristol County does not hold vital records at the county level, so each city and town in the county keeps its own files. That means the clerk's office on Summer Street is the main place to go for Taunton obituary records. You can request a certified copy of a death certificate in person, by mail, or by phone.
Walk-in requests are the fastest way. Bring a valid photo ID and the name and date of death for the person you are looking up. The clerk can pull the record and print a certified copy while you wait. Payment is by check or money order. If you can't visit in person, call 508-821-1024 to ask about mail requests. You will need to send a written request with the deceased person's full name, date of death, and your return address along with the fee.
The Taunton city website has more details on services at the City Clerk's office, including how to request death certificates and other vital records.
The site also covers other city services and contact info for all Taunton departments.
| Office | Taunton City Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 15 Summer Street Taunton, MA 02780 |
| Phone | 508-821-1024 |
| County | Bristol County |
Note: Bristol County does not maintain vital records at the county level, so all Taunton death records are held at the City Clerk's office.
Taunton Obituary Records at State Archives
The Massachusetts Archives Vital Records Search is a free tool that covers death records from 1841 to 1910 for all cities and towns in the state. Type in a name, pick Taunton as the location, select "Death," and set a year range. The results give you volume and page numbers. Digital images of Taunton death records from 1841 to 1925 are free to view on the site.
If you can't find what you need through the online search, the Archives staff will email scans of up to five records from 1841 to 1930 at no cost. Send your request to archives@sec.state.ma.us. For a certified copy from the Archives, the fee is $3 per certificate, and they accept cash or check only. Processing takes four to six weeks. Mail orders go to Massachusetts Archives, Attn: Certified Vitals, 220 Morrissey Blvd., Boston, MA 02125.
For Taunton death records from 1936 to the present, the state Registry of Vital Records and Statistics in Dorchester has copies. Walk-in cost is $20. You can also order through VitalChek for $54 for the first copy and $42 for each extra. Call (866) 300-8535 for phone orders. Records from 1931 to 1935 were recently transferred to the State Archives.
Taunton Obituary and Historical Sources
The Taunton Public Library is one of the best local spots for obituary research. Its genealogy section holds newspaper archives, local history files, and reference materials that can help you track down old obituary notices from Taunton and the surrounding area. Staff in the genealogy section can point you in the right direction if you are not sure where to start.
The Taunton Public Library website has details on their genealogy section and what resources are available for obituary research.
Check their site for hours and any special collections related to Taunton obituary records.
The Taunton Gazette, which has been the city's main newspaper for well over a century, published obituary notices for local residents. Gazette archives are one of the most useful sources for finding Taunton obituary records from the late 1800s through the present day. You can often find these archives on microfilm at the library or through online newspaper databases. Back issues sometimes turn up on sites like Newspapers.com, though a subscription is usually needed.
The Old Colony Historical Society is another key resource. Based in Taunton, this organization focuses on the history of the Old Colony region, which includes much of southeastern Massachusetts. Their collections hold local records, family papers, and historical documents that can fill gaps in your obituary search. The society's archives may have death notices, funeral records, and family genealogies that are not available anywhere else. They are a good place to check if the standard sources come up short on a Taunton obituary.
Online Taunton Death Record Databases
Several online databases hold Taunton obituary records and death information. FamilySearch is free and has Massachusetts death and burial records from 1795 to 1910, plus town clerk vital records from 1626 to 2001. You need a free account to use it. Search by name and filter results to Taunton or Bristol County to narrow things down.
AmericanAncestors.org is run by the New England Historic Genealogical Society and holds the Massachusetts Vital Records Index from 1841 to 1920 across multiple collections. This is a subscription site, but it has some of the deepest Massachusetts record sets available. Their database includes indexed death records that can be searched by name and location.
Ancestry.com also has Massachusetts death records. Their collections include the Massachusetts Death Index from 1970 to 2003, Massachusetts Death Records from 1841 to 1915, and the Social Security Death Index. A subscription is needed for most of these. If you don't want to pay, many public libraries offer free access to Ancestry through their computers.
Note: Taunton death records from before 1841 exist only at the City Clerk level and will not show up in state archive databases.
Getting Taunton Death Certificates
There are a few paths to get a death certificate for someone who died in Taunton. The City Clerk on Summer Street is the most direct route. Go in person with a photo ID and the name and date of death. Staff can usually pull the record fast. For mail requests, write to the Taunton City Clerk at 15 Summer Street, Taunton, MA 02780 with the deceased person's name, death date, and a check for the fee.
You can also get Taunton death certificates from the state. The Registry of Vital Records and Statistics at 150 Mount Vernon St. in Dorchester holds records from 1936 to the present. Walk-in cost is $20 per copy. By mail the fee is $32, and orders take about 30 business days. If you need it faster, write "Attention: Expedited Mail Service" on the envelope for seven to ten day processing.
VitalChek is the online option. First copy costs $54 and extras are $42 each. They offer next-day shipping if you need the document right away. Phone orders go through (866) 300-8535. Keep in mind that VitalChek charges more because of convenience fees and shipping costs. If cost is the main factor, going in person to the City Clerk or the state office in Dorchester is the cheapest way.
Taunton Obituary Access and Privacy Rules
Death certificates in Taunton are public records under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 46. Anyone can request a copy. The one thing that is restricted is the cause of death. Under Section 46-2A, only the surviving spouse, parent, child, sibling, legal guardian, or legal representative can see that part. Everyone else gets a death certificate with the cause of death section left blank.
The Massachusetts Public Records Law (MGL c.66, Section 10) applies to all government records in Taunton. Agencies must respond to record requests within 10 business days. Copy fees are $0.05 per page for black and white copies. Search time is free for the first two hours for cities over 20,000 people, and Taunton qualifies with its population of about 59,000. After the free hours, the maximum charge is $25 per hour. These rules cover any public records request you file with the Taunton City Clerk.
A standard Taunton death certificate shows the full name of the deceased, date and place of death, age, marital status, residence, occupation, birthplace, parents' names, spouse name, informant name, funeral director, and burial details. That is a lot of useful data for genealogy and obituary research even without the cause of death.
Bristol County Obituary Records
Taunton is the county seat of Bristol County. The county has a population of about 579,000 and was formed in 1685 as one of the original four counties in Plymouth Colony. While the county itself does not keep vital records, the Bristol County Clerk office is located right here in Taunton. Each city and town in the county maintains its own death records through their local clerk offices. For more on obituary resources across all of Bristol County, check the county page.
Nearby Cities
These cities near Taunton also maintain their own obituary records at their local clerk offices.