Search Westchester County Obituary Records
Obituary records in Westchester County document deaths across one of New York's most populated suburban counties, located just north of New York City. The Westchester County Clerk, the Westchester County Archives, local city and town clerks, and the New York State Department of Health all maintain death-related records. Published obituaries from Westchester County newspapers provide family details, personal histories, and burial information that official records do not capture. With land records going back to 1680 and a free online index, Westchester County offers strong resources for both recent and historical death research.
Westchester County Clerk Records
The Westchester County Clerk can be reached at (914) 995-3080. The clerk's office maintains land records from 1680 to the present. That is over 340 years of continuous records. A free online index lets you search these records from home. Civil court records are available from 1980 to the present. Criminal court records go back to 1978.
For obituary research, the land records are particularly useful. Property transfers after a death often note when the owner died. Deeds, mortgages, and judgments all reference individuals and can help trace a person through their life in Westchester County. The online index makes it possible to search without visiting the office.
Court records from the clerk's office may also reference deceased individuals. Civil cases involving estates, and criminal cases that resulted in death, are all part of the public record. The coverage from 1980 forward for civil cases means that recent estate matters are accessible through the clerk.
Westchester County Archives
The Westchester County Archives are at 2199 Saw Mill River Road, Elmsford, NY 10523. Phone: (914) 231-1500. The archives hold historical county documents including a naturalization index that is available online. This is a valuable resource for tracing immigrant families who lived and died in Westchester County.
The naturalization index helps identify individuals and their families. Immigration records include birth dates, arrival dates, and family details. When combined with obituary records and death certificates, naturalization files help build a complete family history. The online availability of this index makes it accessible to researchers who cannot visit in person.
The archives also hold other historical records from county government. Court records, correspondence, and administrative files may reference deceased individuals. Researchers interested in Westchester County obituary records from the 1800s and early 1900s may find useful leads in the archives collection.
Death Records in Westchester County
Death registration in Westchester County follows Public Health Law § 4140. Every death must be registered within 72 hours. The local registrar is the city or town clerk where the death occurred. Westchester County has six cities, 19 towns, and 23 villages, so determining the right registrar is important.
The New York State Department of Health holds Westchester County death records from 1881 onward. Under PHL § 4174, certified copies cost $30 and require proof of direct interest. The state DOH website has application forms. Under PHL § 4147, copies are filed at both local and state levels.
For deaths before 1881, local Westchester County sources are the only option. Town and city clerks may hold earlier records. Church records from the county's many old congregations contain burial entries that predate official vital records. Some Westchester County churches date to the 1600s.
Searching for Obituaries in Westchester County
The Journal News (now part of lohud.com) has been the main newspaper for Westchester County. Its archives hold decades of obituaries. The New York Times also carries death notices for Westchester County residents, particularly those in southern Westchester. Other local papers in Yonkers, New Rochelle, White Plains, and Mount Vernon published obituaries as well.
Online databases cover Westchester County obituary records broadly. FamilySearch has free New York death indexes. Ancestry includes digitized vital records and newspaper obituaries. FindAGrave covers Westchester County cemeteries. The New York State Historic Newspapers website and Fulton History provide free digitized newspaper archives. Legacy.com and Newspapers.com also carry Westchester County obituaries.
The Westchester County Historical Society maintains a library and archives with family files, photographs, and local history materials. Their holdings can supplement obituary research by providing context about Westchester County families and communities.
Westchester County Surrogate's Court
Probate records at the Westchester County Surrogate's Court in White Plains include death dates, heir lists, and estate details. These are public records. For Westchester County obituary research, probate files can reveal family members not listed in published death notices. Wills name beneficiaries. Administration papers identify next of kin.
Westchester County probate records go back centuries. Early wills and estate files are among the oldest records in the county. The Surrogate's Court handles a high volume of cases given the county's large population. Both recent and historical probate files can support death research.
Cemetery Records in Westchester County
Westchester County has many cemeteries, from large facilities like Kensico Cemetery and Gate of Heaven to small historic burial grounds in every town. Burial records include dates, plot locations, and family information. Many Westchester County cemetery records have been transcribed and posted on FindAGrave.
Church records from Westchester County go back to the colonial era. Dutch Reformed, Episcopal, and other denominations kept burial registers for centuries. These records predate the official vital records system and are essential for early Westchester County death research. Some have been microfilmed and are on FamilySearch.
Cities and Towns in Westchester County
Westchester County has six cities and 19 towns. Several have pages on this site. Yonkers is the largest city. Greenburgh, New Rochelle, Mount Vernon, and White Plains are other major communities. Each city and town clerk acts as the local registrar for death records in their municipality.