Privacy restrictions on accessing Mississippi death records typically mean that you have to be related to the deceased, or are operating as a legal representative. For records that are more recent than 50 years old, you will have to be an immediate relative in order to make the request. For this purpose, they define that as being the parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, spouse or sibling of the deceased. You will have to provide ID and proof of this relationship with your application.
Records that are older than 50 years also also limited to relations but not necessarily immediate family members only. Copies beyond 50 years are printed on plain paper and are non-certified genealogical copies.
The state archives of Mississippi death records is the Vital Records office located in Jackson, and you can apply for a record either in person on by mail. For mailing purposes, their address is Mississippi Vital Records, PO Box 1700, Jackson MS, 39215-1700 USA. The actual address for the office is in the Underwood Building at 571 Stadium Drive.
The office is open usual business hours for in-person applications but they do not service them while you wait. You still have to wait for them to be mailed back to you, usually within a week or 2. When doing it through the mail, you should have your records back in about 3 weeks time.
Get the forms for Mississippi death records from their website (http://msdh.ms.gov/phs/forms/form523e_20090609.pdf) and make sure to fill out all the fields to the best of your knowledge. Provide the name, date of death, date of birth, place of death, parents names and social security number if known. Incomplete applications may result in a "no file found" notice, and your fees aren't refunded.
You also need to provide information on yourself, including a copy of your photo ID and references to the relationship you have with the deceased.
The fees also need to be included with your forms. You can pay with a check or money order that's made out to Mississippi Vital Records. The current fee is $15 USD, and additional copies of the same record are $5 each. Any fees paid for extra copies will be refunded if no record is found, but not the initial search fee.
The state began its collection of death records in 1912 though the records from then until 1921 can be incomplete. Individual counties may have their own Mississippi death records from this time or earlier, so don't give up if the Vital Records office doesn't have what you need. You can contact county registrar's offices for more information on their local archives.
The Mississippi Department of Archives and History (http://mdah.state.ms.us/) is another good source of information for older records beyond the what the Vital Records office has. They have several indexes of records that are searchable online, though only the index entries can be retrieved this way. You will have to either visit the archive or make a research request. They charge $27 for each hour of time it takes to locate the records you want. Their website has the details on how to make such a request.
How to request Mississippi death certificates by mail:
Step 1.
To mail in a request for Mississippi death records, you will need to fully complete a Mississippi Death Certificate application.
Step 2.
The completed application must be signed. You will also need to include a copy of an accepted photo ID and other requested identifying information depending on your relationship to the deceased..
Step 3.
Mail in the application and identification to the Public Health Statistics office. Include a check or money order in the amount of $15 to cover the fees associated with your request.
Contact the Department of Health with any further questions regarding accessing Mississippi death records:
Mississippi State Department of Health
Public Health Statistics
P.O. Box 1700
Jackson, MS 39215-1700
(601) 576-7981
How To Request Mississippi Death Records
All Mississippi death records dating from November 1912 to the present can be requested from the Mississippi State Department of Health. Older records must be requested from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. A completed application and appropriate fees must accompany all requests.
Ways That You Can Place An Order
The most common way to request Mississippi death records is to send in an application by mail. You can also choose to visit the Department of Health in person. For internet and phone orders, you can pay by credit card and use a private vital records service to make your request.
Persons With Access To Records
Mississippi death records are considered confidential. Therefore, you must provide documentation with your request of your relationship to the deceased. You must be a direct relative or legal guardian, a legal representative, or have other legal reason for accessing the certificate
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