<heading>What are death certificates?</heading>Death certificates are legal documents issued by the government following a death. The information on the form is supplied by an informant who is usually a close family member.<heading>What genealogical data can I learn from Death Certificates?</heading>The information on death certificate varies based on the governing agency and time period but the following information is typical: <ul><li>Name of the deceased (married women usually by maiden name) </li><li>Birth date </li><li>Birth place</li><li>Death date </li><li>Death place</li><li>Name of spouse</li><li>Parent’s names </li><li>Birthplace of parents</li><li>Residence address at time of death</li><li>Gender</li><li>Race</li><li>Age at death</li><li>Marital status</li><li>Occupation</li><li>Military information</li><li>Attending Physician’s Name</li><li>Dates and duration of final of medical care</li><li>Burial Place</li><li>Burial Date</li><li>Undertaker’s name</li><li>Informant’s name and address </li></ul><heading>What years do death certificates cover?</heading>Death records began in 1871 for people who died inside city limits and in 1907 for people who died outside of city limits.

Given Name	John Milton
Last Name	Swink
Birth Date	26 July 1884
Death Date	4 January 1984
Burial Country	United States
Burial State	Virginia
Burial County	Rockbridge
Burial City	Lexington
Burial Cemetery	Oxford Cemetery
Notes	Fathers Name: Daniel Swink Mothers Name: Virginia Houston Disposition: Burial Marital Status: Widowed Spouse: Mary Montgomery
Age Years	99
Source	Virginia death certificate # 84-002077

Research

Volunteer

More

John Milton Swink

BillionGraves Death Certificates

Oxford Cemetery

Contributors

Find out more about John Milton Swink

John Milton Swink

Ask an expert about your family tree

Additional data from member contributors