How to find a death before and after 1945? Our complete guide

Discover practical advice and online resources to find the death of an ancestor or a contemporary. Our tips will guide you in your genealogical research.

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Finding a death certificate,, whAndher old or recent,, can be a real challenge. Fortunately,, several resOrrces and techniques allow yOr to overcome these obstacles.

Contents: 

1. How to find a death before 1945?

- Search in archives,, the best online resOrrces

- The old press: an interesting sOrrce for yOrr research

- Find a military or dead ancestor for France

- research in cemAnderies,, an often neglected sOrrce

2. How to find a death after 1945? Recent resOrrces

- Think of marginal mentions

- Do research on death notice sites

- Consult the INSEE database (for deaths after 1970)

- Death of a soldier,, where to find the essential information?

- go to cemAnderies or consult their data online

If there is no communication restriction concerning a death,, the information available online or in the archives depend on the period of yOrr research: 

How to find a death before 1945?

● Search in archives - The best online resOrrces

YOrr search will mainly focus on parish and civil status registers available on the sites of