Ramsey County Death Records

Ramsey County death records are held at the county's Plato Building in Saint Paul and at the Minnesota Department of Health. Ramsey County is Minnesota's smallest county by area but second in population, home to the state capital and dozens of inner-ring suburbs. The county has maintained death records going back to approximately 1870 and holds one of the most complete vital records archives in the state. This guide covers how to find Ramsey County death certificates, use the death index, and request copies for legal or personal use.

Ramsey County Vital Records Office

Ramsey County's vital records are handled by the Property Tax, Records and Election Services (PTRES) department. The office is at the Plato Building in Saint Paul, not at the main courthouse. PTRES manages death records along with birth records, marriage records, divorce records, notary registrations, and credentials of ordination. The department is staffed Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Ramsey County is unique in Minnesota because it handles all vital records internally rather than routing everything through the state. The county holds death records for Ramsey County from approximately 1870 to the present. For deaths from 1997 forward, Ramsey County can also access the statewide electronic system, which means they can issue certified copies for deaths in any Minnesota county after 1997. This makes the Ramsey County office a convenient option if you live in Saint Paul or nearby.

You can also email the office at AskVitalRecords@co.ramsey.mn.us with questions before you visit or submit a mail request. This is a helpful step for complex requests or when you are not sure which record you need.

PTRES Department and What It Handles

The Property Tax, Records and Election Services department is the umbrella agency for vital records in Ramsey County. PTRES also handles property tax administration, property ownership records, and county elections. Vital records is one of several major functions within the department. The budget for vital records operations is about $496,000 per year and supports five full-time staff positions.

The range of vital records services at PTRES is broad. Beyond death records, the office issues certified copies of birth certificates, marriage records, and divorce records. It also processes notary registrations and credentials of ordination, which are less common requests but handled by the same staff. This one-stop approach makes the Plato Building a practical location for anyone who needs multiple types of vital records at once.

Ramsey County Online Resources

The Ramsey County website provides information about county services, departments, and how to access vital records in Saint Paul.

The county site links to PTRES, the Plato Building, and the death records page where you can find application forms and contact details.

The Ramsey County death records page has specific information about how to request a death certificate, what ID to bring, and the current fee structure.

This page is the direct source for Ramsey County-specific instructions, including how to reach PTRES by phone and email.

The PTRES department page covers all services managed by the department, including vital records, property tax, and elections.

Use this page to understand the full scope of what PTRES handles and to find direct contact information for each service area.

What Death Records Ramsey County Holds

Ramsey County's vital records office holds death certificates for Ramsey County from approximately 1870 to the present. That is a remarkably long and complete archive for a Minnesota county. For deaths from 1997 forward, the office can also access records from all other Minnesota counties through the statewide electronic system.

Beyond official death certificates, the PTRES office has connections to some unique historical resources. Deaths recorded in St. Paul City Directories from 1888 to 1910 are part of the county's historical record. Minnesota and St. Paul biography clippings from 1910 to 1945 provide additional death-related documentation for Saint Paul residents. The index to biography file clippings and St. Paul Pioneer Press clippings are also part of the historical collection accessible through county research channels.

Minnesota Department of Health Death Records

The Minnesota Department of Health also maintains statewide death records, including all Ramsey County deaths from about 1908 forward. MDH is the alternative to the county office for ordering certified copies. You can order by mail, in person at the MDH office in St. Paul, or online through VitalChek.

The fee at MDH is the same as Ramsey County: $13 for the first certified copy, $6 for additional copies ordered at the same time, and $13 for non-certified copies. Veterans receive one free certified copy. Mail requests require a notarized application. In-person requests require a valid ID. MDH is reachable at 651-201-5970.

Online Death Index Search for Ramsey County

The MDH Verify a Death tool is free and covers deaths from 1997 to the present. It confirms whether a certificate is in the state system and shows basic identifying information. It is a good starting point before ordering a copy.

The MNHS People Search covers Minnesota death certificates from 1904 through 2001. Ramsey County is one of the most thoroughly indexed counties in the MNHS database because of Saint Paul's urban records infrastructure. Searches by name and year return the death date, location, and certificate number. The MNHS death records about page explains coverage and limitations in more detail.

For research into older Saint Paul deaths, the Ramsey County Law Library and the Saint Paul Public Library's Minnesota Room both hold historical death-related records. The Saint Paul Pioneer Press archives, available through ProQuest at many public libraries, are a strong secondary source for obituaries going back into the late 1800s.

How to Request a Ramsey County Death Certificate

Ramsey County offers in-person and mail options for death record requests through the PTRES office at the Plato Building.

In Person: Go to the Plato Building at 90 Plato Blvd. West in Saint Paul. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. Staff can process most requests the same day. If you are not an immediate family member, explain your interest in the record. The Plato Building is accessible by transit and has nearby parking.

By Mail: Send a completed application with payment to Ramsey County PTRES at the Plato Building address, or to MDH at P.O. Box 64882, St. Paul, MN 55164. Mail requests to MDH must be notarized. Include payment by check or money order. Processing times run one to three weeks. You can also email AskVitalRecords@co.ramsey.mn.us with questions before submitting.

Online: Use VitalChek, accessed through the MDH website, for online orders with a convenience fee. For simple death verification, use the free Verify a Death tool through MDH. Ramsey County does not have its own separate online ordering portal; online orders go through the MDH/VitalChek system.

Statutes Governing Ramsey County Death Records

Minnesota death records are governed by Minnesota Statute 144.221, which requires death registration and sets the rules for filing certificates. Minnesota Statute 144.225 sets access rules and distinguishes between certified copies, which require tangible interest, and non-certified copies, which are available to anyone. Data practices rules under Minnesota Statute 13.10 classify vital records and restrict certain fields from general public access.

These statutes apply equally to Ramsey County and all other Minnesota counties. Ramsey County has no separate local ordinance that changes the access rules. The PTRES office applies the same state standards as every other county vital records office in Minnesota.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Ramsey County in the Twin Cities metro area.