Genealogy Chat

Hi everyone, hope someone may be able to help please.

I am looking for a friend whose son needs a Death Certificate. Story as follows:

A Death Certificate is needed, but the person who died did so whilst on holiday in the USA (town/area unknown). The deceased lived in Berkshire, but was born in Ireland. Where should I look to find the Death Certificate. USA maybe, but would the Death also have to be registered in England for Probate reasons. Can anyone help me on this query.

Grateful thanks
Julie

If the person involved made a will you might find that (probably not online) but you could check with one of the Probate Offices. The death certificate will be registered in USA.

Have a look here to see what to do if a person dies abroad. It may answer some of your questions:-

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/193657/Death_Overseas_web_13.pdf

Kath. x

Thanks for your reply Kath, will have a look.

J x

Not entirely sure if the following answers your initial question, but it might help identify the date of death

If the Estate went to English/Welsh Probate (and not all Estates do) you may find an entry here
https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/#wills

Check the tabs on the page and select the correct one
1858-1996 or 1996-Present

With the section 1958-1996 each year is filed by Surname only. Its up to you to scroll through for the correct first name. They are listed in the year Probate was granted.

1996-present are listed by the year the person died. it is also possibly to specify a forename.

As you no doubt know, there is no national system for registration of BMDs in the UK.
Each country has its own rules, and BMDs are registered locally, with a backup copy kept in Southport, Edinburgh or Belfast depending on the country.

US law is largely based on English law, and they, too, don't treat BMD laws and registrations as a national matter, but as a state matter, so the state where the event occurred is the one that would issue a d.cert. (Similar statements apply to Canada, Oz & S Africa).

The US is one of the countries where a death can be registered with the British Embassy/Consulate, in which case, one could get a copy of that registration from the GRO. However, not deaths can't be rego'ed with the Embassy in all countries (Canada is one example), so there can't be any law that says a death must be rego'ed in England for probate reasons - obviously, the probate court needs proof of death, but not of registration in the UK, I would infer.

So to get a death record, one really needs to contact the state concerned. Recent d.certs are not a public record in most states, so to obtain a d.cert, a reason might have to be provided.

http://www.vitalrec.com/deathrecords

this site may help.

FindMyPast has records for British Nationals Died Overseas 1818-2005

If the person died before 2005 then there may be a registration on there which will then enable the death certificate to be ordered from GRO.

What's the name and when did they die?

Rose

Our brother died in Spain where he was living

His wife didn't reg his death at the British embassy so we have been unable to get a cert

His wife must have tha papers as he was buried in Spain but she isn't in contact with his family now

Although I can't lay my hands on it just this minute, I'm sure my father's Probate papers said were and when he died. A copy of the DC would have been sent with the Probate Application.

Do look for an entry on the Probate Calendar and purchase the Grant (if there is one) etc.
If, as I believe it does, say where the man died, it will help to track down the registration.

Hi Rose

His name was Edwin Faye and he died around 1985. I am trying to help a friend's son, who has recently found some forgotten documentation, so some info may be unknown/hard to remember.

Thank you for your help.

Julie

Not seeing anything on the Probate Calendar 1980-1995. Acutally, there aren't that many Faye's at all!

If he's clearing the house after a recent bereavement, has he come across any holiday photos where he can identify a place?

Assuming Edwin's wife is deceased, her DC would say 'widow of'. It might be worth him consulting a solicotor - may be the Organisations would accept a sworn statement either from Edwin's son or his widow if still living?

First name(s) Edwin
Middle name -
Last name Faye
Suffix -
Birth year 1899
Birth month Mar
Birth day 30
Death year 1985
Death month Jul
Death day -
Place of issue Pennsylvania
State Pennsylvania
SSN 176-32-1523
Record set Social Security Death Index
Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
Subcategory Deaths & burials
Collections from United States

This one?

Use the link above and use the location from death index above.

Print transcription
First name(s) Edwin
Middle name -
Last name Faye
Suffix -
Birth year 1900
Birth month Mar
Birth day 24
Death year 1979
Death month May
Death day -
Place of issue New York
State New York
SSN 052-01-8910
Record set Social Security Death Index
Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
Subcategory Deaths & burials
Collections from United States

First name(s) Edwin
Middle name -
Last name Faye
Suffix -
Birth year 1900
Birth month Mar
Birth day 24
Death year 1979
Death month May
Death day -
Place of issue New York
State New York
SSN 052-01-8910
Record set Social Security Death Index
Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
Subcategory Deaths & burials
Collections from United States

If the Edwin Fayes on the deaths above had social security numbers (SSN) would that not mean they were US residents as opposed to being on holiday?

Hi everyone, thank you for your continued support on this query. The Edwin Faye's named are too old I'm afraid, the Edwin I am looking for was born around 1941 in Limerick, Ireland.

Thanks for all the hard work you are all doing.

Julie