Social Security Death Index Decision Chart

Did your ancestor die after 1937? No - move right Search the Federal Census to determine the likely date and location of death for obtaining a death record. Go to Federal Census Tips.
Yes - move down
Can you find your ancestor in the Social Security Death Index? Search the Social Security Death Index. No - move right Though it is possible your ancestor is in the Social Security Death Index as early as 1937, most people in the index died after 1962. If you tried the suggestions in the article mentioned below on searching the index and still could not find your ancestor, then try searching the Federal Census to estimate a date of death. Go to Federal Census Tips.
Yes - move down
Using the information you found, try to obtain a death record for your ancestor. Go to Birth and Death Record Tips.
 
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Searching the Social Security Death Index

Three items of interest in the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for those searching their ancestry is the date of birth, date of death, and last known location. The date of death and last known location can be used to request death records. Not everyone, however, is in the Social Security Death Index. Most of the people in the Social Security Death Index died after 1962, but there are some deaths as early as 1937.

REFERENCE Search the Social Security Death Index online. Click here to search the Social Security Death Index at Ancestry.com.
REFERENCE Click here to go to Ancestry.com for frequently asked questions about the Social Security Death Index.
REFERENCE Free article on searching the Social Security Death Index. You might not be able to find your ancestor in this index because of errors introduced in the creation of the index. There are search tips that can improve your search by changing the way you search the index. Click here for SSDI search tips at Ancestry.com.

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Advanced Research For Your Ancestry

This site is designed to provide the basics in researching your genealogy. It emphasizes the use of the Federal Census, Social Security Death Index, online family trees, and birth/death records. There are, of course, more sources of information. If you are looking for advice on additional sources, go to the Free Online Genealogy Search Advisor. That site will provide you with customized research advice based on what you already know about your ancestry.