Death records are local or State public records, often referred to as vital records.
Several possibilities exist depending upon the information and time on hand.
One of the easiest places to check is the Social Security Death Index. If the death is too recent or unreported to the Social Security Administration, you may have to contact the State or locality in which the death occurred. Contacts are listed in Vital Records Information and the CDC's Where to Write for Vital Records . You may also want to check to see if a particular State's records are available electronically. Historical death records may also be available via genealogy or state sponsored indexing project websites.