Search Ohio Death Index
The Ohio death index covers all 88 counties. It is free to search. You can find names, dates, and certificate numbers in the online database run by the Ohio History Connection. State records go back to 1908. Older ones from 1867 are at county probate courts. The Ohio Department of Health in Columbus issues certified copies for deaths from 1971 to now. County health departments also sell copies for their area. This page covers how to search the Ohio death index, where to get copies, what the fees are, and which offices hold the records you need.
Ohio Death Index Overview
Where to Search the Ohio Death Index
Ohio death records sit with three main offices. The Ohio Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics is the primary state source. They hold death certificates from 1971 to the present day. Their office moved to a new location at 4200 Surface Road, Columbus, OH 43228. Call 614-466-2531 for questions about ordering or searching for death records at the state level.
The Bureau handles all state death certificate requests. Mail orders take 4 to 6 weeks. They also run an Electronic Death Registration System that funeral homes, hospitals, and coroners use to file records. Ohio law under ORC Chapter 3705 requires all deaths to be registered with the local registrar within three days.
The Ohio History Connection Archives keeps death certificates from December 20, 1908 through 1970. Their building is at 800 East 17th Avenue in Columbus. Phone is 614-297-2510. Email reference@ohiohistory.org for research help. They can stamp copies as coming from their collection, but they cannot issue certified copies. For a certified copy of a record from that time period, contact the county health department where the death took place.
Before December 20, 1908, county probate courts kept the records. Ohio first required death registration in 1867. Each county recorded deaths as single line entries in ledger books. These entries include the name, date, age, cause of death, and sometimes the parents' names. There is no statewide index for pre-1908 records. You need to know the county where the death happened to find the right ledger.
The Ohio Department of Health local health districts directory helps you find the right county office. Search by county or city name to get the address, phone number, and hours for the health department in your area.
Ohio Death Index Database Online
The Ohio History Connection runs a free online Ohio death index at resources.ohiohistory.org/death. It covers Ohio Department of Health death certificate indexes from 1913 to 1944 and 1954 to 1963. It also has stillborn death certificates from 1913 to 1935 and 1942 to 1953. Columbus Board of Health death certificates from 1904 to 1908 are in there too.
The search is simple. Type in a last name and first name. Hit search. Results show the county, date of death, volume number, and certificate number. You need that certificate number to order a copy. The database has a basic search and an advanced search option. No sign-up required. No fee to search.
This index has gaps and errors. The Ohio History Connection is still fixing it. If you spot a mistake, send corrections to vitalrecords@ohiohistory.org. For women, search under the legal last name at time of death. That is usually the married name for records from this era. If you cannot find a name in the index, you can still order a certificate by providing the first name, last name, year of death, and at least one of the following: month and day, county of death, or certificate number.
FamilySearch also gives free digital access to Ohio death certificates from 1908 to 1953. You need a free account. Their Ohio collections include Ohio Deaths 1908 to 1953, Ohio Death Index 1913 to 1944, Ohio County Death Records 1840 to 2001, and Ohio Church and Civil Deaths 1833 to 1967. Some records are indexed by name. Others you browse by county image by image.
How to Order Ohio Death Certificates
The state fee is $21.50 per certified copy as of January 2025. You pay this whether they find the record or not. Send a check or money order payable to "Treasury, State of Ohio." Mail it to Bureau of Vital Statistics, 4200 Surface Road, Columbus, OH 43228. Include the full name of the deceased, date of death, city or county where it happened, your relationship to the person, and your contact info. Personal checks work but may slow things down.
The Bureau does not offer walk-in service. All orders go by mail or online.
For faster orders, use VitalChek. This is the authorized online ordering service for Ohio vital records. Pay by credit card. Pick your shipping speed. Standard takes 5 to 7 business days plus mail time. Overnight is an option for an extra fee. VitalChek adds processing charges on top of the state fee. You get a tracking number after you order.
Ohio is an open record state for death certificates. Under ORC 3705.23, anyone can request a copy. You do not need to be family. But for deaths in the last five years, the social security number gets removed from the certificate. Only authorized people see the full number. That list includes the spouse, children, grandchildren, estate executor, attorney for the estate, government investigators, private investigators, funeral directors acting for the family, veterans service officers, and accredited media members.
County health departments sell certified copies too. Most charge around $25 per copy. Fees vary by county. Many accept walk-in requests during business hours. Call ahead to check. Some counties also let you order through VitalChek. To find the right health department for your county, use the Ohio local health districts directory.
The Ohio History Connection sells non-certified copies for records from 1908 to 1953. The fee is about $14. Processing takes 8 to 10 weeks. You can order from search results in their online death index or submit a request form for records not in the index. Details are on the Ohio Department of Health ordering page.
Ohio Death Index Fees and Costs
The cost to get an Ohio death certificate depends on where you order it. The state charges $21.50 per certified copy from the Bureau of Vital Statistics. County health departments set their own fees. Most fall between $20 and $30 per copy. Some counties charge a bit more. VitalChek adds a processing fee on top of whatever the certificate costs.
The Ohio History Connection charges about $14 per copy for non-certified records from 1908 to 1953. These are good for genealogy and family research but not for legal purposes. For a certified copy of a record from that time period, go to the county health department where the death was recorded.
Ohio Revised Code Title 37 sets the legal rules for vital statistics fees. The state legislature can change these amounts. Local health departments may add their own charges for services like expedited processing or certified mail. Payment methods vary by office. The state accepts checks and money orders. Many county offices take cash, debit, and credit cards too. Some charge a small card transaction fee.
Note: Fees change from time to time. Call the specific office or check their website to confirm current costs before you order.
Free Ohio Death Index Resources
Several free tools help with Ohio death index research. The Ohio Genealogical Society has chapters in nearly every county. Local chapters compile indexes of death records, cemetery transcriptions, and obituary collections that you may not find anywhere else. Their headquarters library in Bellville holds a large collection of Ohio genealogical materials. Members get access to online databases with extracted records from many sources.
Ohio Memory is a digital library run by the Ohio History Connection and the State Library of Ohio. It holds items from over 360 institutions across the state. You can search for obituaries, cemetery records, funeral home records, and gravestone photos. The whole collection is free to browse with no sign-up needed. Their newspaper archives can also turn up death notices and obituaries from local papers going back many decades.
The National Center for Health Statistics at the CDC keeps a reference page for Ohio vital records. It lists state contact info and links to official resources. This is helpful if you need to compare Ohio death index rules with other states or want a federal starting point for your search.
If official death records are hard to find, check alternative sources. Cemetery records, funeral home files, church records, and Bible records can fill gaps. The Ohio History Connection holds graves registration cards for soldiers from the Revolutionary War through World War II. Each card may list the soldier's name, death date, cause of death, burial place, and military service record. Coroner's records and the Social Security Death Index are other options when standard death certificates are not available.
Browse Ohio Death Records by County
Each of Ohio's 88 counties keeps death records through its health department and probate court. Pick a county below to find local contact info, fees, and resources for death records in that area.
Death Index in Major Ohio Cities
City residents get death records from the county health department or probate court. Pick a city below to find which county handles death records for that area.