Lancaster Death Index

Lancaster death index records are maintained by Fairfield County. Lancaster is the county seat, so all the offices that process and store death records are located right in the city. The Fairfield County Health Department issues certified copies of death certificates for deaths from 1908 to the present. Older records sit at the probate court. Ohio also has a free online death index that covers some years. This page explains where to search for Lancaster death records, who to contact, and how the process works for each type of request.

Lancaster Death Records Through Fairfield County

Lancaster does not maintain its own vital records office. Fairfield County handles all death records for the area. The Fairfield County government runs the health department and probate court that process death certificates for every death in the county, including those in Lancaster. Death registration is a county function under Ohio Revised Code Title 37. The city has no part in filing or storing these records.

When someone dies in Lancaster, the funeral home or doctor files the death certificate with the local registrar. It goes to the Fairfield County office and then to the Ohio Department of Health. Both the county and state keep copies. You can get certified copies from either one. Since the county offices are right in Lancaster, walk-in requests are easy for local residents.

For the full breakdown of Fairfield County death index records, fees, office hours, and contact info, check the Fairfield County Death Index page.

Fairfield County Health Department

The Fairfield County Health Department issues death certificates for deaths in Fairfield County from 1908 to the present. The office is in Lancaster. Certified copies cost around $25 each. You can request them in person during business hours, by mail, or through the state online system.

The screenshot below shows the Fairfield County Health Department website, which has information on how to request death certificates for the Lancaster area.

Walk-in requests are fast. Bring a valid ID and know the full name and date of death. Staff can pull up the record and print a copy while you wait. For mail requests, send a written request with the name of the deceased, date of death, your relationship, contact information, and payment by check or money order. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Processing by mail usually takes a week or two depending on how busy the office is.

Ohio is an open record state for death certificates. Anyone can request a copy. For deaths in the last five years, the social security number is blacked out on copies given to the general public. Immediate family and legal representatives can get the full unredacted version. This applies to all copies from both the county and state offices.

Search Lancaster Death Index Online

The free Ohio Death Certificate Index covers 1913 to 1944 and 1954 to 1963. Enter a name and it returns matches from across Ohio. Look for Fairfield County entries. The results include the date of death and certificate number. That number is what you need to order a copy of the actual certificate from the county or state.

Ohio Memory is a free digital library with materials from hundreds of Ohio institutions. You may find obituaries, burial records, and cemetery transcriptions for Lancaster and Fairfield County. The Ohio Genealogical Society has additional indexes and member records that may cover deaths not in the state database.

For records outside the free index years, you can order through VitalChek. They accept credit cards and offer different shipping speeds. Processing fees apply on top of the base cost. It costs more but is useful if you cannot visit the county office in person.

How to Get Lancaster Death Records

Since the Fairfield County offices are in Lancaster, getting death records is simpler than in cities where the county seat is far away. Here are your options.

• Fairfield County Health Department for deaths from 1908 to present (about $25 per certified copy)
• Fairfield County Probate Court for deaths before 1908
• Ohio Department of Health for any Ohio death from 1908 forward ($21.50 per certified copy)
• VitalChek for online credit card orders (extra fees apply)
• Ohio History Connection for research copies from 1908 to 1970 (about $14, uncertified)

The probate court holds death records going back to the early days of Fairfield County. These are handwritten ledger entries with the name, date, age, cause of death, and sometimes birthplace. The Ohio local health districts directory can confirm the current contact details for the Fairfield County health office. Hours and fees may shift, so it pays to check before you go or send a request.

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Lancaster. If you are not sure where a death took place, check these areas.