Franklin County Death Index

Franklin County death index records span from 1867 through the Probate Court and from 1908 forward through the local health department. Columbus is the county seat and the state capital, making Franklin County the most populated county in Ohio. You can search the Ohio death index online for free to find Franklin County entries from 1913 to 1944 and 1954 to 1963. Columbus Public Health handles city vital records, while the Franklin County Probate Court holds historical death records. The Columbus Board of Health death certificates from 1904 to 1908 are also in the state database, giving Franklin County broader coverage than many Ohio counties.

Franklin County Probate Court Death Records

The Franklin County Probate Court holds death records from 1867 to 1908. Ohio started requiring death registration in 1867, and Franklin County has records from that point. These are handwritten ledger entries. Each one shows the name, date of death, age, cause of death, and birthplace. Some entries include parents' names, which was more common for children. The Probate Court is located in Columbus and you can visit during business hours to search these records.

The Probate Court screenshot below shows their website, which has information about accessing historical records and other court services in Franklin County.

There is no statewide index for Ohio deaths before December 20, 1908. You must know the death happened in Franklin County to search these pre-1908 records. Staff at the Probate Court can help you look through the ledger books if you have a name and approximate date. These records are not online, so you need to visit in person or send a written request. Given the volume of records in a county as large as Franklin, having a date range narrows the search and saves time.

Columbus had its own Board of Health that kept separate death records. The Columbus Board of Health death certificates from 1904 to 1908 are part of the statewide Ohio death certificate database. This means Franklin County researchers have an extra four years of indexed records compared to most other Ohio counties. That is a significant advantage for anyone searching for deaths in the Columbus area during that period.

Death Certificates in Franklin County

Columbus Public Health handles vital records for the city of Columbus. For deaths that took place outside the city limits but within Franklin County, the Franklin County General Health District is the right office. Both can issue certified copies of death certificates from 1908 to the present. Copies cost about $25.00 each. Walk-in requests are usually filled the same day during regular business hours.

For mail requests, send a letter with the full name of the deceased, date of death, your relationship, your phone number, and payment by check or money order. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Processing by mail typically takes a few weeks. The Franklin County government website has links to local offices and services that can help you figure out which office to contact based on where the death happened.

The Franklin County government portal links to county departments and local resources. Below is a screenshot of their official site.

Ohio law under ORC Title 37 makes death records public. Anyone can request a copy. For recent deaths within the past five years, the social security number is blacked out on copies given to the general public. Only authorized requesters like spouses, children, or estate representatives can get the full unredacted version.

Search Franklin County Death Index Online

The free Ohio Death Certificate Index covers Franklin County deaths from 1913 to 1944 and 1954 to 1963. The Columbus Board of Health records from 1904 to 1908 are also in this database. Type in a name and the results show the county, date of death, and certificate number. You need that number to order a copy of the full death certificate.

FamilySearch provides free access to Ohio death certificates from 1908 to 1953. You need a free account. Their Ohio County Death Records collection goes from 1840 to 2001 and includes Franklin County entries. Not every record is indexed, so you might have to browse images page by page. Given the size of Franklin County, that can take some time, but it turns up records that a name search alone might miss.

The Ohio History Connection Archives in Columbus holds Franklin County records on microfilm. Since the archives are right in Columbus, visiting in person is convenient for Franklin County researchers. Contact them at 614-297-2510 or email reference@ohiohistory.org. The Ohio Memory digital library has materials from over 360 Ohio institutions and is free to search.

How to Get Franklin County Death Records

Walk-in is the fastest. Go to Columbus Public Health or the Franklin County General Health District during business hours. Bring an ID. Know the full name and date of death. They can pull the record and make copies while you wait in most cases.

Mail requests work too. Send a letter with the name of the deceased, date of death, your name and address, and payment. For online ordering, VitalChek lets you pay by credit card and pick a shipping speed. VitalChek charges extra fees on top of the base cost. The Ohio Department of Health can also issue copies at $21.50 each for any Ohio death from 1908 forward. The Ohio History Connection has non-certified copies for about $14, but those take 8 to 10 weeks.

• Walk-in: Same day at Columbus Public Health or Franklin County Health District
• Mail: Send request with payment to the appropriate office
• Online: Use VitalChek for credit card orders
• State level: Ohio Department of Health at $21.50 per copy
• Non-certified: Ohio History Connection at about $14 per copy

Franklin County Death Index Resources

The Ohio local health districts directory has contact info for both Columbus Public Health and the Franklin County General Health District. Confirm hours and fees before you visit or mail a request. Things change from time to time.

The Columbus Metropolitan Library has extensive local history and genealogy collections. They hold newspaper archives, cemetery records, and other materials that can help fill gaps in official death records. The Ohio Genealogical Society is headquartered in Bellville but has resources covering all Ohio counties, including Franklin. Church records, funeral home files, and cemetery transcriptions are all useful sources when official records are incomplete or hard to find. For Franklin County deaths before 1867, these alternative sources may be the only option available.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Franklin County. If the death may have occurred outside Columbus, check the neighboring counties as well.