Find Meigs County Death Index

Meigs County death index records are available through several local and state offices. The county seat is Pomeroy, located along the Ohio River in southeastern Ohio. The Meigs County Health Department handles modern death certificates while the Probate Court keeps older genealogy records going back to 1867. You can search the Ohio Death Certificate Index online at no cost for Meigs County entries from 1913 to 1944 and 1954 to 1963. The Probate Court also maintains a genealogy page with links to their historical collections.

Meigs County Death Index at Probate Court

The Meigs County Probate Court has death records from 1867 to 1908. The court is in Pomeroy at the county courthouse. Ohio required death registration starting in 1867, and Meigs County has records from that first year. The early records are handwritten ledger entries showing the name of the deceased, date of death, age, cause of death, and birthplace. Some entries list parents' names but that was not always recorded.

The Probate Court maintains a genealogy page with information about their historical record collections. This includes death records, marriage records, and birth records from the pre-1908 era. Researchers can visit the courthouse during business hours to search these records. Staff can help locate specific entries if you have a name and approximate date of death. The records are not digitized, so you need to visit in person or hire a local researcher to look for you.

Here is the Meigs County Probate Court genealogy page.

The genealogy page explains what records the court holds and how to request searches for Meigs County vital records from the 1800s.

Meigs County Death Certificates

The Meigs County Health Department issues certified death certificates for deaths that happened in Meigs County. Modern death certificates are available from the health department. Walk-in requests at the Pomeroy office are the quickest way to get a copy. You need the full name of the deceased and the date of death. Each certified copy costs about $25.00.

Mail requests are also accepted. Send a letter with the deceased person's full name, date of death, your name and return address, a phone number, and payment by check or money order. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Processing time varies depending on how busy the office is, but most requests are handled within a couple of weeks.

Below is the Meigs County Health Department website where you can find contact details and office hours.

Check their site or call before visiting to confirm current fees and hours for Meigs County death certificate requests.

Search Meigs County Death Index Online

The Ohio Death Certificate Index covers 1913 to 1944 and 1954 to 1963. This free database lets you search by name. Results show the county, date of death, and certificate number. Meigs County entries appear in the statewide index. If you find a match, write down the certificate number so you can order the full document.

FamilySearch provides free access to Ohio death certificate images from 1908 to 1953. You can browse by county through the Ohio County Death Records collection which spans 1840 to 2001. A free account is all you need. Not every record is indexed by name, so browsing by county and year is sometimes the only option. For a rural county like Meigs, there are fewer records to sort through which makes browsing practical.

The Ohio Genealogical Society maintains indexes and databases that include Meigs County records. Membership is required for full access. Local genealogical societies in southeastern Ohio have compiled cemetery transcriptions and obituary files that can supplement official death records. These are especially helpful for finding deaths that were never formally registered in the early years.

Meigs County Death Record Access

Ohio law treats death records as public. Under Ohio Revised Code Title 37, anyone can request a death certificate. You do not need to be related to the deceased. For deaths in the last five years, the social security number gets removed from copies given to non-qualified requesters. Qualified applicants include the spouse, parent, child, or estate representative.

The Ohio Department of Health in Columbus has death certificates for all Ohio counties from December 20, 1908 forward. If you cannot reach the Meigs County office or need a record from a different county, the state office is your backup. A certified copy from the state costs $21.50. For faster service, VitalChek lets you order online with a credit card. They charge extra fees but offer expedited shipping.

The Ohio local health districts directory lists current contact information for the Meigs County Health Department. Hours and fees can change, so checking before a trip is a good idea.

More Meigs County Death Index Resources

The Ohio Memory digital library has materials from hundreds of Ohio institutions. Some collections touch on Meigs County history. Newspapers, photographs, and documents in the collection may reference deaths not found in official indexes. It is free to browse and search.

Cemetery records along the Ohio River valley are a valuable source for Meigs County deaths. Many small family cemeteries dot the hills of southeastern Ohio. Some have been transcribed by local volunteers, while others remain unrecorded. Funeral home records, church registers, and newspaper obituaries from the Pomeroy area round out the available sources for finding information about Meigs County deaths.

Nearby Counties

These counties neighbor Meigs County. Deaths near county borders may have been filed in any of these locations.