Search Ross County Death Index
Ross County death index records are held in Chillicothe, the county seat and Ohio's first state capital. The Ross County Health District handles death certificates from 1908 forward, while the Probate Court keeps older records going back to 1867. You can search the statewide Ohio death index online for free to find Ross County entries from 1913 to 1944 and 1954 to 1963. This page walks you through how to find and get copies of Ross County death records from all available sources.
Ross County Overview
Ross County Death Certificates
The Ross County Health District issues certified death certificates for deaths that occurred in Ross County from 1908 to the present. The office is in Chillicothe. They handle walk-in requests during regular business hours and also take mail orders. You need the full name of the deceased and the date of death or at least a year range. Certified copies cost about $25.00 each.
Ohio death certificates are public records under ORC Chapter 3705. That means anyone can ask for a copy. You do not need to prove a family relationship. For deaths in the last five years, the social security number is redacted from copies given to the general public. Only authorized people like a spouse, child, parent, or estate representative can get the full unredacted version. Payment is by cash, check, or money order for in-person and mail requests. Some offices also take credit cards now, but call first to be sure.
The Ross County government website has general information about county offices and services. The screenshot below shows the official Ross County site.
Check the Ohio local health districts directory for the most current contact information before you go or mail a request. Hours and fees can change without notice.
| Office | Ross County Health District |
|---|---|
| Location | Chillicothe, OH |
| Phone | (740) 702-3200 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, regular business hours |
Death Index Records Before 1908
The Ross County Probate Court holds death records from 1867. Ohio made death registration a county duty that year. These early records are handwritten ledger entries. Each one shows the name of the deceased, date of death, age, cause of death, and birthplace. Parent names appear in some entries, mostly for children.
Ross County has a long history. Chillicothe was the capital of Ohio from 1803 to 1810 and again from 1812 to 1816. Because of that, Ross County records from the early 1800s are some of the oldest in the state. The Probate Court is in the Ross County Courthouse in downtown Chillicothe. Staff can help you look through the old ledger books. There is no online index for these pre-1908 records, so you need to visit in person or write to the court.
The gap between probate records and health department records is small in Ross County. The court has 1867 to 1908. The health department starts at 1908. Some overlap may exist for that transition year. If you cannot find a record at one office, try the other.
Note: Ross County probate death records from 1867 to 1908 are handwritten and some entries may be difficult to read or have alternate spellings of names.
Search Ross 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 to find Ross County deaths during those years. Each result shows the county, date of death, and certificate number. You need that certificate number to order a copy from the state or local office.
FamilySearch has free digital images of Ohio death certificates from 1908 to 1953. You need a free account to view them. Their Ohio County Death Records collection spans 1840 to 2001 and may include Ross County entries. Some records are indexed by name while others require browsing page by page. The Ohio Genealogical Society maintains additional indexes and resources. The Ross County chapter of the genealogical society may have compiled local finding aids that are not online.
The Ohio Memory digital library has materials from hundreds of Ohio institutions. You may find newspaper obituaries, funeral home records, or cemetery listings from the Ross County area. These are not official death index records, but they help fill in the picture when official sources are incomplete or missing entirely.
Getting Ross County Death Records
The fastest way is to walk into the Ross County Health District in Chillicothe. Bring the name and date of death. Staff can look it up and print a certified copy while you wait. Same-day service is typical for walk-in requests.
Mail requests work if you cannot visit in person. Send a letter to the health district with the full name of the deceased, date of death or year range, number of copies, and a check or money order for the total. Include your return address and phone number. Mail orders usually take one to two weeks. For faster service, VitalChek lets you order with a credit card online. They charge a service fee on top of the base cost. The Ohio Department of Health in Columbus also fills Ross County death certificate requests at $21.50 per certified copy, though state orders take longer to process.
For older records at the Probate Court, visit in person or call the court to ask about their process. They can make copies of ledger entries. These are not certified in the modern sense but serve as proof of death for genealogy and estate work.
Ross County Death Index Resources
Church records, cemetery transcriptions, and funeral home files are all useful sources for Ross County death information. If you know where a person lived and what church they attended, those records may give a death date and burial site. The Ross County Historical Society in Chillicothe has local history materials that can help with research.
For military veterans, the Ohio History Connection holds graves registration cards from the Revolutionary War through World War II. These list name, death date, cause of death, and burial place. The Ohio History Connection archives in Columbus also has Ross County records on microfilm. Newspaper obituaries in the Chillicothe Gazette and other local papers can provide family details that official records lack. Many older issues are on microfilm at the Chillicothe and Ross County Public Library.
- Ross County Health District for death certificates from 1908 to present
- Probate Court for records from 1867 to 1908
- Ohio Death Certificate Index online for 1913-1944 and 1954-1963
- FamilySearch for digital images of death certificates
- Ohio History Connection archives for microfilm records
Nearby Counties
These counties border Ross County. If the death may have happened nearby, check these counties as well.