Stark County Death Index
Stark County death index records are available through several sources in Canton, the county seat. The Stark County Health Department handles death certificates from 1908 to the present. The Probate Court holds older records going back to 1867. The University of Akron Archival Services also has historical Stark County materials. You can search the Ohio death index online for free to find Stark County entries from 1913 to 1944 and 1954 to 1963. This page covers all the ways to find and get Stark County death records.
Stark County Overview
Stark County Death Certificates
The Stark County Health Department issues certified death certificates for deaths that occurred in Stark County from 1908 to the present. The office is in Canton. Walk-in requests during business hours get the fastest results. Staff can search by name and date of death and print a certified copy the same day. Certified copies cost about $25.00 each.
Cash, check, and money order are accepted for payment. Mail orders work too. Send a letter with the full name of the deceased, date of death or year range, the number of copies, and your payment. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope and your phone number. Ohio death certificates are public records under ORC Chapter 3705. Anyone can request a copy without proving a family relationship. For deaths within the last five years, the social security number is redacted unless you are an authorized requester like a spouse, child, parent, or estate representative.
Stark County is one of the larger counties in Ohio. Canton, the county seat, is also home to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The county has a population of over 370,000, which means the health department processes a large volume of vital records requests. Allow extra time during busy periods. The Ohio local health districts directory has current contact information for the Stark County health office.
| Office | Stark County Health Department |
|---|---|
| Location | Canton, OH |
| Phone | (330) 493-9904 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, regular business hours |
Stark County Death Index Before 1908
The Stark County Probate Court holds death records from 1867 to 1908. Ohio required counties to register deaths starting that year. These early records are handwritten entries in ledger books. Each entry shows the name, date of death, age, cause of death, and birthplace. Some also include parent names.
The Probate Court is in the Stark County Courthouse in downtown Canton. You can visit in person to search through the old record books. Staff handle genealogy requests regularly and can point you to the right volumes. There is no online index for these pre-1908 records, so an in-person visit or written request is needed. The court can make copies of ledger entries for a small fee.
The Stark County Probate Court website shown below has information about their services and records.
These older records are a key resource for Stark County genealogy. The cause of death, birthplace, and age at death help distinguish between people with similar names and build a more complete family picture. All probate death records are public and open to anyone.
Note: Stark County probate death records from 1867 to 1908 are handwritten, and names may appear with spelling variations common to that era.
Stark County Historical Death Records
The University of Akron Archival Services holds historical records from the Stark County area. Their collections include materials that can help with death index research, including local government records, organizational papers, and historical documents. The archives are open to researchers by appointment.
The University of Akron is in neighboring Summit County but its archival holdings cover much of northeast Ohio, including Stark County. If you are looking for records that the local courthouse or health department cannot provide, the university archives may have what you need. Below is a look at the University of Akron Archival Services page.
Contact the archives before visiting. They operate on a limited schedule and some collections require advance notice to access. Phone or email is the best way to check if they have materials related to your Stark County death index research.
Search Stark County Death Index Online
The free Ohio Death Certificate Index covers 1913 to 1944 and 1954 to 1963. Search by name to find Stark County entries. Each result shows the county, date of death, and certificate number. You need that number to order a copy of the full certificate.
FamilySearch has free digital images of Ohio death certificates from 1908 to 1953. Create a free account to view them. Their Ohio County Death Records collection goes from 1840 to 2001 and may include Stark County entries. Not all years are indexed by name. You may need to browse images for some periods. The Ohio Genealogical Society has statewide indexes and the Stark County chapter has compiled local finding aids and resources.
Ohio Memory is a free digital library with materials from over 360 Ohio institutions. You may find Stark County newspaper obituaries, funeral home records, or cemetery listings. The Stark County District Library and the McKinley Presidential Library and Museum in Canton both have local history collections with genealogy materials. The Canton Repository newspaper has obituaries going back many decades.
How to Get Stark County Death Records
Walk into the Stark County Health Department in Canton for the quickest service. Bring the name and date of death. Staff can search their files and print a certified copy while you wait. This is the best option if you are in the area.
Mail requests take one to two weeks. Send payment with the deceased's full name, date of death, and number of copies to the health department. For online ordering, VitalChek accepts credit cards but adds a service fee. The Ohio Department of Health in Columbus fills statewide requests at $21.50 per certified copy. State orders are slower but work well when you cannot get to the local office.
For pre-1908 records, visit the Stark County Probate Court in Canton. Write to the court if you cannot visit in person. For archival research, contact the University of Akron Archival Services about their Stark County holdings.
- Walk-in at Stark County Health Department for 1908 to present
- Mail request with check or money order
- VitalChek for online credit card orders
- Ohio Department of Health for statewide requests
- Probate Court for records from 1867 to 1908
- University of Akron archives for historical materials
Stark County Death Index Resources
Cemetery records are a useful resource in Stark County. West Lawn Cemetery, Forest Hill Cemetery, and dozens of smaller cemeteries across the county have burial records that can confirm death dates and family ties. Church records from the many congregations in Canton, Massillon, Alliance, and other Stark County communities may also have death and burial entries.
The Stark County Genealogical Society has compiled local records, obituary indexes, and cemetery transcriptions. For military veterans, the Ohio History Connection holds graves registration cards from the Revolutionary War through World War II with name, death date, cause of death, and burial place. The McKinley Presidential Library and Museum in Canton has a research center with local history and genealogy materials. Newspaper obituaries in the Canton Repository and other area papers can provide detailed family information that official death index entries leave out.
Nearby Counties
Stark County borders these counties. Check them if a death may have happened in a neighboring area.