Find Union County Death Index

Union County death index records go back to 1867 and are available through both local offices and an online database. The county seat is Marysville, which is where the health department and probate court handle death records. One thing that sets Union County apart is its searchable online death records index covering 1867 to 1908. This free tool makes it one of the easier Ohio counties to research for historical death information. For certified death certificates from 1908 forward, the Union County Health Department in Marysville is the main contact. The state of Ohio also has a free death index online that covers some years.

Union County Death Records Index

The Union County Death Records Index is a free searchable database covering 1867 to 1908. This is a standout resource. Most Ohio counties do not have their pre-1908 death records online. You can search by name, and the index returns the date of death, age, cause, and other details from the original ledger entries.

The database was created from the original probate court death registers. Each entry was transcribed from handwritten ledger books. Keep in mind that spelling was not always consistent in the 1800s, so try different variations of names if your first search does not find what you need. The index covers all deaths recorded in Union County during this period.

The screenshot above shows the Union County Death Records Index search page. It is simple to use. Type a name and hit search. Results come up fast and show the key details from each record.

This online index is maintained by a volunteer group and hosted separately from the county government site. It is one of the best resources for Union County genealogy. If you find an entry you need, you can then contact the probate court or health department for a certified copy of the full record.

Union County Death Certificates

The Union County Health Department issues certified death certificates for deaths from 1908 to the present. The office is in Marysville. Walk-in service is available during business hours. Staff can search by name and pull records quickly. This is the fastest way to get a copy.

Certified copies cost about $25 each. Cash, check, and money order are accepted. For mail requests, include the full name of the deceased, date of death, your name and address, and payment. A self-addressed stamped envelope helps. Mail processing takes one to two weeks. Ohio law under ORC Chapter 3705 makes death certificates open records. Anyone can get a copy without proving a relationship.

The Union County government website has contact details and links to county departments. Check there for current hours and any fee changes before making a trip to Marysville.

The official Union County website lists departments, services, and contact information for all county offices including the health department and probate court.

Ohio Death Index for Union County

The Ohio Death Certificate Index is a free tool that covers 1913 to 1944 and 1954 to 1963. Search by name to find Union County entries. Results show the death date, county, and certificate number. You need the certificate number to order a copy from the county or the state.

FamilySearch has free digital images of Ohio death certificates from 1908 to 1953. A free account is needed. Their broader Ohio County Death Records collection covers 1840 to 2001 and may have Union County entries. Not all records are name-indexed, so some browsing through images could be needed.

The Ohio Department of Health issues certified copies at $21.50 each. This is an option if you cannot get what you need from Union County directly. State requests take longer to process. VitalChek is the online ordering system that accepts credit cards, though it adds processing fees on top of the base cost.

Union County Death Index Resources

The Ohio local health districts directory lists contact info for Union County offices. Hours and fees can change, so it is worth checking before a visit. The Ohio Genealogical Society and local chapters have compiled indexes and cemetery transcriptions that cover Union County.

Church records and funeral home files are good sources for Union County death information. Cemetery records in the Marysville area have been transcribed by local groups. The Ohio Memory digital library has free materials from Ohio institutions that may include Union County items. Newspaper obituaries from the Marysville Journal-Tribune and other local papers are another option for finding death dates and family details.

For military veteran deaths, the Ohio History Connection has graves registration cards from the Revolutionary War through World War II. These list the name, death date, burial place, and service information.

Nearby Counties

Union County shares borders with several counties. If you cannot find a death record here, try the neighboring counties.