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How to order an Ohio death certificate

Who holds it: ODH Bureau of Vital Statistics for 1971–present; pre-1971 deaths: local health department where death occurred (certified copies); originals 1908–1970 at Ohio History Connection1

Last checked against official sources on .

On this page
  1. Who may order and what is restricted
  2. Older records and indexes
  3. Related records in Ohio
  4. How Ohio handles it
  5. Death certificates in Ohio counties with a full guide
  6. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  7. Sources

Fee

$21.50 per certified death record1

Who may order

Any applicant (public record)2

Who may order and what is restricted

Restrictions
Decedent SSN omitted for first 5 years unless requested by spouse, lineal descendant, executor and other listed persons2

Older records and indexes

Older than50
Online ODH orders: death records more than 50 years old must be requested from local vital statistics office1
Birth certificates: who holds it
ODH Bureau of Vital Statistics (Dec. 20, 1908–present) and local health departments (local registrars)3
Birth certificates: fee
$21.50 per certified birth record (search fee, charged even if no record found)1
Probate: who holds it
County Probate Court (probate division of common pleas): wills, estates, guardianships, adoptions, marriage licenses4
Older records: death index
Ohio death certificates 1908–1970 research index5

How Ohio handles it

  • Open vital records. Any applicant2
  • Pre-1971 death records. History Connection custody1

Death certificates in Ohio counties with a full guide

The local office, its official online search and its own fee, for each county with a full guide. Local fees can differ from the statewide figures above.

CountyOfficeSearch onlineFee
Allen CountyAllen County Public Health6—$27.00 per certified copy7
Ashland CountyAshland County Health Department, Vital Statistics8—$25 per certificate; VitalChek adds $7.008
Ashtabula CountyAshtabula County Health Department - Vital Statistics9—$25.00 per certified copy10
Athens CountyAthens City-County Health Department, Vital Statistics11—$22.00 per copy11
Belmont CountyBelmont County Health Department, Vital Statistics12——
Butler CountyButler County General Health District13—$25.00 each at the General Health District; city department fees not stated13
Clark CountyClark County Combined Health District, Vital Statistics14—$24.00 per certified death certificate14
Clermont CountyClermont County Public Health, Vital Statistics15—$25.00 per certified copy16
Columbiana CountyColumbiana County General Health District, Vital Statistics17—$27.00 per certified copy18
Cuyahoga CountyVital Statistics19—$21.50 (ODH certified death record)20
Darke CountyDarke County General Health District, Vital Statistics21—$24 each21
Delaware CountyDelaware Public Health District, Vital Statistics22——
Erie CountyErie County Health Department, Bureau of Vital Statistics23——
Fairfield CountyFairfield County Health Department, Vital Statistics24—$32 per certificate; card fees apply24
Franklin CountyODH (1971–present); pre-1971 via local health department25——
Greene CountyGreene County Public Health: Vital Statistics Office26—$24.00 per certified copy26
Hamilton CountyHamilton County Public Health - Vital Records27—$27 per certified copy28
Hancock CountyHancock Public Health29—$30.00 per certified copy30
Huron CountyHuron County Public Health, Office of Birth and Death Records31—$25.00 per certified copy; $6.00 mailing fee32
Jefferson CountyJefferson County General Health District, Vital Statistics Division33——
Knox County———
Lake CountyLake County General Health District34——
Lawrence CountyLawrence County Health Department35——
Licking CountyLicking County Health Department36—Certified copy fee: $25.0036
Lorain CountyLorain County Public Health, Vital Statistics37—$25 per certified copy38
Lucas CountyToledo-Lucas County Health Department - Vital Statistics39—$25 per certified copy; VitalChek online adds $7.00 plus expedited UPS shipping40
Mahoning CountyCity of Youngstown Vital Statistics41——
Marion CountyMarion Public Health, Vital Statistics Office42—$25.00 per certified death certificate42
Medina CountyMedina County Health Department, Birth & Death Records43—Certified copy fee: $26.00 per copy44
Miami CountyMiami County Public Health45—$25.00 per certified death certificate (Ohio deaths)45
Montgomery CountyMontgomery County Combined Health District Bureau of Vital Statistics46——
Muskingum CountyZanesville-Muskingum County Health Department, Vital Records47—$25.00 certified48
Pickaway CountyPickaway County Public Health, Vital Statistics49—$30.00 per certified copy at the county health department50
Portage CountyKent City Health Department, Vital Statistics51—$24.00 per certified copy52
Richland CountyRichland Public Health, Vital Statistics53—$25 per copy54
Ross CountyRoss County Health District, Vital Statistics55—$30 per certified death record55
Sandusky CountySandusky County Public Health, Vital Statistics56—$25.00 each57
Scioto CountyScioto County Health Department (local); also Ohio Department of Health58——
Seneca CountySeneca County General Health District, Vital Statistics59—$25 per copy59
Stark CountyStark County Health Department: certified death records 1908-present, $25.00 in person (same-day kiosk) or online via Permitium (+$4)60——
Summit CountySummit County Public Health61——
Trumbull CountyCertified death certificates $25 each from Warren City Health Department Vital Statistics62——
Tuscarawas CountyHealth Department63——
Union CountyAfter 1909: Union County Health Department; 1867-1909: Probate Court64—County fee: $25.00 per certified death certificate; Health Department issues Ohio deaths 2007-present65
Warren CountyWarren County Health District, Department of Birth and Death Records66—$22.00 per certified copy66
Washington CountyWashington County Health Department, Vital Statistics67—$25.00 each68
Wayne CountyWayne County Health Department, Vital Statistics69—$27 per certified certificate; $2 extra to mail70
Wood CountyWood County Health Department, Vital Records71—$25 certified71

For any other county, see the county list on the Ohio guide.

Official copies vs look-alike sites

A certified copy comes only from the office that holds the record; reports and "research copies" sold by commercial sites are not issued by any Ohio office. How to tell an official record source from a paid look-alike.

Rules in other states: death certificates in every state. Everything else in Ohio: Ohio public records guide.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

  1. How to Order CertificatesOhio Department of Health – Bureau of Vital Statisticschecked November 4, 2026
  2. Ohio Revised Code 3705.23 – Certified copies of vital recordsOhio Legislative Service Commission (codes.ohio.gov)checked November 4, 2026
  3. Vital StatisticsOhio Department of Healthchecked November 4, 2026
  4. Judicial System StructureSupreme Court of Ohiochecked November 4, 2026
  5. Archives & LibraryOhio History Connectionchecked November 4, 2026
  6. Allen County Ohio homepageAllen County Commissionerschecked November 4, 2026
  7. Birth & Death RecordsAllen County Public Healthchecked November 4, 2026
  8. Birth and Death RecordsAshland County Health Departmentchecked November 7, 2026
  9. Government menuAshtabula Countychecked November 4, 2026
  10. Vital StatisticsAshtabula County Health Departmentchecked November 4, 2026
  11. Vital StatisticsAthens City-County Health Departmentchecked November 7, 2026
  12. Birth & Death RecordsBelmont County Probate Courtchecked November 4, 2026
  13. Birth & Death CertificatesButler County General Health Districtchecked November 4, 2026
  14. Birth and Death RecordsClark County Combined Health Districtchecked November 4, 2026
  15. Recorder I Want To… (FAQ)Clermont County Recorderchecked November 4, 2026
  16. Application to Purchase Birth and Death Certificates (PDF)Clermont County Public Healthchecked November 4, 2026
  17. Columbiana County PortalColumbiana Countychecked November 4, 2026
  18. Vital Statistics (Birth/Death Records)Columbiana County General Health Districtchecked November 4, 2026
  19. Department A-Z DirectoryCuyahoga Countychecked November 4, 2026
  20. Order a Birth or Death CertificateOhio Department of Healthchecked November 4, 2026
  21. Birth & DeathDarke County General Health Districtchecked November 7, 2026
  22. Government Offices & AgenciesDelaware County, Ohioarchived copychecked November 4, 2026
  23. Erie County, Ohio home pageErie County, Ohiochecked November 6, 2026
  24. Vital Statistics, Birth & Death CertificatesFairfield Countychecked November 4, 2026
  25. Order a Birth or Death CertificateOhio Department of Healthchecked November 4, 2026
  26. Birth and Death CertificatesGreene County Public Healthchecked November 4, 2026
  27. Hamilton County, OH (home)Hamilton County, Ohiochecked November 4, 2026
  28. Birth & Death CertificatesHamilton County Public Healthchecked November 4, 2026
  29. Hancock Public Health homeHancock Public Healthchecked November 6, 2026
  30. Birth and Death RecordsHancock Public Healthchecked November 6, 2026
  31. Huron County, OH home page (departments menu)Huron County, Ohiochecked November 7, 2026
  32. Birth & Death CertificatesHuron County Public Healthchecked November 7, 2026
  33. Jefferson County, Ohio (home page and menus)Jefferson County, Ohiochecked November 7, 2026
  34. Birth and Death RecordsLake County General Health Districtchecked November 4, 2026
  35. DepartmentsLawrence County Board of Commissionerschecked November 7, 2026
  36. Vitals |Licking County Health Departmentchecked November 4, 2026
  37. Birth CertificatesLorain County Public Healthchecked November 4, 2026
  38. Death CertificatesLorain County Public Healthchecked November 4, 2026
  39. Lucas County Records CenterLucas County Clerk of Courtschecked November 4, 2026
  40. Death CertificatesToledo-Lucas County Health Departmentchecked November 4, 2026
  41. Health - Vital Statistics DivisionCity of Youngstownchecked November 4, 2026
  42. Birth & Death CertificatesMarion Public Healthchecked November 4, 2026
  43. Birth and Death | Medina County Health DepartmentMedina County Health Departmentchecked November 4, 2026
  44. Death Certificates | Medina County Health DepartmentMedina County Health Departmentchecked November 4, 2026
  45. Birth & Death RecordsMiami County Public Healthchecked November 4, 2026
  46. FAQs • Montgomery County, OH • CivicEngageMontgomery County Recorderchecked November 4, 2026
  47. Zanesville-Muskingum County Health Departmentchecked November 6, 2026
  48. Birth & Death CertificatesZanesville-Muskingum County Health Departmentchecked November 6, 2026
  49. Useful WebsitesPickaway County Clerk of Courtschecked November 7, 2026
  50. Birth Certificate RequestPickaway County Public Healthchecked November 7, 2026
  51. Birth and Death RecordsPortage County Combined General Health Districtchecked November 4, 2026
  52. Birth and Death RecordsCity of Kent Health Departmentchecked November 4, 2026
  53. Richland Public Health (county department page)Richland County, Ohiochecked November 4, 2026
  54. Vital StatisticsRichland Public Healthchecked November 4, 2026
  55. Vital StatisticsRoss County Health Districtchecked November 4, 2026
  56. Birth and Death Records Search | Sandusky County Probate CourtSandusky County, OHchecked November 7, 2026
  57. SC Public Health | Vital StatsSandusky County, OHchecked November 7, 2026
  58. Recorder FAQScioto County Recorderchecked November 4, 2026
  59. Birth & Death CertificatesSeneca County General Health Districtchecked November 4, 2026
  60. Death RecordsStark County Health Departmentchecked November 4, 2026
  61. Birth & Death RecordsSummit County Public Healthchecked November 4, 2026
  62. Warren City Health Department Vital StatisticsCity of Warren Health Departmentchecked November 4, 2026
  63. Birth & Death CertificatesTuscarawas County Health Departmentchecked November 4, 2026
  64. Probate Division RecordsUnion County Probate Divisionchecked November 4, 2026
  65. Birth & Death Records – Union County Health DepartmentUnion County Health Department (linked from the Probate Division Records page)checked November 6, 2026
  66. Birth and Death RecordsWarren County Health Districtchecked November 4, 2026
  67. Public Records Request | Washington County, OH - Official WebsiteWashington County, OHchecked November 7, 2026
  68. Birth and Death Records | Washington County, OH - Official WebsiteWashington County, OHchecked November 7, 2026
  69. Wayne County Ohio (home)Wayne County, OHchecked November 4, 2026
  70. Birth and Death RecordsWayne County Health Departmentchecked November 4, 2026
  71. Birth and Death RecordsWood County Health Departmentchecked November 4, 2026