How to Find Ohio Death Records
How to Find United States Deaths 
Ohio Deaths
The Ohio Territory became a state in 1803. A statute was enacted in 1856-57 requiring registration of deaths, but it was mostly ignored. A law was passed in 1867 requiring registration but the current record keeping system was not in place until 1908.
Next Step: When did the death occur? [edit | edit source] |
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Deaths before 1867[edit | edit source]
Before 1867, deaths were not recorded formally by the county or state. Almost 50,000 records from 1854-1867 are indexed in the following database:
| Ohio Deaths and Burials Database - Includes Index only | ||||
| 1854-1997 - At FamilySearch.org | Free; dates vary by county. | |||
If your ancestor's death was not found in this database, you must search substitute records to locate your ancestor’s death date and place.
| Records that give death information: | ||
Deaths from 1867 thru 1908[edit | edit source]
Prior to 1908, death records for the state of Ohio were kept by the county probate court where the death occurred. Some of these records are indexed in this database:
| Ohio Deaths and Burials Database - Includes Index only | ||||
| 1854-1997 - At FamilySearch.org | Free; dates vary by county. | |||
If your ancestor's death was not found in this database, you must search substitute records to locate your ancestor’s death date and place.
| Records that give death information: | ||
Deaths from 1908 thru 1953[edit | edit source]
The state of Ohio began recording deaths in 1908. There are no restrictions on ordering death certificates from Ohio.
STEP ONE: Find Death Information
[edit | edit source]
For deaths that exist during the time period, try the following databases. Try each link.
| Ohio Deaths Databases - Includes Index and Digital Images | ||||
| Try 1st: | ||||
| 1908 - 1953 - At FamilySearch.org] | Free; name index and images of Ohio statewide death certificates | |||
| Next try: | ||||
| Includes Index Only | ||||
| Choose one of the following: | ||||
| 1908-1932, 1938-1944, and 1958-2007 - At FamilySearch.org] | Free; index of deaths from the Ohio Department of Health in Columbus | |||
| 1908-1932, 1938-2007 use at FamilySearch Centers/Libraries | Free at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Find your local FamilySearch Center | |||
| 1908-1932, 1938-2007 use your Ancestry subscription | $, To obtain a subscription to Ancestry; Ancestry is often available through your local public library for free | |||
| 1913-1944 - At the Ohio Historical Society | Free; index of death certificates from the Ohio Department of Health. | |||
| Can't search the index listed above? | Try searching other records for death information. | |||
| Can't find your ancestor in the index? | Tips for searching indexes | |||
| No death record for your ancestor? | Other records with death information | |||
STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate[edit | edit source]
If the image was not included in the index entry above, you can order a copy of the death record for a fee from the following locations:
| To Order Death Certificates | |||
| From County of Death | From OH Dept. of Health State office | ||
| Pros | Cons | Pros | Cons |
| May be less expensive and faster than ordering from the state | County websites can be more difficult to use | Offers a search of the state index for an additional fee | May be more expensive than ordering from the county |
Death Certificates for the period December 20, 1908 through 1953 are held at the Ohio Historical Society.
If you do not know the exact date or place of death:
The Ohio Department of Health will search for the death of one individual for free. Searches for additional individuals are available for a fee.
If you do not want to order the death record, there are other records with death information you can search.
Deaths from 1954 to the present[edit | edit source]
The state of Ohio began recording deaths in 1908. There are no restrictions on ordering death certificates from Ohio.
STEP ONE: Find Death Information
[edit | edit source]
For deaths that exist during the time period, try the following databases. Try each link.
| Ohio Deaths Databases - Includes Index Only | ||||
| Try 1st: | ||||
| 1908-1932, 1938-1944, and 1958-2007 - At FamilySearch.org] | Free; index of deaths from the Ohio Department of Health in Columbus. | |||
| Next try: | ||||
| Choose one of the following: | ||||
| 1908-1932, 1938-2007 use at FamilySearch Centers/Libraries | Free at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Find your local FamilySearch Center | |||
| 1908-1932, 1938-2007 use your Ancestry subscription | $, To obtain a subscription to Ancestry; Ancestry is often available through your local public library for free | |||
| Can't search the index listed above? | Try searching other records for death information. | |||
| Can't find your ancestor in the index? | Tips for searching indexes | |||
| No death record for your ancestor? | Other records with death information | |||
STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate[edit | edit source]
If the image was not included in the index entry above, you can order a copy of the death record for a fee from the following locations:
| To Order Death Certificates | |||
| From County of Death | From OH Dept. of Health State office | ||
| Pros | Cons | Pros | Cons |
| May be less expensive and faster than ordering from the state | County websites can be more difficult to use | Offers a search of the state index for an additional fee | May be more expensive than ordering from the county |
If you do not know the exact date or place of death:
The Ohio Department of Health will search for the death of one individual for free. Searches for additional individuals are available for a fee.
If you do not want to order the death record, there are other records with death information you can search.