How to Find Ohio Death Records
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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Learn more about U.S. Death Records 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:
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.
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:
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. Not all deaths occurring in this time period are in the indexes below. If you cannot find your person, go to Step Two below. STEP ONE: Find Death Information
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Ohio Deaths Databases - Includes Index and Digital Images | ||||
Try 1st: | ||||
1908 - 1953 - At FamilySearch.org | Free; Ohio, Deaths, 1908-1953: Name index and images of Ohio statewide death certificates. | |||
Next try: | ||||
1908-1932, 1938-1944, and 1958-2007 - At FamilySearch.org | Free; Ohio Death Index: Index of deaths from the Ohio Department of Health in Columbus. Also available on Ancestry.com, free at FamilySearch centers. Index Only | |||
Or: | ||||
1913-1944 - At the Ohio History Connection | Free; Ohio Public Records Index: Index of death certificates from the Ohio Department of Health, prepared by the Ohio History Connection. Includes links to order certificates. | |||
Or: | ||||
1913-1944, 1954-1963 - At MyHeritage.com | ($) Requires MyHeritage Membership; Ohio Death Index, 1913-1944, 1954-1963: Index of death certificates from the Ohio Department of Health, created from various official index extracts. Index Only | |||
Or: | ||||
1908-1932, 1938-2018 - At Ancestry.com | ($) Requires Ancestry Membership Index & Images | |||
Or: | ||||
1840-2001 - At FamilySearch.org | Free; Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001: Name index and images of county death records from the state of Ohio. Dates vary by county. Index Only | |||
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 |
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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 |
Index to Death Certificates may be searched at the Ohio History Connection. Includes links to order certificates.
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 occurred 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; Ohio Death Index: Index of deaths from the Ohio Department of Health in Columbus. Also available on Ancestry.com, free at FamilySearch centers. | |||
Next try: | ||||
1954-1970 - At the Ohio History Connection | Free; Ohio Public Records Index: Index of death certificates from the Ohio Department of Health, prepared by the Ohio History Connection. | |||
Or: | ||||
1959-2012 at Findmypast.com | ($) Requires Findmypast Subscription Ohio Deaths, 1959-2012: Name index from the state of Ohio. Dates vary by county. | |||
Or: | ||||
1913-1944, 1954-1963 at MyHeritage | ($) Requires MyHeritage Subscription Ohio Death Index, 1913-1944, 1954-1963: Name index from the state of Ohio. Dates vary by county. | |||
Or: | ||||
1840-2001 - At FamilySearch.org | Free; Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001: Name index and images of county death records from the state of Ohio. Dates vary by county. | |||
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.