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.

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Next Step: When did the death occur?

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 * Choose a time period to search for your ancestor's death record:


 * Deaths before 1867
 * Deaths from 1867 thru 1908
 * Deaths from 1908 thru 1953
 * Deaths from 1954 to the present
 * I don't know when the death is


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Deaths before 1867
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.

Return to top: Choose another death year

Deaths from 1867 thru 1908
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:

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.

Return to top: Choose another death year

Deaths from 1908 thru 1953
The state of Ohio began recording deaths in 1908. There are no restrictions on ordering death certificates from Ohio.

STEP ONE: Find Death Information
For deaths that exist during the time period, try the following databases. Try each link.

STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate
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:

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. ''' Return to top: Choose another death year

Deaths from 1954 to the present
The state of Ohio began recording deaths in 1908. There are no restrictions on ordering death certificates from Ohio.

STEP ONE: Find Death Information
For deaths that exist during the time period, try the following databases. Try each link.

STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate
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:

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. ''' Return to top: Choose another death year

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