Ohio Death Records

Ohio ranks as one of the states with the highest mortality rate in the United States. At 911.8 deaths per 100,000 residents, the state's mortality rate is higher than the United States' average of 793.7 per 100,000 total population. An average of 135,505 deaths are recorded in the state annually. Ohio began statewide documentation of death records in 1867 when the state passed a law to start keeping the records.

Ohio death records generally contain deceased persons' date of birth, the cause of their deaths, and other biographical details. A death certificate is the state's major form of death record. An original death certificate in Ohio is typically jointly prepared by a physician and a funeral director or the entity that will perform cremation or burial. While the funeral director fills out the first part of the death certificate, the physician completes the rest of the certificate.

Original death certificates in Ohio are maintained by the Vital Statistics Offices or the Department of Health in the counties where the death events occurred. Only certified copies of the original certificates are issued to members of the public, and they are generally valid for legal purposes.

How Do I Get a Certified Copy of a Death Certificate in Ohio?

Certified copies of death certificates in Ohio are available from the state's Department of Health through its Bureau of Vital Statistics. They may also be accessed at the local public health departments in the counties where the death events were originally recorded.

Interested individuals may request certified copies of Ohio death certificates from the state's Bureau of Vital Statistics in any of the following ways:

• Get a Certified Copy of an Ohio Death Certificate By Mail - Complete the Application for Ohio Certified Death Record Copies Form and mail it to the Bureau of Statistics at:

  Ohio Department of Health

  Bureau of Vital Statistics

  P.O. Box 15098

  Columbus, OH 43215-0098

  The request should be accompanied by a $21.50 fee, payable by money order or check. Certified copies of death certificates ordered by mail in Ohio are typically processed between 4 to 6 weeks after receipt by the Bureau of Vital Statistics. Requesters may send an email to check the status of their requests after 3 weeks.

• Get a Certified Copy of an Ohio Death Certificate By Mail - To obtain a certified copy of a death certificate online, complete Ohio's Online Certificate Application and submit it online. The application must include the following information:

  • The complete date of birth
  • The complete legal name of the deceased person
  • The decedent's gender
  • The decedent's mother's first name, last name, and last name before marriage
  • A valid credit card for the $21.50 processing fee payment

  Once processed, a certified copy of the death certificate is typically mailed to the billing address on the credit card used for payment. The mailing address must be an address within the United States.

• Get a Certified Copy of an Ohio Death Certificate in Person - Apply in person at any local vital statistics office.

Are Ohio Death Records Public?

Ohio is an open-record state. As such, death records are considered public documents in the state. Generally, any individual who can provide the basic facts of any death record in Ohio may request a copy of that record. Also, records of deaths maintained by a Coroner's Office are considered public records and are subject to public inspection and copying.

However, some information and records maintained by the Coroner's Office are not public records, per Section 313.10 of the Ohio Revised Code. These include suicide notes, photographs of a deceased person made by the Coroner's Office, and psychiatric and medical information of the decedent provided by the Coroner's Office. Others are laboratory reports obtained from analysis of physical evidence, preliminary autopsy and investigative findings and notes, and records of the deceased that are part of a confidential law enforcement investigatory record.

Who Can Request an Original Death Certificate in Ohio?

In Ohio, original death certificates are maintained by the vital statistics offices in the counties where such death events occurred and were recorded. Only certified copies of death records are available for issuance to members of the public. Because Ohio is an open-record state, anyone with basic information about a death record may request a certified copy of the original death certificate.

However, only authorized individuals, entities, or agencies may request certified copies of Ohio death certificates with the decedent's social security number included for deaths that occurred within the last 5 years of the requesting date. Such persons, who must also provide a copy of their identification cards, include the following:

• Spouse or legal partner of the decedent
• Child (natural or adopted)
• Grandchild (natural or adopted)
• Veteran's Affairs officer
• Great-grandchild (natural or adopted)
• Funeral director or authorized representative
• Federal or state law enforcement agency or official
• Administrator or executor of the decedent's estate
• Anyone authorized by law to act on behalf of the decedent or the decedent's estate
• Any agent with power of attorney

How Long Does It Take to Get a Death Certificate in Ohio?

Depending on the method of request, it takes anywhere between 1 and 6 weeks to get a requested copy of a death certificate in Ohio if the death occurred under normal circumstances. However, it can take several other weeks for deaths that happen under suspicious and unusual circumstances, as an autopsy may be required.

When an autopsy is required, there is a delay in completing the original death certificate. While this may take a few days if only a limited examination is performed, it may take several weeks when the investigation to determine the cause and manner of death takes longer. In typical cases, autopsy reports in Ohio are available within 4 to 8 weeks, after which the Coroner can complete a death certificate. Afterward, certified copies of the certificates are available from the state's Department of Health.

Can I View Ohio Death Records Online for Free?

Historical death records in Ohio may be viewed online for free through online resources like Familysearch.org and Ancestry.com. While the state's Archives and Library has records of deaths documented between 1867 and December 1908, certain fees are charged to obtain copies of such records. Similarly, reliable third-party sites like Ohiopublicrecords.us provide online services for anyone looking to view the state's death records online. However, small fees may apply.

It was not mandatory by law to record death events in Ohio until 1867. As a result, there are no official records documenting death events that occurred before 1867. Anyone looking to find information about death events before that year for free should consider checking substitute records, which include church records, newspapers, will and estate records, tax records, obituaries, and cemetery records.

When Would You Require A Death Certificate in Ohio?

Copies of an Ohio death certificate are required for several legal purposes, including the following:

• Notifying relevant government agencies like the Internal Revenue Service and Social Security Administration of a person's death to process certain benefits.
• Settling the decedent's estates and transferring assets
• Closing the decedent's bank accounts and credit cards
• Claiming certain benefits, including retirement benefits and life insurance payouts
• Notifying mortgage lenders or creditors about a person's death
• Notifying utility companies to terminate their services

How Many Death Certificates Do I Need in Ohio?

Requesting between 8 and 12 copies of an Ohio death certificate is ideal. However, the actual number of copies needed varies depending on the situation and the intended use of the death certificate. The major factor influencing the number of certified copies of a death certificate needed by a person in Ohio is the number of agencies requiring them for administrative or legal matters. While some agencies may accept photocopies of a certified copy of a death certificate, others may insist on getting certified copies of the original certificate.