How to Obtain a Death Certificate in Ohio

By: Annita Lawson

birth marriage and death image by Warren Millar from Fotolia.com

After the death of a loved one you may find it necessary to obtain a copy of the death certificate for legal proceedings, to close out bank or utility accounts and to prove to creditors that the individual has passed away. Death certificates are also useful when tracing your family history. Relatively recent death records can be purchased from the State of Ohio Vital Statistics Office or through a private business. Records of deaths that took place before January 1, 1954 must be requested from other sources.

Step 1

Gather all basic information about the individual whose death certificate you want to obtain. You will need the person's legal name, the city where the death took place, and the date of death.

Step 2

Request a copy of the death certificate from the State of Ohio Vital Statistics Office or a private vendor. You can print an order form and mail in payment or order online. A copy of the death certificate can also be requested in person at any Ohio county health department. As of 2010, the price of the death certificate is $21.50 if obtained from the Vital Statistics Office. Fees vary when requesting the document from a private vendor or health department. Expect to pay an additional processing fee to any requests made through a vendor. If you decide to purchase the document from a private vendor, choose a reputable website with reasonable fees and a specific time frame for delivery.