In Ohio, certified death certificates are issued by Ohio Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics. The state fee is $21.50 for the first certified copy and the same for each additional copy.
Here is who can order a certified copy, how to order it, and how long it takes, taken from the office’s own pages. Fees and times change, so check the office’s page before you pay.
How much a death certificate costs in Ohio
| Item | State fee |
|---|---|
| First certified copy | $21.50 |
| Each additional copy | $21.50 |
'Certified Death Record – $21.50' per copy; as of Jan. 1, 2025 the $21.50 search fee is charged 'whether a record is located or not' (ORC 3705.24). Online vendor fees extra. Local health department fees not stated by the state.
Who can order a certified copy
The state application sets no relationship requirement for a standard certified copy; A copy showing the Social Security number, for deaths within the last 5 years, is limited to authorized requestors: spouse or legal partner, natural or adopted child, grandchild or great-grandchild, a Veterans Affairs officer, law enforcement, a funeral director or authorized representative, the executor or administrator of the estate, an agent with power of attorney, or anyone authorized by law to act for the decedent or the estate.
How to order
- Online (official vendor: VitalChek)
- In person
- County/local office
'More than 100 local offices' (local health departments) offer in-person or same-day certified copies. Deaths more than 50 years old must be requested from the local vital statistics office where the death occurred.
How long it takes
ODH: online orders 'are processed in our office within five business days' (delivery by USPS about three weeks); 'All mail-in orders typically take four to six weeks to process.' Application: online or in-person requests fulfilled within five business days, and 'We are unable to provide a same-day service for walk-in requests.'.
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The funeral home’s role
Funeral directors are listed as authorized requestors for SSN-bearing copies on the state application.
The online portal is VitalChek's Ohio storefront (ohstorefront.vitalchek.com), linked by ODH. For pre-1971 deaths, contact the local health department or the Ohio History Connection.
How many copies to order
Most banks, insurers, pension plans and government agencies each want their own certified copy. Count the accounts and policies before you order, because ordering more later means another application and fee. How many death certificates you need has a worksheet.
Who decides the funeral in Ohio
State law sets who has the right to make funeral arrangements. See who has the right to make funeral decisions in Ohio.
Related guides
- What to do when someone dies: the first 24 hours
- Who to call when someone dies, and in what order
- How much a funeral costs, line by line
- Help paying for a funeral: Social Security, VA and FEMA
- Official funeral resources for every state
Sources
- Ohio Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics
- CDC: Where to Write for Vital Records (Ohio)
- Ohio Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics (PDF)
Checked 2026-09-24. General information, not legal advice.