Cleveland Obituary Records
Cleveland obituary records stretch back further than most Ohio cities. The Cleveland Public Library holds one of the most complete obituary collections in the state, covering death notices from 1850 through the present. Cleveland sits in Cuyahoga County and is the second largest city in Ohio with about 362,000 residents. Whether you need a recent obituary or one from over a century ago, Cleveland has strong resources for this kind of search. The city health department, county archives, and public library each hold different pieces of the record, so the right place to start depends on what you are looking for.
Cleveland Overview
Cuyahoga County Death Records
Cleveland is in Cuyahoga County, the most populated county in Ohio. The Cleveland Department of Public Health issues death certificates for deaths that happened in 57 of the 59 cities in Cuyahoga County. Lakewood and Parma handle their own death certificates separately. If you need a certified death certificate for someone who died in Cleveland, the Bureau of Vital Statistics at 601 Lakeside Avenue, Room 122, is the place to go.
The phone number for Cleveland vital statistics is 216-664-2315. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM. The fee for a certified death certificate is $21.50 per copy. Under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3705, the state sets the rules for who can order certified copies. Family members, legal representatives, and people with a direct interest in the record are eligible.
For deaths that happened before December 19, 1908, the Cuyahoga County Archives at 2905 Franklin Boulevard in Cleveland has the records. Their hours are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8:30 AM to 3 PM. The first 40 copies are free. After that, it costs 25 cents per copy. You can call them at 216-443-7250 or email archive@cuyahoga.oh.us to check on a record before you visit.
Cleveland Library Obituary Search
The Cleveland Public Library has an outstanding obituary collection. The Center for Local and Global History is on the sixth floor of the Louis Stokes Wing at 525 Superior Avenue NE. This is the main hub for Cleveland obituary research. You can call them at 216-623-2864 or email clgh@cpl.org.
The crown jewel of the Cleveland obituary collection is the Cleveland Necrology File. It covers death notices from 1850 through 1975, with full text entries from the Plain Dealer (1850 to 1975), the Cleveland Herald (scattered years in the 1830s through 1870s), and the Cleveland Press (1941 to 1975). This is not just an index. It has the full text of each death notice. You can search it online for free. For obituaries from 1976 through 2014, the Cleveland News Index has citations that point you to the right newspaper and date.
The library offers three free scans of death certificates per month by email. They have Ohio death certificates from 1908 through 1953 available for viewing and copying. Self-serve copies are 10 cents each. The Plain Dealer Historical Database covers 1845 through 1991 in full text. They also have the Call and Post, an African American newspaper, from 1934 through 1991.
Note: You can submit an obituary request form online to get up to three digital scans per day from the Cleveland Public Library.
Online Cleveland Obituary Search
Several online tools can help you find Cleveland obituary records from home. The Cleveland Necrology File at cpl.org/newsindex is the best starting point for deaths between 1850 and 1975. It is free and gives you the full text of death notices from major Cleveland newspapers.
The Ohio Death Record Index covers death certificates from 1913 to 1944 and 1954 to 1963. You can search by name and get the certificate number, which you then use to order a copy. The Ohio Obituary Index at the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center has over three million obituary entries from across Ohio. Cleveland obituaries are well represented since the Cleveland Public Library is a major contributor to the index.
For current obituaries, the Plain Dealer publishes death notices at obits.cleveland.com. These are recent listings and often include details about funeral services, surviving family, and memorial donations. The Cleveland Public Library genealogy page also links to additional databases you can use from home with a library card.
Cleveland Obituary Archives
The Western Reserve Historical Society in Cleveland also holds records related to death and burial in the Cuyahoga County area. Their collection complements what you can find at the public library and county archives.
Between the historical society, the public library, and the county archives, Cleveland has one of the deepest collections of obituary records in Ohio.
The Cuyahoga County Archives also holds municipal records, court documents, and other files that may reference deaths in Cleveland. If you are looking for someone who died in the Cleveland area before 1908, the archives is the right place. Ohio Revised Code Section 3705.23 outlines who can access these older records and what the rules are for obtaining copies.
Getting Cleveland Death Record Copies
For a certified death certificate from Cleveland, visit the Bureau of Vital Statistics at 601 Lakeside Avenue. Bring a valid photo ID. The cost is $21.50 per copy. You can also order by mail or through the Ohio Department of Health online portal.
For obituary copies, the Cleveland Public Library is the fastest route. You can request up to three digital scans per day through their online form. In-person visitors can use the self-serve copy machines at 10 cents per page. The library staff can also help you search the Necrology File and News Index if you are not sure where to start. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 3705.24, certified copies of death records are restricted to eligible applicants, but obituary copies from newspapers are available to anyone.
- Certified death certificates from Cleveland vital statistics: $21.50
- Library obituary scans: free (up to 3 per day)
- Self-serve copies at library: $0.10 per page
- Cuyahoga County Archives: first 40 copies free
Nearby Ohio Cities
Cleveland is in northeast Ohio, close to several other cities that have their own obituary resources. If the person you are searching for lived in one of these nearby cities, you may find records there too.
Akron • Parma • Lakewood • Elyria • Lorain • Euclid • Mentor • Strongsville • Cuyahoga Falls • Canton
Cuyahoga County Obituary Records
Cleveland is in Cuyahoga County, and the county system handles most death records and vital statistics for the area. For more about county-level obituary resources, court records, and historical archives, visit the Cuyahoga County page.