Access Lima Obituary Records
Lima is the county seat of Allen County in northwestern Ohio, with a population close to 36,000. Obituary and death record searches for Lima go through the Allen County Health Department, the Allen County Probate Court, and the Ohio Department of Health. The Lima Public Library keeps local newspaper archives including the Lima News, which has published obituaries since the 1880s. If you are trying to find an obituary or death certificate for someone who lived in Lima, you have access to both local county resources and statewide online databases. The Allen County Genealogical Society is another resource that maintains cemetery records and local indexes useful for family research in the Lima area.
Lima Overview
Allen County Obituary Records
Lima sits in Allen County and serves as the county seat. All death records and vital statistics for the city go through the Allen County system. The Allen County Health Department is at 219 E. Market Street in Lima. Phone them at 419-228-4457 and press 3 for Vital Statistics. The mailing address is P.O. Box 1503, Lima, OH 45802-1503.
The health department keeps death certificates for Allen County from December 1908 to the present. They also issue death certificates for deaths anywhere in Ohio from 1971 forward, which is helpful if you need records from a different part of the state. The fee is $27 per certified copy. You can pay with cash, money order, cashier's check, or debit and credit cards (with a minimum $2.50 processing fee for cards). Walk-in hours are 8:00 AM to 4:15 PM, Monday through Friday.
For deaths before 1909, the Allen County Probate Court at 1000 Wardhill Avenue in Lima holds the older death registers from 1867 to 1908. Call them at 419-227-5531 or email probate@allencountyohio.com. The clerk's office is open 8:30 AM to noon and 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM. Under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3705, the state sets the rules for vital record access.
Lima Death Certificates
Death certificates for Lima residents are filed with Allen County. You can get records in person, by mail with a completed Vital Record Application, or online through VitalChek.com. VitalChek charges extra processing fees but provides faster service. Walk-in requests are usually processed the same day.
Ohio Revised Code Section 3705.23 spells out who can get a certified copy of a death certificate. Close family, legal representatives, and those with a direct interest can request certified copies. For genealogy or obituary research in Lima, informational copies may be available. These are not valid for legal use but they contain all the data you need for family research.
The Ohio Department of Health also issues certified copies at $21.50 each, which is less than the Allen County fee of $27. You can order through the state online, by mail, or in person at 35 East Chestnut Street in Columbus. For Lima residents who prefer ordering from home, the state online portal is a good option.
The Ohio History Connection holds death certificates from 1908 to 1970 in their archives. They can not certify these records but they can provide copies for research purposes. This is useful for older Lima death records when you do not need a legally certified document.
Lima Library Obituary Resources
The Lima Public Library maintains a local history and genealogy collection that is valuable for obituary searches. Their collection includes Lima News archives from the 1880s through the 2020s, city directories, and local records. The Lima News has been one of the main newspapers in Allen County for over a century, and their obituary listings cover a large portion of the Lima population.
The library also provides access to genealogy databases and can help researchers trace Allen County ancestors. Staff can guide you to the right resources for finding Lima obituary records, death notices, and related family history materials. Many Ohio libraries offer in-library access to Ancestry Library Edition and other tools that include death indexes and obituary listings.
The Allen County Genealogical Society (ACGSI) maintains marriage record indexes, cemetery records, and local genealogy resources. They publish research materials and provide help to genealogists researching Allen County families. Their website has information about meetings, publications, and research services that can support Lima obituary searches.
For statewide searches, the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center in Fremont runs the Ohio Obituary Index. This free database has over three million obituary entries from Ohio newspapers going back to the 1810s. Lima and Allen County obituaries are included in the index.
Lima Obituary Search Tools
The Lima News website provides current obituary listings and death notices for the Lima and Allen County area.
The Lima News has served as the main newspaper for Allen County since the 1880s. Their archives, available through the Lima Public Library, are one of the best sources for historical obituary information about Lima residents.
The Ohio Death Record Index at the Ohio History Connection is another good tool for Lima obituary research. It covers state death certificates from 1913 to 1944 and 1954 to 1963. Search by name to get a certificate number, then use that number to order a copy from the Ohio History Connection for research or from the Ohio Department of Health for a certified version.
The Allen County Clerk of Courts at 301 North Main Street in Lima maintains divorce records and civil court records. Copy fees are $1 per page for certified copies. While the clerk's office does not handle death certificates directly, court records sometimes contain references to deaths and can supplement your obituary research in Lima.
How to Get Lima Obituary Copies
There are several ways to get copies of obituary and death records in Lima. The method depends on the date and the type of document you need.
For certified death certificates from 1909 to present, contact the Allen County Health Department at 219 E. Market Street in Lima or call 419-228-4457. The fee is $27 per certified copy. The state health department issues copies at $21.50 each. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 3705.24, the state registrar sets the fees and rules for certified copies statewide.
- Walk-in at the Allen County Health Department (same-day processing)
- By mail with a completed Vital Record Application
- Online through VitalChek or the Ohio Department of Health portal
- Allen County Probate Court for records from 1867-1908
For obituary copies from newspapers, the Lima Public Library is the best local source. They have Lima News archives going back to the 1880s. The Ohio Obituary Index is also searchable online for free and includes Allen County entries. The Allen County Genealogical Society may have additional obituary indexes and cemetery records for Lima area research.
Note: For deaths before 1867, there are no official Ohio death records. Church records, cemetery logs, and newspaper obituaries may be the only sources available for Lima area research from that era.
Nearby Ohio Cities
Lima is in northwestern Ohio. Several other cities in the region have their own obituary resources. If the person you are searching for may have lived in or near one of these cities, check their local records.
Findlay • Toledo • Mansfield • Dayton • Springfield • Columbus • Dublin • Fairfield • Huber Heights • Beavercreek
Allen County Obituary Records
Lima is the county seat of Allen County. All death records filed in the city go through the Allen County system. The county health department handles death certificates, the probate court manages older records, and the clerk of courts keeps civil and divorce records. For a full look at county-level resources, visit the Allen County page.