Delaware County Obituary Search

Delaware County obituary and death records are managed by local offices in the city of Delaware and by state agencies in Columbus. This is one of Ohio's fastest-growing counties, sitting just north of the state capital. If you are trying to find a death record or obituary for someone who lived in Delaware County, the general health district is the main source for recent death certificates. The probate court keeps older records going back to the mid-1800s. Because of the county's proximity to Columbus, residents also have easy access to state archives and the Ohio Department of Health for statewide searches. Online databases from the Ohio History Connection and FamilySearch make it possible to find older death records from home, and the Delaware County Historical Society can help with local genealogy questions.

Delaware County Health District Death Records

The Delaware General Health District is at 1 West Winter Street, 2nd Floor, Delaware, OH 43015. This office issues death certificates for deaths that took place in Delaware County. They handle records from 1908 to the present. Walk-in requests are the fastest option. Bring a valid photo ID. The staff can usually process your request the same day if you have the right details about the deceased.

A certified copy of a death record costs $25.00. You can also request copies by mail. Include a written letter with the full name of the person who died, the date of death, and parent names if available. Send along a copy of your ID and a check or money order for the fee. Under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3705, local health districts serve as registrars for vital events within their jurisdiction. Delaware County's health district has authority to issue both birth and death certificates. You can get a birth certificate for any Ohio county here too, which is convenient if you need multiple vital records at once.

Note: Death records before 1908 are not available at the health district. The probate court handles those older files.

Delaware County Probate Court Obituary Records

The Delaware County Probate Court is at 117 N. Union St., Delaware, OH 43015. Phone: (740) 833-2680. This court keeps the county's oldest vital records. Death and birth ledgers from 1867 to 1908 are on file here. These handwritten entries predate Ohio's statewide registration system and list names, dates of death, and basic information about each person who died in the county during that time.

Estate files at the probate court are a strong resource for obituary-type details. When someone in Delaware County died and left property, the estate case lists heirs, the surviving spouse, and the date of death. Wills can name children and grandchildren. Guardianship cases sometimes note the death of a parent. These records are especially useful in Delaware County because the population has grown so fast in recent decades. Many newer residents have roots in other parts of Ohio but end up with estate cases filed here. The court also keeps marriage licenses, which help build a full picture of a family's history in the county.

Delaware County was formed in 1808. The oldest probate records go back to the early days of settlement in central Ohio.

Delaware County Historical Society and Genealogy

The Delaware County Historical Society is a local resource for genealogy and obituary research. They maintain collections of local history materials, family papers, and reference items that can fill in gaps left by official government records. If you are looking for an obituary from a Delaware County newspaper or trying to trace a family through the area, the historical society is worth contacting. Volunteers there are familiar with local families and can often suggest sources that might not show up in standard database searches.

Cemetery records are part of what the historical society covers. Delaware County has old burial grounds with markers going back to the early 1800s, and transcriptions of these markers can confirm death dates and family ties. The society sometimes publishes indexes and reference guides that help researchers find obituary and death information more quickly. For a county that has changed as much as Delaware County has in recent years, the historical society provides continuity with the past that newer databases cannot always match.

Ohio State Death Record Resources

The Ohio Department of Health at 4200 Surface Road, Columbus, OH 43228 keeps death records from 1971 to the present. The state fee is $21.50 per record search under Ohio Revised Code Section 3705.24. You can order online, by mail, or go in person. Delaware County is close enough to Columbus that visiting the state office in person is a real option for residents. That fee applies whether a match is found or not.

For death records from 1908 through 1970, the Ohio History Connection archives in Columbus are the place to look. The Ohio Death Record Index is free to search online. It covers 1913 to 1944 and 1954 to 1970. The Hayes Presidential Library in Fremont runs the Ohio Obituary Index with over 3.7 million newspaper obituary entries. FamilySearch provides free access to Ohio death certificates from 1908 to 1953 with scanned images of the actual documents.

Section 3705.23 of the Ohio Revised Code gives local registrars the power to issue certified copies of death records when a person provides proper identification. For Delaware County researchers, having both local and state offices within a short drive makes it easier to search multiple sources in one day.

Delaware County Obituary Record Sources

The Delaware General Health District website provides details about vital records services available in Delaware County.

Check this site for office hours, fee information, and instructions on how to request a death certificate from the Delaware County health office.

The Delaware County government website links to all county departments and court offices.

Use this portal to find contact information for the probate court, clerk of courts, and other offices that maintain public records in Delaware County.

How to Get Delaware County Death Records

The right source for a Delaware County death record depends on when the person died. Recent records come from the health district or state office. Older records sit in the probate court or state archives. Newspaper obituaries have their own search path through library indexes.

Here is where to look by time period:

• Deaths 1971 to present: Delaware General Health District or Ohio Department of Health ($21.50 to $25.00)
• Deaths 1908 to 1970: Ohio History Connection archives in Columbus
• Deaths 1867 to 1908: Delaware County Probate Court ledger records
• Newspaper obituaries: Ohio Obituary Index at the Hayes Presidential Library
• Online free search: Ohio Death Record Index (1913-1944, 1954-1970) and FamilySearch (1908-1953)

Under Ohio law, death records older than 50 years can be transferred to the Ohio History Connection. Social Security numbers are redacted on death certificates for five years after death unless you can prove a close family connection. Section 3705.29 of the Ohio Revised Code makes it a crime to submit false information on vital record request forms. Always be truthful when applying for Delaware County death records.

Cities in Delaware County

Delaware County includes parts of some of Ohio's growing suburban cities. Death records for these areas are handled through the Delaware General Health District.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Delaware County. If the person you are researching lived near a county boundary, their records might be filed next door.