Jefferson County Obituary Records

Jefferson County obituary and death records are maintained by offices in Steubenville, the county seat along the Ohio River in eastern Ohio. This county has two health departments that issue death certificates, the Jefferson County General Health District and the Steubenville City Health Department. The probate court holds some of the oldest records in Ohio, with files going back to the late 1700s. The Jefferson County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society has compiled estate files, wills, common pleas journals, and coroner reports that can be very useful for obituary research. State-level databases like the Ohio Death Record Index and FamilySearch offer free online search tools that cover Jefferson County records.

Jefferson County Health District Death Records

The Jefferson County General Health District is at 500 Market Street, 6th Floor, Steubenville, OH 43952. You can call them at (740) 283-8530 or fax requests to 740-283-8536. VitalChek ordering is available for those who want to order online. The health district has birth records from 1876 to the present and death records from 1908 to the present. A certified copy costs $28.00.

Their office hours vary by day. Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday they are open from 8:15 AM to 3:45 PM. Wednesday hours run from 10 AM to 4:45 PM. Friday hours are 8:15 AM to 2:45 PM. Plan your visit around these times. Bring a valid photo ID. For mail requests, include the full name of the deceased, the date of death, and a copy of your ID along with a check or money order.

The Steubenville City Health Department at 312 Market Street also handles death records for deaths that occurred within the city limits after 1908. Under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3705, both the county and city health departments serve as registrars for vital events in their areas. If you are not sure which office has the record, start with the county health district since they cover a wider area.

Jefferson County Probate Court Obituary Files

The Jefferson County Probate Court holds marriage records from 1803 to the present, probate records from 1798 to the present, and naturalization records. Jefferson County was one of the first counties formed in Ohio, founded in 1797, and the probate court has records that go back nearly to the beginning of Ohio statehood. Estate records here can be a gold mine for obituary research.

Wills, estate inventories, and guardianship files often contain the date of death, names of surviving family members, and property details. These records can fill in gaps that a death certificate leaves blank. The court also holds naturalization records, which can help trace immigrant families who settled in the Steubenville area during the steel industry era. If you are looking for a pre-1908 death record, the probate court is your main option since these older files predate the state vital records system.

Jefferson County Obituary Genealogy Resources

The Jefferson County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society (JCCOGS) has compiled a large collection of local records. Their resources include probate and estate files from 1797 to 1930, wills from various dates, Common Pleas journals from 1797 to 1920, delayed and corrected birth records from 1867 to 1907, coroner reports, and grave registration cards. These compiled records make it much easier to trace families through Jefferson County without visiting multiple offices.

Coroner reports can be especially useful for obituary research. They document the circumstances of death in more detail than a standard death certificate. Grave registration cards show where a person was buried, which can lead you to cemetery records with additional information. The society's collection of Common Pleas journals may contain references to deaths in legal proceedings, estate disputes, and other court matters. Between these compiled sources and the official county records, Jefferson County offers a deep set of tools for genealogy researchers working in the upper Ohio Valley.

Ohio Obituary Resources for Jefferson County

The Ohio Department of Health keeps death records from 1971 to the present at 4200 Surface Road, Columbus, OH 43228. The state fee is $21.50 per record as set by Ohio Revised Code Section 3705.24. You can order online, by mail, or in person. That fee applies whether a match is found or not.

For death records from 1908 through 1970, the Ohio History Connection holds the original certificates. The Ohio Death Record Index is free to search online and covers 1913 to 1944 and 1954 to 1970. The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library runs the Ohio Obituary Index with over 3.7 million newspaper entries. FamilySearch provides free access to Ohio death records from 1908 to 1953 with scanned images of the certificates.

Jefferson County Obituary Record Sources

The Jefferson County Health Department website provides information about ordering death certificates and other vital records.

Use this site to find ordering instructions, fees, and office hours for getting certified copies of death records in Jefferson County.

How to Get Jefferson County Death Records

Where you go for a death record in Jefferson County depends on how old it is and where the person died. For deaths in Steubenville after 1908, either the city or county health department can help. For deaths elsewhere in the county, use the county health district. Older records are at the probate court.

Here is a breakdown by time period:

• Deaths 1971 to present: Jefferson County Health District or Ohio Department of Health ($21.50 to $28.00)
• Deaths 1908 to 1970: Health district or Ohio History Connection in Columbus
• Deaths before 1908: Jefferson County Probate Court
• Steubenville city deaths after 1908: Steubenville City Health Department
• Newspaper obituaries: Ohio Obituary Index at Hayes Presidential Library
• Online search: Ohio Death Record Index (free, 1913-1944 and 1954-1970)

Ohio law allows death records more than 50 years old to be transferred to the Ohio History Connection. Social Security numbers on death certificates stay redacted for five years after the date of death. Section 3705.29 of the Ohio Revised Code sets out penalties for false statements on vital record applications.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Jefferson County. If the person you are researching lived near a county line, check the neighboring county records too.