Find Perry County Obituaries
Perry County obituary records can be found through the health department in New Lexington and at the Probate Court. This rural county in southeast Ohio has death records dating back to the 1850s. If you need a certified death certificate or want to track down an old obituary notice, Perry County has multiple offices that can help. The health department moved to a new location in 2025, so make sure you have the right address before you visit. Online databases and local library collections also hold Perry County obituary information going back many generations.
Perry County Overview
Perry County Death Records Office
The Perry County Health Department handles certified death certificates for deaths that occurred in Perry County from December 20, 1908 to the present. Their new address as of May 2025 is 2235 State Route 13, New Lexington, OH 43764. You can call them at 740-342-5179. The fee is $25 per certified copy. They also issue birth certificates for anyone born in Ohio after 1908.
You can reach the vital statistics office by email at vitalstatistics@perrycountyohio.gov. Mail requests are accepted. Include the full name of the person, the approximate date of death, and a check or money order for $25. In-person requests are handled during business hours. Staff can usually pull a record the same day if it is on file.
| Office | Perry County Health Department - Vital Statistics |
|---|---|
| Address |
2235 State Route 13 New Lexington, OH 43764 |
| Phone | 740-342-5179 |
| vitalstatistics@perrycountyohio.gov |
Perry County Probate Court Obituary Records
The Perry County Probate Court has death records that go back further than the health department files. Their records start as early as 1856, making them one of the better sources for very old Perry County obituary and death information. The main collection covers 1867 to 1908, which is the period when Ohio counties were responsible for recording all births and deaths before the state took over.
The Probate Court is at P.O. Box 167, New Lexington, OH 43764. Phone is (740) 342-1493 and fax is (740) 474-8451. They also hold marriage records from 1818 and probate records like wills and estate files. If you are researching a Perry County family, the Probate Court may have several types of records that mention the person you are looking for. Estate files often include death information and sometimes name surviving relatives.
The Perry County Health Department website shows how to request death certificates and other vital records online or by mail.
Check the site for their new office location and current contact details.
The Perry County government website also has links to county departments and services related to records requests.
You can find contact details for the Probate Court and other offices through this portal.
How to Search Perry County Obituaries
Start with what you know. A full name and approximate year of death will get you the furthest in any Perry County obituary search. If you have a case number or exact date, even better. The health department can search their files by name. The Probate Court can do the same for older records.
Online, the Ohio History Connection death certificate index covers the years 1913 to 1944 and 1954 to 1963. This is a free search tool. If you find a match, you can order a copy from their archives. The Ohio History Connection also holds original death certificates from 1908 through 1970. For deaths after 1970, the Ohio Department of Health is the state-level source.
Published obituaries from Perry County newspapers can be found on microfilm at local libraries. FamilySearch has some digitized Perry County records too. Cemetery records and FindAGrave listings for Perry County cemeteries add another layer of information.
Ohio Law on Obituary and Death Records
Under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3705, all deaths must be reported and a death certificate filed. Perry County follows this same process. The funeral home fills out the death certificate and files it with the local registrar. The registrar then forwards a copy to the state. This system has been in place since 1908. Before that, county probate courts handled death registration under earlier Ohio laws.
Ohio Revised Code Section 149.43 makes death records available to the public. You can request a Perry County death certificate without being related to the person who died. This open access rule is what makes obituary and genealogy research possible for anyone in Ohio.
Nearby Counties
Perry County is surrounded by several other southeast Ohio counties. If you cannot locate the obituary record you need here, check the neighboring areas below.