Find Obituaries in Ross County
Ross County obituary and death records go back further than most Ohio counties. The county seat of Chillicothe was Ohio's first state capital, and records here stretch into the late 1700s for some types. If you need a death certificate, a published obituary, or burial details for someone who died in Ross County, there are several offices and resources to check. The health district, Probate Court, and local library all hold different pieces of the puzzle. This page walks you through where to go and what to expect when searching for Ross County obituary records.
Ross County Overview
Ross County Death Certificate Office
The Ross County Health District at 150 E. Second Street in Chillicothe issues certified death certificates for deaths that occurred in Ross County from 1908 to the present. Call 740-772-1161 for the vital statistics office. Birth certificates are also available here for anyone born in Ohio after 1908. The fee for a certified death certificate is $25 per copy.
The older research from the Ross County Health District shows death records dating back to 1888 at the office on 475 Western Avenue Suite 5A. They also have birth records from after December 20, 1908, fetal death records, and burial permits. A room is available at that location for genealogical research. Contact the health district to confirm which office you need based on the type of record you are looking for.
| Office | Ross County Health District - Vital Statistics |
|---|---|
| Address |
150 E. Second Street Chillicothe, OH 45601 |
| Phone | 740-772-1161 |
Ross County Probate Court Death Records
The Ross County Probate Court at 2 N Paint Street, Suite A, Chillicothe, OH 45601-3109 is a major source for older Ross County death records. Phone is (740) 774-1179. The court holds birth and death records (uncertified) from 1867 through part of 1908. Marriage records go back to 1796. Probate records start from 1800. Copies cost $0.50 per page for uncertified documents.
The Archives Division at the Probate Court is especially useful. They hold probate death records from 1867 to 1908, which mainly cover township deaths. Health department records from 1888 to 1980 cover primarily city deaths from Chillicothe. Probate birth records span 1867 to 1908. Marriage records run from 1798 to the present. If you are doing deep genealogy work in Ross County, the archives are worth a full visit. For records from 1908 to the present, you are directed to the health department.
The Ohio History Connection in Columbus has indexed Ross County Probate Court death records. This can save you time because you can search the index before making a trip to Chillicothe.
The Ross County government website provides access to county services and links to the health district and Probate Court.
Use this site to find addresses and contact details for Ross County offices that handle death and obituary records.
Searching for Ross County Obituaries
The Chillicothe and Ross County Public Library is a strong resource for finding published obituaries. Their local history and genealogy collection includes Scioto Gazette newspaper archives. The Scioto Gazette is one of the oldest newspapers in Ohio, and its archives hold death notices and obituaries going back many years. Library staff can help you search the microfilm.
Online, the Ohio History Connection death certificate index covers 1913 to 1944 and 1954 to 1963. The Ohio History Connection archives hold certificates from 1908 through 1970. The Ohio Department of Health has records from 1971 to the present. The Ross County USGenWeb site has free transcriptions of vital records, deeds, censuses, and obituaries that volunteers have put together.
FamilySearch has some Ross County materials available online. Cemetery transcription projects on FindAGrave cover many Ross County burial grounds. Between the official records and these volunteer efforts, there is a lot of Ross County obituary data available if you know where to look.
Ross County Records and Ohio Law
Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3705 requires that every death in Ross County be registered with a death certificate. The funeral director files the paperwork with the local registrar. A copy goes to the state. This system replaced the old county Probate Court method in December 1908. Before that date, Ross County Probate Court was responsible for death registration.
Death records in Ohio are open to the public. Ohio Revised Code Section 149.43 gives anyone the right to request a death certificate. You do not need to prove family ties. This makes Ross County obituary and death record research accessible to all. The $25 fee applies to certified copies from the health district. The Probate Court charges $0.50 per page for uncertified copies of their older records, making them quite affordable to obtain.
Note: Ross County has two different offices with death records from overlapping time periods, so check both the health district and the Probate Court archives for the most complete search.
Nearby Counties
Ross County sits in south-central Ohio. If you need obituary records from a nearby area, these neighboring counties may have what you are looking for.