Williams County Obituary Records

Williams County obituary and death records are held by the county health department in Montpelier, the probate court, and at state offices in Columbus. Bryan is the county seat, but the health department office is in Montpelier. If you need to find an obituary or death record for someone from Williams County, this guide covers the key offices and online tools you can use. The health department has records from 1909 to the present, and the probate court keeps older files from 1867 to 1908. FamilySearch has Williams County birth and death records from 1867 to 1941 available for free. The Ohio Death Record Index and the Ohio Obituary Index are also useful for searching from home.

Williams County Health Department Death Records

The Williams County Health Department is at 310 Lincoln Avenue, P.O. Box 146, Montpelier, OH 43543. Call 419-485-3141. They have birth and death records from 1909 to the present. Death records are for Williams County only, while birth certificates can be issued for any Ohio birth.

Certified copies cost $25.00 each. They accept cash, credit and debit cards, checks, and money orders. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Bring a photo ID when you visit. You can also order through VitalChek online if you cannot make the trip to Montpelier. Under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3705, the county health department serves as the local registrar for vital events in Williams County.

Williams County Probate Court Obituary Records

The Williams County Probate Court holds birth and death records from 1867 to 1908. These are the oldest official death records in the county. The handwritten registers include names, dates, and basic facts about each death. The probate court also keeps marriage records, wills, and estate files.

Estate papers can contain obituary-type details like family member lists and death dates. FamilySearch has Williams County birth and death records from 1867 to 1941, plus statements of births and deaths from 1900 to 1908 available for free online viewing. These digital collections make it possible to search Williams County death records from home without visiting the probate court in Bryan. For deaths before 1867, church records, family bibles, and cemetery records are your best options since Ohio had no vital registration system before that year.

Ohio Obituary Search Resources

The Ohio Department of Health in Columbus keeps death records from 1971 to now. The state fee is $21.50 as set by Section 3705.24 of the Ohio Revised Code. The Ohio Death Record Index covers 1913 to 1944 and 1954 to 1970 for free online searching.

The Ohio History Connection holds original death certificates from 1908 through 1970. The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library runs the Ohio Obituary Index with over 3.7 million entries. If a Williams County newspaper ran an obituary, the index likely has it. You can search for free from anywhere.

Williams County Obituary Genealogy Sources

FamilySearch is one of the strongest free resources for Williams County death record research. Their collection covers birth and death records from 1867 to 1941 and includes statements of births and deaths from 1900 to 1908. You can view digital images of many of these records with a free FamilySearch account.

The Williams County library system has local history and genealogy collections that include newspapers on microfilm with obituary notices from past decades. Local cemetery records can confirm death dates and show family connections. The county sits in the northwest corner of Ohio, bordering both Indiana and Michigan, so some families may have records in multiple states that you will need to check.

Williams County Obituary Record Sources

The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library runs the Ohio Obituary Index, which includes newspaper obituaries from across Ohio including Williams County.

Search this free index for Williams County obituary entries from newspapers going back to the 1810s.

How to Get Williams County Death Records

Where you look for a Williams County death record depends on the year of death. Recent records are at the health department. Older records are at the probate court, FamilySearch, or the Ohio History Connection.

• Deaths 1971 to present: Williams County Health Department or Ohio Department of Health ($21.50 to $25.00)
• Deaths 1909 to 1970: Williams County Health Department or Ohio History Connection
• Deaths 1867 to 1908: Williams County Probate Court or FamilySearch (free)
• Newspaper obituaries: Ohio Obituary Index at the Hayes Presidential Library
• Online free search: Ohio Death Record Index (1913-1944, 1954-1970)

Section 3705.29 of the Ohio Revised Code covers penalties for false statements on vital record request forms. Social Security numbers are redacted for five years after death. Be truthful on all Williams County obituary and death record request forms.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Williams County. Check neighboring records if the person lived near a county line.