Akron Death Records

Akron death records are managed by Summit County Public Health at 1867 West Market Street. As the county seat and largest city in Summit County, Akron is where the main vital statistics office sits. You can search for and request death certificates in person, online through the county portal, by phone, or through VitalChek. The office holds death records from December 1908 to the present for all deaths that took place within Summit County lines. Walk-up window service and a self-service kiosk make it easy to get copies without a long wait.

Akron Death Certificate Office

The Summit County Public Health office handles all Akron death certificates. It is at 1867 West Market Street, Akron, OH 44313. The phone number for vital statistics is (330) 812-3845.

They file death certificates from December 1, 1908 to the present. Only deaths that happened in Summit County are on file here. If someone died in Akron, this is the place. If they died outside the county, you need to contact that county's health department or the Ohio Department of Health for records from 1971 forward. The Akron office also issues birth certificates for anyone born anywhere in Ohio from 1908 on.

One thing that sets this office apart is the outdoor walk-up window. You can get your certificate without going inside. There is also a self-service kiosk at the Fairway Center location. Both options speed things up.

How to Get Akron Death Certificates

You have four ways to request an Akron death certificate. Pick the one that fits your schedule and budget.

Walk-in service is the fastest. Head to the Summit County Public Health office at the Fairway Center in Akron. Use the outdoor walk-up window or go inside. The self-service kiosk lets you start your request without talking to anyone. Same-day service is standard for walk-ins. You pay at the window and leave with your copy. Payment options include Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.

Online ordering runs through two channels. The official Summit County portal at vitals.scph.org charges $22.00 per copy plus a $1.95 processing fee. Major credit cards are accepted. Orders take three to five business days to process. The second option is VitalChek, which has its own higher fees but offers expedited shipping.

Phone orders are also accepted. Call (330) 812-3845 during business hours and the staff can take your order over the phone.

Akron Death Certificate Costs

Akron death certificates cost $22.00 per certified copy. That is one of the lower rates in Ohio. A credit card processing fee of $1.95 per transaction applies on top of the base cost if you pay by card. Cash and money orders do not have the extra fee.

Through VitalChek, the price goes up. Their service fee runs $10 to $15 over the $22.00 base. Expedited shipping costs more on top of that. If you just need a standard copy and can wait a few days, ordering through the official Summit County portal at vitals.scph.org is the cheaper online route. The state fee through the Ohio Department of Health is $21.50 per copy as of January 2025, so the county rate is close to the state rate.

Akron Death Records and SSN Rules

The social security number on an Akron death certificate gets redacted for the first five years after death. This is true across all of Ohio under Ohio Revised Code Section 3705.23. If you need the full record with the SSN included, you must prove you are an authorized person.

The list of authorized people includes a spouse or lineal descendant, executor or attorney, government investigative agency representative, private investigator, funeral director, veteran's service officer, or accredited media member. You bring your ID and proof of your relationship or role. The Summit County staff checks it before printing the unredacted copy. All sales are final and non-refundable, so make sure you have the right information before you order.

Historical Death Records in Akron

For Akron death records before 1908, go to the Summit County Probate Court at 209 South High Street, Akron, OH 44308. The phone number is 330-643-2350. They keep birth and death records from 1867 through 1908, along with marriage records from 1840 and probate records going way back.

The Akron-Summit County Public Library has a strong genealogy collection too. Their Special Collections Division at 60 South High Street, Akron, OH 44326 holds Ohio death certificates on microfilm from 1908 to 1952. The phone number is 330-643-9030. The Ohio History Connection has the state's copies of death certificates from the early 1900s and their online index covers 1913 to 1944 and 1954 to 1970.

Akron Death Records Under Ohio Law

Death certificates in Akron are public records. Ohio Revised Code Section 149.43 gives anyone the right to request a copy. No family ties needed. No reason required. Just ask and pay the fee.

Under Section 3705.16, every death in Ohio must be registered with the local registrar. The funeral director collects the personal information and files the paperwork. A physician or coroner certifies the cause of death. Section 3705.07 then requires the registrar to number, sign, and forward the certificate to the state. The local office in Akron keeps its own copy. These rules make sure every Akron death record ends up in both the county and state systems.

Akron Death Records Resources

The Summit County Public Health birth and death records page is shown below and serves as the starting point for Akron death certificate requests.

This page covers office hours, fees, and links to the online ordering portal for Summit County vital records.

You can also order Akron death certificates through the VitalChek portal for Summit County shown here.

VitalChek offers expedited processing and shipping for an extra fee on top of the base $22.00 certificate cost.

Summit County Death Records

Akron is the county seat of Summit County. All Akron death certificates are filed through the Summit County vital records system. For full details on the county office, fees, and ordering options, visit the Summit County page.

View Summit County Death Records

Nearby Ohio Cities

Other Ohio cities near Akron where you can search for death records.