Canton Death Records

Canton death records are available through Canton City Public Health for deaths that happened within city limits. Stark County has a split system where the city of Canton, the city of Massillon, and the city of Alliance each run their own health departments for vital records. If you need a death certificate for someone who died in Canton, you go through the city office. For deaths outside those three cities but still in Stark County, the Stark County Health Department handles the request. This guide walks through both paths and shows you how to find the record you need.

Canton City Public Health Death Records

Canton City Public Health is the office that issues death certificates for deaths that occurred in Canton. The office is at 420 Market Avenue North, Canton, OH 44702. The phone number is 330-489-3231. Deaths at Mercy Medical Center and Aultman Hospital fall under Canton's jurisdiction since both sit inside city limits. Walk in during business hours with a valid photo ID and the staff can look up the record for you.

Each certified copy costs $25.00. You can pay with cash, check, or money order. Credit card acceptance varies, so call ahead if that is your only payment option. In-person requests are the fastest way to get a Canton death certificate. The staff can usually pull the record and print a copy while you wait. Mail requests work too but take longer since you need to send your payment and wait for the return.

The image below shows the Stark County Health Department website, which provides guidance on vital records across the county including Canton.

This page covers the county's vital records services and links to ordering options for death certificates in the Canton area.

Stark County Death Records

The Stark County Health Department handles death certificates for the parts of the county outside Canton, Massillon, and Alliance. The office is at 7235 Whipple Avenue NW, Suite B, North Canton, Ohio 44720. Call 330-493-9904. They are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

Stark County is now part of Ohio's statewide electronic death registration system. This means the county office can issue death certificates for any death that occurred in Ohio, not just in Stark County. This is a change from how things used to work, when they had to turn people away for out-of-county deaths. The new system makes it easier for Canton residents who need a death record from somewhere else in the state.

You can also order online. The county uses an electronic ordering system for vital records. For phone or online orders, expect to pay by credit card with a small processing fee on top of the base certificate cost. The Ohio Department of Health also accepts orders for death certificates statewide if neither the city nor county office works for your situation.

How to Get a Canton Death Certificate

Start by figuring out where the death took place. That is the most important step. If the person died inside Canton city limits, you go to Canton City Public Health. If the death happened in the broader Stark County area, contact the county health department in North Canton.

For in-person requests at either office, bring a government-issued photo ID and your payment. You need the full name of the deceased and the approximate date of death. Having the parents' names or a social security number helps the staff find the right record faster. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 149.43, death certificates are public records. Anyone can request a copy regardless of their relationship to the deceased.

Mail requests should include a completed application, a check or money order for $25.00, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail the package to Canton City Public Health at 420 Market Avenue North, Canton, OH 44702. Processing usually takes one to two weeks. The office does not send certificates by email or fax since Ohio law requires certified copies to be delivered physically.

• Full legal name of the deceased
• Date of death or approximate year
• Place of death if known
• Parents' names for common name searches
• Your return address and phone number

Canton Death Records and Ohio Law

Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3705 governs how death certificates are filed and issued. Under Section 3705.16, every death must be registered with the local registrar. The funeral director collects the personal facts from the family and files the certificate. A doctor or coroner completes the medical section. The registrar in Canton numbers each certificate, signs it, and sends the original to the state.

Section 3705.23 controls the social security number rule. For the first five years after a death, the SSN is redacted from the certificate unless the person requesting it is authorized. Authorized requestors include the spouse, direct descendants, executors, attorneys, funeral directors, government investigators, and licensed private investigators. After five years, the full record is open to everyone.

Fees are set under Section 3705.24. The law says the minimum search fee is $12.00. The actual cost at the state level is $21.50 plus a $5.00 modernization surcharge. Local offices like Canton City Public Health set their own fees on top of the state minimum. Falsifying a death certificate is a crime under Section 3705.29.

Historical Death Records in Canton

Death records from before 1908 are at the Stark County Probate Court. The court holds birth and death records from the period between 1867 and December 19, 1908. Contact them through the county courthouse system. Some of these older records are also stored at the Ohio History Connection in Columbus. The History Connection has an online death record index that is free to search.

For death records from 1908 through 1970, the Ohio History Connection is your best bet. They hold the state's archival copies from that era. Death records from 1954 to present are also on file at the Ohio Department of Health at 4200 Surface Road in Columbus. You can order from the state by mail or online.

Stark County Records

Canton is the county seat of Stark County. The county has multiple health departments that handle death records depending on where the death happened. Canton City Public Health covers the city. Massillon City Health Department at 611 Erie Street South, Massillon, OH 44646 (330-830-1710) covers Massillon. Alliance City Health Department at 537 East Market Street, Alliance, OH 44601 (330-821-7373) covers Alliance. The Stark County Health Department covers everywhere else.

Nearby Cities

These Ohio cities near Canton also have death records resources through their county or city health departments.