Access Lima Death Records
Lima death records are maintained by Allen County Public Health in Ohio. Lima serves as the county seat of Allen County, so the public health office that handles death certificates is right in the city on East Market Street. You can search for Lima death records at the county office, order copies through VitalChek, send a mail request, or contact the Ohio Department of Health for statewide searches. The Allen County office keeps records from December 1908 to the present. Getting a Lima death certificate is a simple process that starts with the county vital statistics division.
Lima Death Records Overview
Allen County Death Records Office
Lima death certificates are kept by Allen County Public Health. The vital statistics office is at 219 East Market Street, Lima, OH. The mailing address is PO Box 1503, Lima, OH 45802. Call 419-228-4457 and press 3 for vital statistics.
The office handles death certificates for everyone who died in Allen County. That includes Lima and all the townships and villages in the county. Records go back to December 1908 when Ohio launched its statewide vital statistics system under Section 3705.01 of the Ohio Revised Code. For deaths before 1908, you need to contact the Allen County Probate Court. Those older records may be incomplete since not all deaths were registered before the state system began.
Walk-in service is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:15 PM. Bring the full name of the deceased and the date of death. The parents' names and place of death help staff find the right record. The fee is $27.00 per certified copy.
How to Get Lima Death Certificates
You can get a Lima death certificate in several ways. Each has a different cost and turnaround time.
In person at Allen County Public Health is the fastest option. The office at 219 East Market Street in Lima is open for walk-ins from 8:00 AM to 4:15 PM, Monday through Friday. Staff can often process your request the same day. The fee is $27.00. Payment options include cash, money order, cashier's check, and debit or credit cards. Card payments carry a minimum $2.50 processing fee. Personal checks are not accepted at this office.
By mail, send a written request to Allen County Public Health, PO Box 1503, Lima, OH 45802. Include the full name of the deceased, date of death, place of death, your name, return address, and a daytime phone number. Enclose a money order or cashier's check for $27.00 payable to Allen County Public Health. Do not send personal checks. Mail orders take about one to two weeks for processing and return delivery.
Online ordering is available through VitalChek for Allen County. VitalChek charges its own processing fee on top of the $27.00 base cost. You pay by credit or debit card. Standard orders ship in about a week. Expedited delivery costs more but arrives faster. This is a good choice if you cannot visit the office in person or prefer to pay by card.
Note: Allen County Public Health does not accept personal checks for death certificate orders, so bring cash, a money order, or a cashier's check for walk-in requests.
Lima Death Certificate Contents
A Lima death certificate contains all the details required by Ohio law. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 3705.16, the funeral director collects the personal data and files the certificate with the local registrar. A physician or the Allen County coroner fills in the cause and manner of death.
The certificate shows the deceased person's full legal name, date of birth, date and place of death, cause of death, and the certifying physician or coroner. Parents' names, marital status, usual home address, occupation, and social security number are also included. The social security number is restricted for five years after death under Section 3705.23. Only authorized persons like a spouse, child, executor, or government official can see it during that period. After five years, the full record is open to anyone.
Lima Death Records and Ohio Law
Ohio death records are public. Section 149.43 of the Ohio Revised Code makes these records available to anyone. You do not need to be a family member or give a reason for your request. The public office must make the record available during regular business hours.
Section 3705.24 governs fees for vital records. The law says certified copy fees cannot go below $12.00. Allen County sets its rate at $27.00, which falls within the normal range for Ohio counties. Part of each fee goes to the state vital statistics office. The rest stays with Allen County Public Health to cover local costs.
The state also charges $21.50 per search through the Ohio Department of Health. If you order from the state website, a $5.00 modernization surcharge applies to each order. The Ohio Department of Health keeps records from 1971 forward at 4200 Surface Road, Columbus, OH 43228.
Older Lima Death Records
Allen County Public Health has Lima death records from December 1908 to the present. For deaths before that date, check with the Allen County Probate Court. Probate courts in Ohio kept death records before the statewide system started.
The Ohio History Connection holds state death certificates from 1908 through 1953. Their free online death index is searchable by name and covers records from 1913 to 1944 and 1954 to 1970. This is a strong research tool for anyone doing genealogy work tied to Lima and Allen County. The index includes all Ohio counties so you can search broadly if the exact location of death is not known.
Lima Death Records Resources
The Allen County Public Health vital statistics page shown below is the starting point for Lima death certificate requests.
Allen County Public Health at 219 East Market Street in Lima handles all death certificate requests for the county.
You can also order Lima death certificates online through the VitalChek page for Allen County shown here.
VitalChek provides online ordering with card payment and home delivery for Allen County death certificates covering Lima.
Allen County Death Records
Lima is the county seat of Allen County. All Lima death certificates are filed through Allen County Public Health. For the full county page with complete details on the office and services, see the link below.
Nearby Ohio Cities
Other Ohio cities near Lima where you can search for death records.