Newark Death Records
Newark death records are managed by the Licking County Health Department at 675 Price Road. As the county seat of Licking County, Newark is the hub for all vital records in the area. You can request death certificates in person, by mail, or through an online portal that Licking County runs on the Permitium platform. The health department has records from 1907 onward. For older entries, the Licking County Probate Court holds records from 1875 through 1908. A courthouse fire in 1875 destroyed most records before that date, making the surviving documents rare and valuable for genealogy work.
Newark Death Records Overview
Newark Death Certificate Office
The Licking County Health Department handles all Newark death records. Their office is at 675 Price Road, Newark, OH 43055. The phone number is 740-349-6535, and you can also reach them toll-free at 888-838-0219. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
Newark does not have its own city health department for vital records. Everything goes through the county. When you visit the office, bring the full name of the person who died and the date of death. Having the parents' names helps the staff find the right record faster. In-person requests take about 15 to 20 minutes to process. The staff pulls up the record, prints a certified copy, and collects your payment at the window.
Payment methods include cash for walk-in visits, plus checks and money orders made payable to the Licking County Health Department. Credit and debit cards are accepted with an extra processing fee. You can also fax requests to 740-349-6510.
How to Get Newark Death Certificates
You have three main ways to get a Newark death certificate.
Walking into the Licking County Health Department is the fastest option. The office at 675 Price Road serves walk-ins during regular hours. Complete an application form at the counter, pay the fee, and get your certified copy. No appointment is needed. Bring a valid ID if you plan to pay by card or check. The process takes under 20 minutes for most requests, and the staff can help you fill out the form if needed.
Mail orders work too. Download the application from the Licking County Health Department website, fill it out, and send it with a check or money order for $25.00 to Vital Statistics, 675 Price Road, Newark, OH 43055. Include a copy of your valid ID and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail orders get processed within three to five business days after they arrive.
Licking County also runs an online ordering portal through the Permitium system. You pay with a credit or debit card. The certificate gets mailed to you, usually within three to five business days. You can also order through the Ohio Department of Health or VitalChek, though both add service fees.
Newark Death Record Fees
Each certified copy of a Newark death certificate costs $25.00 at Licking County Health Department. That includes $13.50 in state fees that go to the Ohio Department of Health. Burial permits run $3.00. Credit card transactions add a small processing fee on top of the certificate cost.
If you order through the state office, the fee is $21.50 per certified copy as of January 2025. VitalChek charges the base fee plus its own service charge, which changes based on shipping speed. The Licking County Permitium portal may also have a small online processing charge. Under Section 3705.24 of the Ohio Revised Code, certified copy fees cannot drop below $12.00 and a portion of each fee stays with the local registrar while the rest goes to the state.
Note: Marriage and divorce records are not kept by the health department; get marriage licenses from the Licking County Probate Court and divorce decrees from the Clerk of Courts.
Historical Death Records in Newark
The Licking County Probate Court has death records from 1875 through 1908. The court is at 1 North Park Place, Newark, Ohio 43055. Call 740-670-5624 for help with older records. A courthouse fire in 1875 destroyed most records before that date. Some early documents did survive, but they are limited.
The Licking County Records and Archives has City of Newark death certificates from 1905 through 1908. This is an extra source that fills a gap for that short period. Transcribed marriage records from 1809 through 1879 are also at the archives, which can help with family research tied to Newark death records.
For statewide historical searches, the Ohio History Connection holds death records from 1908 through 1953. Their online index covers 1913 to 1944 and 1954 to 1970. The Ohio Department of Health keeps death records from 1964 to the present at 4200 Surface Road, Columbus, OH 43228. You can call the state at 614-466-2531.
What Newark Death Certificates Show
A Newark death certificate lists the full name, date of birth, date of death, place of death, cause of death, and the certifying physician or coroner. It also shows parents' names, usual address, marital status, and social security number. The funeral director files the personal information. The doctor or coroner adds the medical cause. Under Section 3705.16, every death in Ohio must be registered with the local registrar.
For deaths within the last five years, the social security number is redacted per Section 3705.23. To get a copy with the full number, you need to be a spouse, lineal descendant, executor, attorney, funeral director, government investigator, private investigator, veteran's service officer, or accredited media member. Specify "genealogy" as your purpose if that applies to your request.
Newark Death Records Resources
The Licking County Health Department vital statistics page below is where you start for Newark death certificate requests.
This page has application forms, fee info, and office hours for the department that handles all Newark death records.
The Licking County online ordering portal shown here lets you order Newark death certificates from your home.
This Permitium portal processes credit card payments and mails the certificate to you within a few business days.
Newark Death Records and Ohio Law
Death certificates are public records in Ohio. Section 149.43 of the Ohio Revised Code requires public offices to make records available to anyone who asks. You do not need to prove a relationship. You do not need to explain why you want the record.
Section 3705.07 tells local registrars to number each certificate, sign it, and send the original to the state office. That means Newark death records exist in both the Licking County system and the state system. If one office cannot find a record, the other may have it. Infant records are not available until two weeks after birth, but death records can be requested as soon as the certificate is filed.
Licking County Death Records
Newark is the county seat of Licking County. All Newark death certificates are filed through the Licking County vital records system. For the full county page with extra details on the office and procedures, follow the link below.
Nearby Ohio Cities
Other Ohio cities near Newark where you can search for death records.