Search Allen County Death Records

Allen County death records are available through Allen County Public Health in Lima. The office has death certificates dating back to December 1908 for deaths that took place within the county. You can walk in during business hours, send a request by mail, or order a copy online through VitalChek. Ohio treats death certificates as public records, so anyone who can provide the basic facts about the deceased can request a copy. The process takes just a few minutes in person, or up to two weeks by mail depending on the method you pick.

Allen County Public Health Death Records

Allen County Public Health handles death certificates for the county. The office is at 219 E. Market Street in Lima. Walk-in service runs from 8:00 AM to 4:15 PM, Monday through Friday, except federal holidays. You need the full name of the person who died and the date of death. Parents' names help if the name is common. Staff can pull the record and print a copy while you wait.

Allen County Public Health only issues death certificates for deaths that happened in Allen County. If the person died somewhere else in Ohio, contact that county's health department or the Ohio Department of Health. Birth certificates work differently. The Allen County office can issue a birth certificate for anyone born anywhere in Ohio, but death records are tied to where the death occurred.

The screenshot below shows the Allen County Public Health vital statistics page.

This page provides ordering details, office hours, and fee information for obtaining death certificates in Allen County.

How to Request Allen County Death Certificates

You have three ways to get a death certificate from Allen County. The fastest is walking into the office at 219 E. Market Street in Lima. Bring the name and date of death. Staff will search the records while you wait. The second way is mail. Send your completed request to ACPH, PO BOX 1503, Lima, OH 45802-1503. Include a check or money order for $27.00 per copy. No personal checks are accepted by mail.

The third option is ordering online through VitalChek. This is an authorized service that lets you pay by credit card and have the certificate mailed to you. VitalChek adds a processing fee on top of the base $27.00 cost. Phone orders go through the same number: 419-228-4457, press 3 when prompted. Vital records are public records in Ohio under Section 149.43 of the Ohio Revised Code. Anyone who can submit basic facts about the deceased may request a copy.

Allen County Death Certificate Fees

Certified copies cost $27.00 each. That is the price whether you go in person or send a mail request. If you use a debit or credit card at the counter, expect a minimum $2.50 usage fee on top. Business checks are accepted but personal checks are not. Cash and money orders work for both in-person and mail requests.

The state-level fee through the Ohio Department of Health is $21.50 per copy plus a $5.00 modernization surcharge, as set by Ohio Revised Code Section 3705.24. VitalChek orders add their own processing fee, which brings the total to around $34.00 or more. The county fee is a flat $27.00 with no additional charge beyond the card usage fee if applicable.

Order Allen County Death Records Online

VitalChek is the authorized online ordering service for Allen County death certificates. You can place an order any time, day or night. The system asks for the deceased person's name, date of death, and county of death. You pay by credit or debit card. Standard processing takes five to seven business days for delivery. Rush options cost more but arrive faster.

The image below shows the VitalChek page for ordering Allen County vital records.

VitalChek handles payment and processing, then forwards the request to Allen County Public Health, which prints and mails the certified copy.

Allen County Historical Death Records

Allen County death records from December 1908 forward are at the health department. For deaths before that date, the records sit at the Allen County Probate Court. Ohio counties kept their own birth and death records between 1867 and 1908, though coverage varies. Not every death was recorded in those early years.

The Ohio History Connection holds state-level death records from 1908 through 1970. Their archives in Columbus include a searchable death record index. For records from 1954 to the present, the Ohio Department of Health is another option. Under Section 3705.07 of the Ohio Revised Code, the local registrar sends the original certificate to the state after recording it locally. The state then keeps a permanent index of all deaths.

What Allen County Death Certificates Contain

An Allen County death certificate shows the full name, date and place of death, cause of death, and manner of death. It lists the decedent's date of birth, marital status, usual residence, and parents' names. The social security number appears on the certificate but is redacted for the first five years after death under Section 3705.23. Only authorized persons like a spouse, descendant, executor, or funeral director can get the unredacted version during that time.

The medical certification section is completed by the attending physician or coroner. Under Section 3705.16, every death must be registered with the local registrar. The funeral director collects personal information from the family and files the certificate. Falsifying any part of a death certificate is a crime under Section 3705.29.

Nearby Counties

Allen County is in northwest Ohio. If the death you are looking for happened in a neighboring county, contact that county's health department for the certificate.

Cities in Allen County

Lima is the county seat and largest city in Allen County. Residents of Lima and surrounding communities get death certificates from Allen County Public Health.