Find Death Records in Ashtabula County
Ashtabula County death records go back to 1909 and are available through multiple health departments in the county. The main office is the Ashtabula County Health Department in Jefferson, but the City of Ashtabula and Conneaut also have their own health departments that issue certificates. You can get a certified copy of a death certificate in person, by mail, or through VitalChek online. The fee is $25.00 per copy at both the county and city offices. Ohio death certificates are public records, so anyone with basic information about the deceased can request a copy.
Ashtabula County Death Records Overview
Ashtabula County Health Department
The Ashtabula County Health Department is the main office for death records in the county. It sits at 12 West Jefferson Street in Jefferson, OH 44047. Hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. The office is closed on all federal holidays. Call 440-576-6010, extension 3, to reach the vital statistics desk.
This office can issue death records from the Ashtabula County General Health District from 1909 to the present. It also issues birth abstracts for anyone born in Ohio from 1909 forward. The fee is $25.00 per certified copy, which has been in effect since February 2016. Online ordering is available through VitalChek. The burial permit fee is $10.00.
Ashtabula County is unique in Ohio because it has three separate health departments that can issue vital records. Besides the county health department, the Ashtabula City Health Department and the Conneaut Health Department also handle birth and death certificates. Each office can issue records for deaths that happened within their jurisdiction.
Ashtabula City Health Department Death Records
The City of Ashtabula has its own health department that issues death certificates. The office is at 4239 Lake Avenue, Ashtabula, OH 44004. Hours run from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:30 PM to 4:00 PM. The cost is $25.00 per copy. Call 440-992-7123 or email vitalstatistics@cityofashtabula.com for more information.
This city office can issue certified copies of death certificates for deaths in Ohio from 1909 to the present. Mail requests go to Ashtabula City Health Department, Attn: Vital Statistics, 4239 Lake Ave, Ashtabula, OH 44004. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 149.43, death records are public records available to anyone upon request.
The screenshot below shows the City of Ashtabula vital statistics page.
This page provides the city health department's contact details, fees, and hours for requesting death certificates.
Note: The social security number is redacted on death certificates for the first five years after death unless the requestor qualifies as an authorized person under Ohio law.
How to Get Ashtabula County Death Certificates
Walk into any of the three health departments in Ashtabula County during business hours. Bring the name and date of death. A photo ID may be requested. Staff will search the records and print a certified copy while you wait. This is the fastest method.
Mail requests work at all three offices. Send a completed application with $25.00 per copy. Use a check or money order. Include a return envelope with your address. Mail orders take about one to two weeks. For the county office, mail to 12 West Jefferson Street, Jefferson, OH 44047. For the city office, mail to 4239 Lake Ave, Ashtabula, OH 44004.
VitalChek is the online option. You can order from home at any hour. The base fee is $25.00 plus VitalChek's processing charge. Pay by credit or debit card. Standard orders ship in five to seven business days. The Ohio Department of Health also accepts orders for Ohio death certificates at $21.50 plus a $5.00 surcharge. Section 3705.24 of the Ohio Revised Code governs these fee amounts.
Historical Death Records in Ashtabula County
The Ashtabula County Probate Court holds death records from before 1908. The court is at 25 West Jefferson Street in Jefferson, OH 44047. Call 440-576-3451 or fax 440-576-3633. Email probate@ashtabulacounty.us. These records cover the period from 1867 to 1908, when counties managed their own vital records before the state system started.
The Ohio History Connection keeps state-level death records from 1908 through 1970. They have an online death record index for free searching. For records from 1954 to the present, the Ohio Department of Health is another source. Under Section 3705.07, the local registrar sends each death certificate to the state after filing it locally.
Below is a screenshot from Ohio Court Records showing Ashtabula County resources.
This resource provides additional context on where to find court and vital records in Ashtabula County.
Ashtabula County Death Certificate Details
A death certificate from Ashtabula County includes the full name of the deceased, date and place of death, cause and manner of death, and the certifying physician or coroner. It lists the parents' names, date of birth, marital status, and social security number. Under Section 3705.23, the SSN is hidden for five years unless requested by an authorized person such as a spouse, descendant, or executor.
Every death in Ohio must be registered under Section 3705.16. The funeral director collects personal information and files the certificate. The physician must complete the medical section within 48 hours. A burial permit cannot be issued until the death certificate is filed, per Section 3705.17. The permit costs $10.00. Falsifying a death certificate is a crime under Section 3705.29.
Nearby Counties
Ashtabula County is in the far northeast corner of Ohio, bordering Pennsylvania and Lake Erie. These neighboring counties have their own health departments for death records.
Cities in Ashtabula County
Ashtabula County has several small cities and villages. None of the communities in the county meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. Residents across the county get death certificates from one of the three local health departments listed above.