Access Auglaize County Death Records
Auglaize County death records are available through the Auglaize County Health Department in Wapakoneta. The office holds certified death certificates for deaths in the county from December 1908 to the present. You have four ways to get a copy: walk in during business hours, send a mail request, call and pay over the phone, or order online through VitalChek. The in-person option is the fastest since staff process the request while you wait. Auglaize County charges $25.00 per certified copy, and the records are open to the public under Ohio law.
Auglaize County Death Records Overview
Auglaize County Health Department Death Records
The Auglaize County Health Department handles all death certificate requests for the county. The office is at 813 Defiance Street in Wapakoneta, Ohio 45895. Walk-in hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Requests are processed while you wait, so you can walk out with a certified copy in just a few minutes.
The registrar is Beth Sanders. You can reach her by email at bsanders@auglaizehealth.org or by calling 419-738-3410 during business hours. The office issues certified death certificates for deaths that occurred in Auglaize County from December 1908 forward. They also issue birth certificates for anyone born in Ohio from December 1908 to the present. Burial permits are available through this office as well.
The screenshot below shows the Auglaize County Health Department death certificates page.
This page details the fees, ordering methods, and contact information for getting Auglaize County death records.
How to Get Auglaize County Death Certificates
In-person requests are the fastest option. Go to 813 Defiance Street in Wapakoneta during business hours. Bring the name and date of death. Staff will search and print the certificate while you wait. Payment can be by cash, check, money order, or debit/credit card. A 2.5% convenience fee applies to card payments, with a minimum of $2.00.
Mail requests go to the Auglaize County Health Department, Attn: Vital Statistics, 813 Defiance Street, Wapakoneta, Ohio 45895. Include $25.00 per copy by check or money order. Add a return envelope with your name and address. Phone orders are another option. Call 419-738-3410 during business hours and pay with a debit or credit card. Phone orders are processed the same day. The total for phone orders is $32.00 because VitalChek handles the card processing and adds a $7.00 fee.
Online ordering through VitalChek also costs $32.00 total. The base fee of $25.00 goes to the county and VitalChek keeps $7.00. Standard delivery takes five to seven business days. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 149.43, death records are public. Anyone can request a copy.
Auglaize County Death Certificate Fees
The base fee is $25.00 per certified copy. That applies to walk-in and mail requests. Phone and online orders cost $32.00 because VitalChek adds $7.00 for processing. If you pay by card at the counter, a 2.5% convenience fee applies with a $2.00 minimum.
The state-level fee through the Ohio Department of Health is $21.50 plus a $5.00 modernization surcharge. Ohio Revised Code Section 3705.24 sets the minimum fee at $12.00 for a vital records search. The county keeps a portion and sends part to the state office quarterly.
Note: Phone orders through VitalChek are processed the same day, making them a good choice if you need a death certificate quickly but cannot visit the office.
Historical Death Records in Auglaize County
The Auglaize County Probate Court holds death records from 1867 to 1908. The court is at 201 Willipie Street, Suite 103, Wapakoneta, OH 45895. Call 419-738-7710. Historical records from the probate court cost $5.00 per copy. These older records were kept before Ohio's statewide registration started in December 1908.
State-level archives hold additional historical records. The Ohio History Connection keeps death records from 1908 through 1970, with an online death record index for searching. The Ohio Department of Health has records from 1954 to the present. Under Section 3705.07, each local registrar sends the original death certificate to the state after recording it. The state then keeps a permanent index of all Ohio deaths. Genealogy researchers often start at the county level and then move to the state archives for broader searches.
Auglaize County Death Certificate Details
An Auglaize County death certificate shows the deceased person's full name, date and place of death, cause and manner of death, and the attending physician or coroner. It includes the date of birth, parents' names, marital status, usual residence, and social security number. The SSN is redacted for the first five years after death per Section 3705.23 unless you are an authorized requestor.
Under Section 3705.16, every death must be registered with the local registrar. The funeral director files the certificate. The physician completes the medical section within 48 hours. Burial permits cost $10.00 and cannot be issued until the death certificate is filed, per Section 3705.17. Tampering with a death certificate is a criminal offense under Section 3705.29 of the Ohio Revised Code.
Nearby Counties
Auglaize County is in western Ohio. If the death happened in a neighboring county, contact that county's health department directly.
Cities in Auglaize County
Wapakoneta is the county seat of Auglaize County. The county has no cities large enough for a dedicated page on this site. All residents get death certificates from the Auglaize County Health Department at 813 Defiance Street in Wapakoneta.