Search Clark County Death Records
Death records in Clark County are managed by the Clark County Combined Health District in Springfield. The office issues certified death certificates for anyone who died in Clark County from 1908 to the present. You can get copies in person, by mail, or through VitalChek online. Clark County also has historical death records going back to 1867 through the Probate Court and the Springfield-Clark County Heritage Center. Ohio law makes death certificates public records, so you do not need to prove any family connection to request one. Springfield residents and people across Ohio use these records for estate matters, insurance claims, and genealogy research.
Clark County Death Records Overview
Clark County Combined Health District
The Clark County Combined Health District handles all death certificate requests for Clark County. Their office is at 529 East Home Road, Springfield, OH 45503. Call them at 937-390-5600 and press option 6 for vital statistics. You can also email vitalstatistics@ccchd.com or fax a request to 937-342-5503.
The CCCHD can issue certified death certificates from 1908 to the present for anyone who died in Clark County. They charge $24 per certified copy. Walk-in service is fast. Most people get their certificate while they wait. The office also provides genealogy information from 1908 forward, which is helpful for family history research.
Birth certificates are a different story. The Clark County health district can issue certified birth abstracts for anyone born anywhere in Ohio from 1908 to the present. But death certificates are limited to deaths that occurred within Clark County lines. If the death happened in another county, you need to contact that county's health department or the Ohio Department of Health.
Ordering Clark County Death Certificates
Walk-in requests are the simplest way. Go to 529 East Home Road in Springfield during business hours. Bring $24 per copy in cash, cashier's check, or money order. The staff will pull the record and print your certified copy on the spot.
To order by mail, print and fill out the Clark County death certificate application form. Send it with a cashier's check or money order for $24 per copy made payable to CCCHD. The office does not accept out-of-state personal checks for mail orders. Mail your request to Clark County Combined Health District, 529 East Home Road, Springfield, OH 45503. Processing takes about one to two weeks from the time your payment arrives.
Online ordering is done through VitalChek. The base fee is still $24, but VitalChek adds shipping and processing charges on top of that. The benefit is speed and the ability to pay by credit card, which the mail option does not allow. VitalChek also offers rush delivery if you need the certificate fast.
Note: Clark County does not accept personal out-of-state checks for any mail-in death certificate orders, so use a money order or cashier's check instead.
Clark County Death Records Online
The Clark County Combined Health District website shows current fees and how to order death certificates in Clark County.
This page spells out the three ordering methods and lists the required information you need for each request type. It is the best starting point for anyone looking for Clark County death records.
VitalChek also has a dedicated page for ordering Clark County death certificates online. The screenshot below shows the VitalChek interface for Clark County orders.
VitalChek charges extra fees but gives you the option to pay with a credit card and choose expedited shipping.
Historical Clark County Death Records
Older death records in Clark County come from two places. The Clark County Probate Court has birth and death records from 1867 through August 1908. The court is at 50 E. Columbia Street, Springfield, Ohio 45502. You can reach them at 937-521-1845 or by email at sweldy@clarkcountyohio.gov. Copies from the probate court cost $6 per record.
The Springfield-Clark County Heritage Center also holds birth and death records from 1888 to 1908. This is a good backup if the probate court's records are incomplete for a certain year. The probate court has an online search portal for both birth and death records, which lets you look up names and dates before making the trip to Springfield. The Ohio History Connection has death certificates from 1908 through 1953 that are available online through FamilySearch.
Clark County Death Certificate Requirements
Under Ohio Revised Code Section 3705.16, every death in Ohio must be registered with the local registrar. In Clark County, that means the vital statistics office at the health district. The funeral director gathers personal facts about the person who died and the doctor or coroner fills in the medical cause of death. The completed certificate must be filed within a few days.
The social security number on a Clark County death certificate is hidden for the first five years after death under Section 3705.23. To get a copy with the SSN during that time, you must be an authorized requestor. That includes spouses, children, executors, attorneys, funeral directors, and law enforcement officials. After five years, anyone can get the full record with the SSN.
Death records in Ohio are public. You can walk into any county health department and ask for a copy under Section 149.43. Clark County follows this rule. No reason is needed for your request.
Nearby Counties
Death records from counties bordering Clark County can be found through these pages.
Cities in Clark County
Clark County's largest city is Springfield, which has its own page with detailed death record information.
Other communities in Clark County include New Carlisle, South Vienna, and Enon. Death records for all Clark County locations go through the Clark County Combined Health District in Springfield.