Cuyahoga County Death Records

Cuyahoga County death records are handled by several local health departments across the county, not a single central office. Cleveland is the county seat and the largest city. The Cleveland Department of Public Health covers most of Cuyahoga County, but cities like Lakewood, Parma, and a few others run their own vital statistics offices. This means where the death took place in the county determines which office holds the record. Knowing the exact city of death is key before you request a certified copy.

Cuyahoga County Death Certificate Offices

The Cuyahoga County Board of Health does not prepare, distribute, or store death certificates. That is an important distinction. Instead, several city health departments within the county handle death records. The Cleveland Department of Public Health is the largest. Call them at 216-664-2315 for death records for anyone who died in Cuyahoga County, except in Lakewood, Parma, Bedford, East Cleveland, Euclid, Rocky River, and Shaker Heights. Those cities run their own offices.

The Bureau of Vital Statistics is located at 601 Lakeside Avenue, Room 122, Cleveland, OH 44114. Processing at the county level may be faster than going through the state. The state fee is $21.50 per certified copy. A non-refundable search fee applies whether the record is found or not. Birth and death certificates are public records in Ohio, so anyone can request a copy.

The image below shows Cuyahoga County Board of Health information about where to get death certificates in the county.

This page clarifies that the Board of Health itself does not issue certificates and directs you to the correct city health department.

Lakewood and Parma Death Records

Lakewood Vital Statistics issues death certificates for anyone who died in the City of Lakewood. The office is at 12805 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood, OH 44107. Call 216-529-7690. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Each certified copy costs $25.00. They accept credit and debit cards, checks, money orders, and cash. A photo ID is required if you pay by card or check. No Apple Pay or tap payments.

Parma Vital Statistics handles death records for the City of Parma. Call 440-885-8816. Both Lakewood and Parma can issue birth certificates for anyone born in Ohio, but death certificates are limited to deaths that happened within their city limits. If you are not sure where the death took place, start with the Cleveland Department of Public Health since they cover most of the county.

The screenshot below shows the Lakewood vital statistics page with details on ordering death certificates.

This page lists fees, hours, accepted payment methods, and the address for the Lakewood vital statistics office.

Ordering Cuyahoga County Death Certificates

You can order death certificates in Cuyahoga County in person, by mail, or online. In-person visits are the fastest option. Walk into the correct city health department with your ID and the basic facts about the death. Staff can usually print a certified copy while you wait. For mail requests, send a completed application with your payment to the office that covers the area where the death took place.

Online orders are available through VitalChek and other state-approved vendors. Additional processing fees apply for online orders. You can also go through the Ohio Department of Health at $21.50 per copy. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 149.43, death records are public. Anyone can request a copy without proving a family relationship.

The image below shows the USBirthCertificates page for ordering Cuyahoga County vital records.

This resource outlines the ordering process, fees, and office addresses for Cuyahoga County vital records.

Historical Cuyahoga County Death Records

Death records from before December 1908 are at the Cuyahoga County Archives and the Probate Court. The Cuyahoga County Archives at 2905 Franklin Boulevard, Cleveland, OH 44113, holds death records from 1840 to 1908. Call 216-443-7250. Hours are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM, with 3:00 to 4:00 PM by appointment only. Closed Tuesday, Saturday, and Sunday.

The first 40 copies of pre-1908 death records from the Cleveland collection are free. After that, each copy costs 25 cents. The Cuyahoga County Probate Court at 1 West Lakeside Avenue, Room 502, Cleveland, OH 44113 also has death records from 1868 to 1908 on microfilm. Call the Probate Court Microfilm Room at 216-443-8935. For death records from 1908 through 1953, the Ohio Historical Society and the Akron-Summit County Library hold copies as well.

The Ohio History Connection in Columbus maintains state archival copies of death certificates from 1908 to 1970. Their online death record index is free to search. Records from 1971 forward are at the Ohio Department of Health.

The image below shows genealogy research resources available through the Cuyahoga County Archives.

This page describes the archival holdings and how to access historical vital records in Cuyahoga County.

Cuyahoga County Death Records and Ohio Law

Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3705 governs the vital statistics system. The local registrar in each jurisdiction within Cuyahoga County numbers the death certificate, signs it, keeps a copy, and sends the original to the state. Section 3705.07 spells out these duties. Every death must be registered with the local registrar under Section 3705.16.

The social security number on death certificates is hidden for the first five years after death. To get a copy with the SSN, you must be an authorized requestor, such as a spouse, lineal descendant, executor, funeral director, law enforcement, or accredited media member. Section 3705.29 makes it a crime to forge, alter, or counterfeit any vital record. The fee structure falls under Section 3705.24, which sets a minimum search fee of $12.00.

Nearby Counties

Cuyahoga County sits on the shore of Lake Erie in northeast Ohio. These neighboring counties have their own health departments for death records.

Cities in Cuyahoga County

Cuyahoga County is Ohio's most populous county and has several cities with dedicated pages on this site. Each city's death records are handled by the local health department that serves that area.