Find Death Records in Fayette County
Fayette County death records are split between two offices depending on how old the record is. For deaths from 1909 to the present, the Fayette County Health Department holds the records. For deaths between 1867 and 1908, you need to contact the Fayette County Probate Court in Washington Court House. Searching for death records in Fayette County takes a bit of planning because the county does not have an online search portal. You will most likely need to call ahead or visit in person to get a certified copy of a death certificate.
Fayette County Death Records Overview
Fayette County Death Records From 1909 to Present
The Fayette County Health Department handles death records for deaths that happened in the county from 1909 to the present. For current contact details, check the Fayette County website. The health department can issue certified copies of death certificates for anyone who died in Fayette County during this time span. You need the full name of the deceased and the date of death to make a request.
Because Fayette County does not have an online ordering portal for vital records, you will likely need to call or visit the health department. Mail requests also work if you send the right information along with your payment. The exact fee for a death certificate through the health department can change, so it is a good idea to call first and confirm the current cost. You can also go through the Ohio Department of Health to get a death record from anywhere in the state. The state charges $21.50 per copy but only has records from 1954 forward.
Below is a screenshot showing vital records resources for Fayette County.
This resource gives an overview of where to find vital records in Fayette County and across Ohio.
Note: Call the Fayette County Health Department before visiting, as staff is limited and hours may vary from what is posted online.
Fayette County Probate Court Death Records
The Fayette County Probate Court holds death records from 1867 through 1908. This is the office that kept vital records before Ohio started its statewide system on December 20, 1908. The Probate Court is at 110 East Court Street, Washington Court House, OH 43160. Call them at 740-335-8322. A non-certified copy of a death record from 1867 to 1908 costs just $2, while a certified copy is $5. These are some of the lowest fees in the state for historical death records.
The Probate Court also handles wills going back to 1810 and marriage records from 1810 to January 1988. If you are doing family history work in Fayette County, the Probate Court and its Records and Archives Center are good starting points. The records from the 1867 to 1908 era vary in how much detail they have. Some list a cause of death and parents' names. Others are more basic. It depends on when the record was filed and who filled it out at the time.
The image below shows the Ohio Department of Health page with information on ordering death records, which applies to Fayette County residents.
The state portal is another option for ordering Fayette County death certificates, especially for records from 1954 to the present.
Ohio Law on Fayette County Death Records
Death records in Fayette County are governed by Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3705. Section 3705.16 requires every death to be registered with the local registrar. The funeral director files the personal details and a doctor or coroner fills in the medical cause of death. Under Section 3705.23, death certificates are public records, but the social security number is hidden for five years after the death unless you qualify as an authorized requestor.
The fee structure is set by Section 3705.24, which says the cost for a certified copy cannot be less than $12. Each county sets its own price on top of that floor. Section 3705.07 requires the local registrar to number each death certificate, sign it, keep a copy, and forward the original to the state. Section 149.43 of the Ohio Revised Code makes death records open to the public. Anyone can ask for a copy. No family connection is needed.
Genealogy and Historical Death Records
For genealogy research in Fayette County, the Ohio History Connection holds death records from 1908 through 1970. Death certificates from 1908 to 1953 are also available for free through FamilySearch. The Ohio History Connection cannot issue certified copies. They can stamp documents to show they came from their collection, but those stamps are not for legal use. If you need a certified copy of an older record, you must contact the local health department or the Probate Court.
Under Section 3705.29, it is a crime to falsify any vital record in Ohio. Only a coroner or medical examiner can certify a death caused by violence or other unnatural means. These rules apply to all death records filed in Fayette County, past and present.
Nearby Counties
Fayette County is in southwestern Ohio. Nearby counties each maintain their own death records.
Cities in Fayette County
Washington Court House is the county seat of Fayette County. Death certificates for all cities and communities in the county are handled by the Fayette County Health Department for deaths from 1909 forward.