Holmes County Death Records Lookup

Holmes County death records are managed by the Holmes County General Health District in Millersburg, Ohio. You can look up death certificates for anyone who died in Holmes County from December 20, 1908 to the present. The health district offers in-person, phone, and mail ordering so you can get a certified copy in the way that works best for you. Ohio death records are public, which means any person who knows the basic facts about the deceased can request a copy without showing proof of relationship.

Holmes County Death Certificate Office

The Holmes County General Health District issues death certificates at 85 N. Grant St., Suite B, Millersburg, Ohio 44654. This is on the 3rd floor of the Jobs and Family Services building. The mailing address is 2600 Glen Drive, Millersburg, Ohio 44654. Phone: (330) 674-5035. The registrar is Jen Menuez, ext. 221, jmenuez@holmeshealth.org.

Each certified copy of a Holmes County death certificate costs $27. This rate has been in effect since March 1, 2019. They accept cash, check, money order, and debit or credit cards. Extra processing fees apply for card payments. Death certificates are only issued for deaths that took place in Holmes County. If the person died in a different Ohio county, you need to contact that county's health department instead.

In-person visits are the fastest way to get a copy. Walk into the office during business hours and wait about five to ten minutes. The staff can look up the record and print a certified copy on the spot. This is the quickest option if you are in the area and need the document right away.

The screenshot below shows the Holmes County Health Department birth and death certificates page.

This page covers fees, payment methods, ordering options, and what information you need to request a Holmes County death certificate.

How to Order Holmes County Death Records

Phone orders are another fast option. Call (330) 674-5035 during business hours. Give the staff the information from the application form and provide your debit or credit card number. They process the certificate that day and ship it by mail. For urgent needs, you can ask about expedited service. Express mail costs an extra $25.50 on top of the $27 certificate fee.

Mail orders go to Holmes County General Health District, 2600 Glen Drive, Millersburg, Ohio 44654. Send the completed application with a check or money order for $27 payable to Holmes County General Health District or HCHD. Include the full name of the deceased, the date of death, and your return address. Processing time for mail requests depends on when payment arrives and how busy the office is.

You can also order through VitalChek online. This third-party service adds a processing fee but lets you order from home with a credit card. The Holmes County office also has records available through FamilySearch, which has birth records from 1867 to 1966 and death records from 1867 to 1908 for genealogy research.

The VitalChek portal for Holmes County is shown below.

VitalChek provides a convenient way to order Holmes County death certificates without visiting the Millersburg office in person.

Holmes County Death Records and the Law

Holmes County death records follow Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3705. Section 3705.16 requires every death to be registered. The funeral director handles the personal information and a physician or coroner certifies the medical cause. Under Section 149.43, death certificates are public records in Ohio. Anyone can request one.

ORC 3705.25(5) requires the social security number to be taken off death certificates for the first five years after death. Only authorized requestors can get the SSN during that period. The list of authorized people includes the spouse, legal partner, natural or adopted children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, funeral home staff, the Veterans Administration, law enforcement agencies, and executors or administrators of the estate.

For records before December 20, 1908, contact the Holmes County Probate Court at the Courthouse in Millersburg, OH 44654. Call (330) 674-5881. The probate court has records from 1867 through December 19, 1908. Marriage certificates are also available there. The Ohio History Connection notes that Holmes County has no indexed records at their archives, so the probate court is your best source for pre-1908 death records.

Holmes County Death Records Fees

The fee for a certified death certificate in Holmes County is $27. This has not changed since March 2019. Section 3705.24 of the Ohio Revised Code sets the state minimum at $12 per copy, but each county sets its own rate above that floor. Card payments come with extra processing charges that vary depending on the payment processor.

The Ohio Department of Health is another source for Ohio death records. The state charges $21.50 plus a $5 modernization fee. This option works well if you can't get to the Holmes County office or if you need a record from a different Ohio county. The state holds death records from 1954 to the present. For older records from 1908 to 1953, try the Ohio History Connection.

Nearby Counties

Holmes County is in east-central Ohio. If the death you are searching for happened in a bordering county, contact that county's health department.