Licking County Death Records Search

Licking County death records are available from the Licking County Health Department in Newark, Ohio. The office has death certificates from 1907 and 1908 through the present day, and it lets anyone request a certified copy. You can walk in, mail a request, or order online through the county's Permitium portal. Licking County is in central Ohio just east of Columbus, and Newark is the county seat. The health department acts as the local vital records registrar for the entire county. Genealogy researchers can also find older records through the probate court and the Licking County Records and Archives Center.

Licking County Death Certificate Office

The Licking County Health Department handles death records for the county. Their office is at 675 Price Road, Newark, OH 43055. You can call (740) 349-6535 or fax (740) 349-6498. Email lickingoh@lickingohiohealth.org if you have questions. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Walk-in visits are the most common way to get a death certificate here. Come during business hours, give the staff the name and date of death, and they will pull the record. It takes about 15 to 20 minutes. You pay $25.00 per certified copy. The office accepts cash for in-person visits, checks and money orders payable to the Licking County Health Department, and credit and debit cards. A processing fee applies for card payments. Bring a valid ID, especially if you need a copy that includes the social security number.

The Licking County Health Department ordering page is shown below.

This page has forms and instructions for requesting Licking County death certificates in person or by mail.

How to Order Licking County Death Records

Three main methods work for ordering death records from Licking County.

For mail orders, download the application from the Licking County Health Department website. Fill it out with the name of the deceased, date of death, and your return information. Include a copy of your valid ID, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a check or money order for $25.00 per copy. Mail everything to Licking County Health Department, Vital Statistics, 675 Price Road, Newark, OH 43055. The office processes requests as they come in and mails the certificate back to you.

Online ordering goes through the Permitium portal for Licking County. Follow the steps on the site, enter the details about the death record you need, and pay with a credit or debit card. An extra processing fee is added to the $25.00 base cost. Certificates ordered online are mailed within three to five business days. VitalChek is also authorized for Licking County orders and offers expedited shipping for an extra charge.

The Licking County government page with additional vital records resources is shown here.

The county government site links to the health department and other resources for finding death records in Licking County.

Licking County Death Records and the Law

Ohio death records are public. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 149.43, anyone can request a copy of a Licking County death certificate. No reason needed. No family tie required. The health department must provide the record during regular business hours.

The social security number is the one thing they hold back. For deaths within the past five years, the SSN is removed from the certificate under Section 3705.23. You need to be on the authorized list to get a non-redacted copy. That list includes spouses, lineal descendants, executors, attorneys, legal agents, government investigators, private investigators, funeral directors acting for the family, veteran service officers, and accredited media members. After the five-year window closes, the full record is open to everyone without restrictions.

Specify "genealogy" as the purpose of your request if you are doing family history research. Licking County accommodates genealogy requests and can search records going back to the early 1900s. For older death records, the county has resources that reach back even further through the probate court and archives.

Historical Death Records in Licking County

Licking County has an interesting records history. The health department has death records from about 1907 or 1908 forward. For records from 1874 to 1908, contact the Licking County Probate Court at the Licking County Courthouse, 1 North Main Street, Newark, OH 43055. Call (740) 349-6100 for details. A fire at the courthouse in 1875 destroyed most pre-1875 records, but some early documents survived.

The Licking County Records and Archives Center holds City of Newark death certificates from 1905 through 1908, along with a transcribed marriage records index going back to 1809. The Ohio History Connection has Ohio death certificates from 1908 to 1953 searchable online. FamilySearch offers free access to similar records. The Ohio Department of Health has statewide death records from 1954 to the present. Together, these resources cover most of the death records filed in Licking County over the past 150 years.

Cities in Licking County

The city of Newark is the county seat and largest city in Licking County. All death records for Newark and other communities in the county are handled by the Licking County Health Department at 675 Price Road. Other communities like Heath, Pataskala, Granville, and Johnstown also use this same office for death certificate requests.

Nearby Counties

Licking County borders several counties in central Ohio. If the death happened in one of these neighboring counties, you will need to contact their health department instead.