Medina County Death Records

Medina County death records are available through the Medina County Health Department. If you need a death certificate for someone who died in Medina County, you can request one in person, by mail, by phone, or online. The county has kept death records since 1908, and older records dating back to 1867 are at the Probate Court. Medina County also has a Clerk of Courts archive that holds case records and other legal documents. Whether you need a certified copy for an estate matter or for genealogy research, the process is straightforward.

Medina County Health Department Death Records

The Medina County Health Department handles death certificate requests for deaths that happened in Medina County. The fee is $26.00 per certified copy. That rate went up from $25.00. You can pay with cash, check, or money order. The office also accepts phone orders and has an online application form on their website.

To request a Medina County death record, you need the full name of the deceased and the approximate date of death. Having the parents' names helps if the name is common. Staff can search their records and print a certified copy while you wait if you visit in person. The health department also does genealogy record searches for people looking into family history. Call them at (330) 723-9688 for questions or to place an order by phone.

The image below shows the Medina County Health Department website where you can find ordering details for death certificates.

This page provides contact information and instructions for requesting certified copies of death certificates from the Medina County vital statistics office.

How to Get Medina County Death Certificates

You have several options for getting a death certificate in Medina County. Walk into the health department during business hours. Send a mail request with payment. Call the office and order by phone. Or use the online application. Each certified copy costs $26.00. The health department keeps death records from 1908 to the present for all deaths that took place in Medina County.

For mail orders, include the name of the deceased, date of death, and your check or money order made payable to the Medina County Health Department. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail requests take longer than walk-in visits. In-person requests are usually handled the same day. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 149.43, death certificates are public records and anyone can request a copy without stating a reason or proving a family connection.

The social security number on death certificates issued within the last five years is redacted unless you qualify as an authorized requestor under Section 3705.23. Authorized people include the spouse, children, executor, attorney, funeral director, law enforcement, and a few other groups. After five years pass, the full certificate is available to everyone.

Medina County Probate Court Records

The Medina County Probate Court holds older vital records. Birth and death records from 1867 through 1908 are at the probate court. These early records were kept before the state started its registration system. The quality and detail of those records can vary. Call the probate court at (330) 725-9703 for information about accessing historical death records.

The probate court also handles marriage licenses and other probate matters. If you are doing deep genealogy work in Medina County, both the probate court and the health department are important stops. For death records from 1908 through 1970, the Ohio History Connection in Columbus keeps archival copies. Their online death record index is free to search.

The screenshot below shows the Medina County Probate Court website.

The probate court site has contact details and information about the types of records they hold, including early death records from before 1908.

Medina County Death Records Archives

The Medina County Clerk of Courts maintains an archive of case records. Records prior to 2008 are held in the archives section. You can request copies at $0.10 per page plus a $1.00 certification fee. A 3% fee applies to credit card payments. Call (330) 722-9328 to ask about archived records.

While the clerk of courts archive is not the main source for death certificates, it can hold related legal documents. Court cases involving wrongful death, estate proceedings, and other matters tied to a death may be on file there. These records can fill in gaps if the death certificate alone does not give you all the information you need. The archive complements what the health department and probate court offer.

Death Records and Ohio Law

Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3705 governs the vital statistics system. The local registrar in Medina County numbers each death certificate, signs it, makes a copy, and sends the original to the state. Section 3705.07 spells out these duties. If a death was caused by a communicable disease, the registrar must notify the health commissioner right away.

Every death in Ohio must be registered with the local registrar under Section 3705.16. The funeral director collects the personal details and files the certificate. A doctor or coroner fills in the medical part. The medical certification must be completed within 48 hours. Falsifying a death certificate is a crime under Section 3705.29. Only a coroner or medical examiner can certify deaths that were violent, suspicious, or sudden.

The fee rules come from Section 3705.24. The law says the fee cannot be less than $12.00. Medina County's $26.00 rate falls within the typical range for Ohio counties.

Nearby Counties

Medina County is in northeast Ohio. These neighboring counties have their own health departments for death certificate requests.

Cities in Medina County

Medina County includes the city of Strongsville, which has a dedicated page on this site. Medina is the county seat. All residents in Medina County get death certificates from the Medina County Health Department.