Tuscarawas County Death Records Search

Tuscarawas County death records go back to December 1908 and are kept at the county health department in Dover. You can search for death certificates in person, by mail, by phone, or online through the county's own ordering system. The health department serves most of the county, but deaths that took place inside New Philadelphia city limits are handled by a separate city health district. Older records from 1867 to 1908 sit at the Tuscarawas County Probate Court. Ohio treats these records as public, so anyone can request a copy with basic facts about the person who died.

Tuscarawas County Health Department Death Records

The Tuscarawas County Health Department is the main source for death certificates in the county. The office is at 897 East Iron Avenue in Dover, Ohio 44622. Staff can pull a record and print it while you wait, usually in 15 minutes or less. The registration district number is 7900 for the county and 7901 for New Philadelphia City. Call (330) 343-5555 ext. 1250 to reach the vital statistics desk. You can also fax requests to (330) 343-1601 or email vitalstats@tchdnow.org for more details.

Office hours run Monday through Wednesday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Thursday from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The extended Thursday hours make it easier to stop by after work. Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before closing. The health department holds death records for all Tuscarawas County deaths from 1908 to the present, except those that took place within New Philadelphia city limits. For those, contact the New Philadelphia City Health District at 150 E High Ave, Suite 011, New Philadelphia, OH 44663, or call (330) 364-4491 ext. 1208.

The image below shows the Tuscarawas County Health Department website where you can find vital statistics details and ordering steps for death records.

This site lists contact details, office hours, and fee schedules for requesting certified death certificates in Tuscarawas County.

How to Get Tuscarawas County Death Certificates

There are four ways to order a death certificate from Tuscarawas County. Each costs $25.00 per certified copy.

Walk in during business hours with cash or a money order. The office does not take personal checks for in-person visits. Staff will pull your record and print it fast. By mail, send a completed application form along with a bank cashier check or money order to the Tuscarawas County Health Department Vital Records at 897 East Iron Avenue, Dover, Ohio 44622. No personal checks by mail either. Include the full name of the person who died, the date of death, and your return address. Mail requests take about one to two weeks depending on the time of year.

You can also order by phone at (330) 343-5555 ext. 1250. The county runs an online ordering system that takes credit and debit cards. Online orders carry a $5.00 service charge per order on top of the $25.00 base fee, plus a credit card processing fee. This is often the fastest option if you cannot visit the office in person. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 149.43, death certificates are public records, so you do not need to be a family member to request one.

The screenshot below shows the Tuscarawas County online ordering portal where you can order death certificates with a credit card.

The Permitium system walks you through the request step by step and emails you when the order is ready.

Tuscarawas County Death Record Fees

A certified copy costs $25.00 in Tuscarawas County. The fee is the same at the New Philadelphia City Health District. Online orders add a $5.00 credit card processing fee per order plus the card transaction fee. Cash and money orders are the cheapest way to pay. The state charges $21.50 per copy if you order through the Ohio Department of Health, plus a $5.00 modernization surcharge under Ohio Revised Code Section 3705.24.

For mail orders, only bank cashier checks and money orders are accepted. The office does not take personal checks by mail or in person. Credit cards work only through the online portal. If you need a record and plan to pay with a check, call ahead to ask about current rules.

Historical Death Records in Tuscarawas County

Records from before December 1908 are at the Tuscarawas County Probate Court. The courthouse phone number is 330-364-8811 ext. 3266. These records cover the period from 1867 to 1908 when the county probate court handled vital records before the state took over. The detail in these old records varies because each county kept its own system back then.

For death records from 1908 through 1970, the Ohio History Connection in Columbus holds archival copies. They have a free online death record index you can search. Records from 1954 forward are also at the Ohio Department of Health at 4200 Surface Road, Columbus, OH 43228. You can call them at 614-466-2531. If you are doing genealogy work or need an old death record that the county cannot find, these state resources are your best bet.

What Tuscarawas County Death Certificates Show

A certified death certificate from Tuscarawas County includes the full name of the deceased, date and place of death, cause and manner of death, and the names of the decedent's parents. It shows the date of birth, marital status, usual address, and the name of the attending physician or coroner who signed the medical certification. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 3705.16, every death in Ohio must be registered with the local registrar. The funeral director files the certificate and collects personal details from the family. The medical part must be completed within 48 hours.

Death certificates also contain information about the final disposition of the body. Whether the person was buried or cremated, the certificate notes it. A burial permit cannot be issued until the death certificate is on file per Section 3705.17. These records serve legal and personal purposes. People use them for estate settlement, insurance claims, property transfers, and genealogy research. Courts accept Ohio death certificates as prima facie evidence of the facts they contain.

Death Records and Ohio Law

Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3705 governs the state's vital statistics system. The local registrar in Tuscarawas County numbers each death certificate, signs it, keeps a copy, and sends the original to the state. Section 3705.07 lays out these duties. If a death involved a communicable disease, the registrar must tell the health commissioner right away.

Falsifying a death certificate is a crime in Ohio. Section 3705.29 makes it illegal to forge, alter, or counterfeit any vital record. Only a coroner or medical examiner can certify a death that was violent, suspicious, or sudden. These rules apply to every county in Ohio.

Nearby Counties

Tuscarawas County is in east-central Ohio. These neighboring counties have their own health departments where you can request death certificates for deaths that occurred in their areas.

Cities in Tuscarawas County

Tuscarawas County includes the cities of Dover and New Philadelphia. Neither meets the population threshold for a dedicated page. Dover is the county seat. Residents across Tuscarawas County get death certificates from the Tuscarawas County Health Department in Dover or the New Philadelphia City Health District.