Find Death Records in Washington County
Washington County death records are managed by the Washington County Health Department in Marietta. The Marietta-Belpre Health Department also handles vital statistics for the area. If you need a certified copy of a death certificate for someone who died in Washington County, you can get one in person, by mail, or online. The county has held these records since 1908. Older records from 1867 to 1908 are at the Washington County Probate Court. Washington County sits in southeastern Ohio along the Ohio River, and its offices serve residents from across the county for all vital records needs.
Washington County Death Records Overview
Washington County Death Certificates
The Washington County Health Department is the primary office for death certificates in the county. The office is at 340 Muskingum Drive, Suite B, Marietta, OH 45750. Call 740-374-2782 for vital statistics questions. The fax number is 740-376-7074. Staff are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The registration district number is 8400.
The Marietta-Belpre Health Department also processes vital records. Their office has been at 304 Putnam Street, 3rd floor. Note that the Marietta office may only have death certificates for deaths that took place within the city limits of Marietta. For deaths in other parts of Washington County, the county health department at 340 Muskingum Drive is your best option. A certified death certificate costs $25.00 per copy. Non-certified copies are no longer available in Washington County.
The image below shows the Washington County government website where you can find death record ordering information.
This resource provides details on requesting death certificates from the Washington County Health Department, including office hours and contact information.
Payment can be made with cash, check, money order, or credit and debit cards. For in-person visits, arrive during business hours. Mail requests require a completed application and payment sent to the office. You can also order online through the county website.
How to Get Washington County Death Records
There are three main ways to request a death certificate in Washington County. Walk in during office hours for the fastest service. Send a mail request with your payment. Or order online through the county website. Whichever method you choose, you need the full name of the person who died and the date of death. Having the parents' names can help narrow the search.
Under Ohio Revised Code Section 149.43, death certificates are public records in Ohio. Anyone can request a copy. You do not need to show a family relationship or explain your reason. The only exception is the social security number, which is hidden for the first five years after death per Section 3705.23. Only authorized requestors can get the SSN included on the certificate.
You can also use VitalChek to order online. They are an authorized third-party vendor that processes vital record requests for multiple Ohio counties.
VitalChek adds a processing fee to each order but offers expedited shipping options if you need the certificate quickly.
Historical Death Records in Washington County
Death records from before December 1908 are at the Washington County Probate Court. The court is at 223 Putnam Street, Marietta, Ohio 45750. Call 740-373-6623 ext. 254 for questions about historical records. These older records cover the years 1867 to 1908, when counties ran their own registration systems. The records vary in quality because there was no standard state form until 1908.
For death records from 1908 through 1970, the Ohio History Connection keeps archival copies. They have a searchable online index. The Ohio Department of Health holds records from 1954 to the present. If the county cannot help, the state archives are a reliable backup. FamilySearch also has free access to Ohio death records from 1908 to 1953.
Note: Marriage certificates are also available from the Washington County Probate Court, but death records and marriage records are handled by separate offices.
Washington County Records and Ohio Law
Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3705 sets the rules for vital statistics across the state. Section 3705.16 requires that every death in Ohio be registered. The physician or coroner fills in the medical certification. The funeral director collects personal details from the family and files the certificate with the local registrar. In Washington County, the registrar at the health department handles this.
Section 3705.07 says the registrar must number each certificate, keep a copy, and forward the original to the state. A burial permit cannot be issued until the death certificate is on file, per Section 3705.17. Altering or forging any vital record is a crime under Section 3705.29. The fee for certified copies is governed by Section 3705.24.
Nearby Counties
Washington County is in southeastern Ohio along the Ohio River. These neighboring counties maintain their own health departments for vital records.
Cities in Washington County
Washington County does not have cities that meet the population threshold for dedicated pages. Marietta is the county seat and the largest community. Belpre is another town in the county. Residents get death certificates from the Washington County Health Department in Marietta.