Over the past few decades, thanks to volunteers, librarians, and archivists (as well as the largest of them all – FamilySearch), a great number of indexes to death collections have been provided for free online. These searchable indexes provide specific death information, and sometimes scanned images of the actual death certificates themselves. These free online collections have hundreds of millions of records in them in total.
There are a great number of online and offline collections that may include death information that are not included in the lists below. For example, newspapers and obituaries have death info, but most times obituary indexes include the date of the obituary but not the date of death. To find out which types of other records may include death information, please see:
The lists below are specific death indexes and record collections that are available for free online for the state.
Note 1: Many of the links listed below take you to a FamilySearch Collection of digital images. In many cases there is a link to the digital collection in the middle of the page, but also near the bottom of the page under Film/Digital Notes is the name of each sub-collection. If there is a camera icon at the right of the name (in the Format column) then the collections’ images are browsable. If there is a camera with a key icon, it is only available at a Family History Center or affiliated library. If there is a film reel icon, then it is only available in microfilm format, not digital. Please also note that I have listed below only BMD databases that are accessible digitally from your computer (or tablet/phone)
Note 2: I have included links to Free Ancestry records and indexes. You do not need a subscription, but do need an Ancestry account. Without a subscription, you can view indexes. If there is an image associated with a record, in most cases you will need a subscription, but the index does include very usable information.
(Updated June 2021; recently added links are in BOLD):
- Adams County Newspaper Excerpts 1831-1857
- Adams County, Death Indexes
- Allen County, Death Indexes
- Ashland County Death Records
- Ashland County Death Record, 1867-1908; Index, 1867-1908
- Ashland County, Death Indexes
- Ashtabula County Birth and Death Records, 1867-1908
- Ashtabula County, Births, Marriages and Deaths 1810-1947
- Ashtabula County, Death Indexes
- Ashtabula County, Obituary Index, 1858-2012
- Athens County Records of Birth and Death, 1867-1956
- Athens County, Death Indexes
- Auglaize County Birth and Death Records, 1867-1938
- Belmont County Death Indexes
- Belmont County Death Record, 1867-1908
- Belmont County, Certificates of Death 1940-1982
- Belmont County, Death Indexes
- Bowling Green Birth Records, 1909-1937 ; Death Records, 1928-1948
- Bowling Green Death Records, 1912-1936 ; Birth Records, 1908-1920
- Brown County Death Records
- Brown County Birth and Death Records, 1867-1909
- Brown County, Death Indexes
- Butler County Birth and Death Records, 1867-1908
- Carroll County Birth and Death Records, 1867-1909
- Carroll County Death returns, 1869-1879
- Champaign County, Death Indexes
- Cincinnati Birth and Death Records 1865-1912
- Circleville, Death Certificates 1904-1983 ; City Index to Births & Deaths, 1908-1962
- Clark County Birth, Marriage, and Death Indexes
- Clark County Death Records, 1867-1908
- Clermont County Deaths
- Clermont County Birth and Death Records, 1867-1908
- Cleveland Death Records, 1840-1908 ; Index, 1840-1908
- Cleveland Death Records, 1887-1905
- Clinton County Birth and Death Records, 1867-1908
- Colerain Township, Hamilton County, burial permits, 1923-1937
- Columb County, Death Indexes
- Columbiana County Birth and Death Records, 1867-1908
- Columbiana County, Salem News Obituary Index, 1957-2011
- Coshocton County Miscellaneous Deaths
- Coshocton County Birth and Death Records, 1867-1908
- Crawford County Church Records, 1853-2007
- Crawford County Obituaries, 1860-2004
- Crawford County Birth and Death Records, 1866-1909 ; Index to Birth, 1867-1878
- Cuyahoga County Records, 1880-1950
- Cuyahoga County Vital Records Indexes
- Cuyahoga County Death Index, 1840-1900
- Cuyahoga County Death Record Index, 1868-1891
- Cuyahoga County Record of Deaths, 1868-1908
- Cuyahoga County, Death Indexes
- Darke County, Death Indexes
- Dayton Death Notices
- Dayton, Obituary Index, 1850-2013
- Defiance County Court Records, 1845-1910
- Defiance County Death Records, 1867-1908
- Defiance County, Report of Births and Deaths 1875-1908
- Delaware County Death Records, 1867-1907
- Delphos Deaths
- Diocese of Toledo, Catholic Parish Records, 1796-2004
- Erie County Death Records v. 1-3, 1867-1908
- Erie County Report of Births and Deaths, v. 1A-2A, 1896-1913
- Erie County Assessors’ Returns of Births and Deaths, 1870-1909
- Erie County Birth, Marriage, and Death Records, 1856-1865
- Fairfield County Death Records, v. 1-3, 1867-1909
- Fayette County Births and Deaths
- Fayette County Death Records, 1868-1907
- Fayette County, Record Herald Obituary Index, 1911-2005
- Franklin County Death Records, 1867-1908
- Franklin County Death Records, 1867-1908
- Franklin County, Death Indexes
- Franklin County, Death Records, from July 17, 1811 to October 18, 1832
- Fulton County Death Records
- Fulton County Marriage Records, 1864-1930; Birth Records, 1867-1951; Delayed Birth Records and Index, Death Records, 1867-1951
- Gallia County Miscellaneous Deaths
- Gallia County Death Records, 1867-1916
- Gallia County, Death Indexes
- Geauga County Birth, Marriage, and Death Indexes
- Geauga County Births, Marriages, and Deaths
- Geauga County Records, 1860-1970
- Geauga County Birth and Death Records 1867-1908
- Geauga County, Death indexes
- Greene County Vital Records Indexes
- Greene County Record of Deaths 1870-1903
- Greene County, Death Indexes
- Guernsey County Assessor’s Return of Report of Death, 1885-1908
- Guernsey County Death Records, 1867-1960
- Guernsey County, Death Indexes
- Hamilton County Deaths
- Hamilton County Miscellaneous Death Records
- Hamilton County Records, 1791-1994
- Hamilton County Death Records 1881-1908
- Hamilton County Death Records for 1985-1986
- Hamilton County, Death Indexes
- Hancock County Birth and Death Records, 1867-1909
- Hardin County Birth and Death Records, 1867-1908
- Hardin County, Death Indexes
- Harris Elmore Public Library Births, Marriages, and Deaths
- Harrison County Death Records 1867-1908, 1940-1941
- Henry County Birth, Marriage, and Death Indexes
- Henry County Vital Records: Marriage Records, 1847-1930, Birth and Death Records, 1867-1921, and Delayed Birth Records
- Henry County, Death Indexes
- Highland County Death Records
- Highland County Birth and Death Records, 1867-1908
- Hocking County Death Records, volumes 1-4, 1867-1908
- Holmes County Birth Records, 1867-1966; Death Records, 1867-1908
- Huron County Birth and Death Index
- Huron County Death Records 1867-1908
- Huron County Record of Deaths, 1867-1908
- Huron County, Death Certificates 1908-1997 ; Death indexes, 1920-1989
- Huron County, Death indexes
- Jackson County Death Records
- Jackson County Inquest Records 1890-1928
- Jackson County Death Records, 1867-1908
- Jackson County, Death Indexes
- Jefferson County Death Records v. 1-3, 1867-1908
- Jefferson County, Coroners reports, 1887-1951
- Knox County Death Certificates by townships or cities, 1909-1951
- Knox County Death Certificates, 1908-1961
- Knox County Death Certificates, 1908-2001
- Knox County Death Index card file, 1908-2001
- Knox County Death Records, 1867-1908
- Knox County Death Register Index, 1867-1908
- Lake County Death Records
- Lake County Vital Records Indexes
- Lake County Death Index
- Lake County Record of Births and Deaths, v. 1-2, 1867-1908
- Lawrence County Birth, Marriage, and Death Indexes
- Lawrence County Death Records : vol. 1, 1867 & 1868
- Lawrence County Death Records, 1867-1938
- Licking County Death Records, vols. 1-3, 1875-1908
- Licking County, Death Certificates of Utica, Washington, Burlington townships, 1909-1941
- Logan County Birth applications 1941-1967; Births 1867-1908, 1940; Deaths 1867-1909, 1940; Marriages 1818-1966
- Lorain County Birth and Death Records 1867-1908
- Lorain County Births and Deaths 1867-1908
- Lorain County Death and Marriage News Announcements
- Lorain County, Death Indexes
- Louisville Death Database
- Lucas County Indexes to Birth Certificates, 1867-1933 ; Indexes to Death Certificates, 1955-1990
- Lucas County Record of Deaths 1868-1908
- Lucas County, Death Indexes
- Lucas County, Deaths, 1858-1871
- Madison County Death Records, 1867-1908
- Mahoning County Vital Records
- Mahoning County Birth and Death Records, 1864-1908
- Mahoning County Register of Births, Marriages, Deaths, 1857
- Marion County Death Records, v. 1-3, 1867-1908
- Medina County Birth and Death Records, 1867-1965
- Meigs County Death Records, 1867-1908
- Meigs County, Death Indexes
- Mercer County Assessors’ Report of Births and Deaths, 1868-1908
- Mercer County Death Records, vols. 1-2, 1867-1908
- Mercer County, Death Indexes
- Miami County Death Records, 1867-1908
- Miami Valley Genealogical Index
- Middleton Township, Wood County, Birth & Death Certificates 1908-1951
- Miscellaneous BMD Records by County
- Monroe County Death Index
- Monroe County Death, 1867-1908
- Montgomery County Birth and Death Records, 1866-1910
- Morrow County Death Records, 1856-1857, 1867-1909, 1940
- Morrow County, Death Indexes
- Muskingum County Death Records, 1867-1908
- Muskingum County, Zanesville, Church Records : St. James Episcopal Church, 1819-2017
- Noble County Deaths
- Noble County Death Records vol. 1-4, 1867-1909
- Ohio County Death Records, 1840-2001
- Ohio Death Index, 1908-1932, 1938-1944, and 1958-2007
- Ohio Death Record Index Search
- Ohio Deaths and Burials, 1854-1997
- Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953
- Ohio Federal and State Census Mortality Schedules 1850, 1860, 1880
- Ohio Obituary and Death Index
- Ohio Certificates of Death, 1904-1941
- Ohio Death Records, 1875-1908
- Online Searchable Death Indexes
- Orange and Union Township Birth & Death Certificates, 1908-1939
- Ottawa County Vital Records
- Ottawa County Death Record, 1869-1908
- Paulding County Records of Deaths, vols. 1-4, 1867-1908
- Perry County Record of Deaths vols. 1-3, 1867-1908
- Perry County Record of Deaths, no. 1, 1867-1941
- Pickaway County Births and Death Records, 1867-1908
- Pickaway County, excluding the City of Circleville, Death Certificates for 1930-1961, County Index to Births & Deaths, 1908-1962
- Pickaway County, including the City of Circleville, Certificates of Death, Index to Births & Deaths, 1963-1983
- Pike County Death Records, 1867-1908
- Pike County Death Records, 1867-1908
- Pike County, Death Indexes
- Plain Township, Wood County Birth and Death Records, 1898-1903
- Pleasant Township, Henry County Birth and Death Records, 1886-1887
- Portage County Birth and Death Records, 1867-1908
- Portsmouth Early Death Index
- Preble County Births, Marriages, and Deaths
- Preble County Genealogical Database
- Preble County Birth, Death and Marriage Records 1808-1908
- Preble County, Death Indexes
- Putnam County Supplements to Birth Certificates, 1909-1965; Supplements to Death Certificates, 1915-1960
- Putnam County Death Records, 1867-1920
- Putnam County Record of inquests, 1895-1945 ; coroners’ inquests, 1890-1917
- Putnam County, Death Certificates 1908-1995
- Putnam County, Death Indexes
- Richland County Death Indexes
- Richland County Death Records 1856-1857, 1862, 1867-1869
- Richland County Death Records 1867-1890 ; Index 1856-1908, 1856-1908
- Ross County Death Records
- Ross County Deaths and Marriages
- Ross County Death Records and Index to Death Records, 1867-1908
- Ross County, Death Indexes
- Salem Death Index
- Scioto County Death Index
- Scioto County Death Records, 1856-1908
- Seneca County Birth and Death Records, 1867-1909; Delayed Birth Registrations, 1941- 1965
- Shelby County Birth and Death Records 1867-1908
- Shelby County Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, 1857-1858
- St. John’s United Church of Christ Records (Bucyrus), 1837-1961
- Stark County Coroner’s Records, 1890-2002
- Stark County Miscellaneous Vital Indexes
- Stark County Death Records v. 1-4, 1867-1908
- Stark County, Miscellaneous Birth and Death Records, 1940-1941
- Stow-Munroe Falls Death Index
- Summit County Death Records, 1870-1908
- Toledo Death Index
- Toledo Death certificates, 1902-1908
- Toledo Deaths, 1859-1940 ; Indexes, 1875-1954
- Trumbull County Miscellaneous Deaths
- Trumbull County Records, 1795-2010
- Trumbull County, Death indexes
- Tuscarawas County Death Records, 1867-1924
- Union County Birth, Marriage, and Death Indexes
- Union County Birth and Death Records, 1867-1969; Index, 1867-1907
- Union County, Death Indexes
- United States Deaths and Burials, 1867-1961
- United States Korean War Battle Deaths, 1950-1957
- United States Social Security Death Index
- United States, World War I American Expeditionary Forces Deaths, 1917-1919
- Van Wert County Records of inquests, 1880-1938
- Van Wert County, Death Certificates 1908-1989, Index, 1908-1989
- Vinton County Death Records
- Vinton County Death Records, 1867-1952
- Vinton County General Index to files
- Warren County Death Records v. 1-3 1867-1908
- Washington County Marriages and Deaths
- Washington County, Death Indexes
- Wayne County Death Records, 1867-1908
- Wayne County Death Records, 1867-1908
- Williams County Birth and Death Records 1867-1941
- Wood County Birth Records, 1867-1909; Registration of Birth Records, 1941-1965; and Death Records, 1867-1908
- Wood County Sentinel Death and Obituary Index
- Wood County Birth and Death Records, 1894-1908
- Wood County Death certificates, 1915, 1917
- Wood County, Death Certificates 1909-1997
- Wyandot County Birth and Death Records, 1867-1908
- Wyandot County Birth, Death and stillbirth certificates, 1911-1944
- Wyandot County, Death Indexes
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!
For other Free Ohio Links, click on the category of interest:
Newspapers
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BMD Records
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Yearbooks
Directories
Divorce Records
Naturalizations
Church Records
School Records
Coroner Records
Voter Records
Probate and Wills
Immigration
Mortuary Records
Alumni Records
Cemetery Records
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