The Stark County Health Department offers same-day certified death certificates at our front lobby kiosk.  You can obtain a death record dating from 1908 to the present year. Effective November 19, 2025, death certificates are statewide and no longer jurisdictional.

Please note that under Ohio law, anyone can obtain a death certificate for a death that was pronounced in Ohio WITHOUT the decedent’s social security number. 

If you need a certified copy of a death certificate WITH the decedent’s social security number, you must be one of the following:

  • The deceased’s spouse, or lineal descendant
  • The deceased’s executor, attorney, or legal agent
  • A representative of an investigative government agency
  • A private investigator
  • A funeral director (or agent responsible for the disposition of the body) acting on behalf of the deceased’s family
  • A veteran’s service officer
  • An accredited member of the media

You will have to bring proof or attach a copy of proof of one of the above reasons.

If the decedent’s date of death is MORE than five years from the application date, then this rule does not apply.

Ways you can obtain a death certificate:

Online:  For your convenience, you can process online requests through an independent company that the Stark County Health Department has partnered with to provide you with this service, Permitium LLC. 

Online Order: Permitium LLC can be reached through their website.  An additional fee of $4 is charged by Permitium for this service. All major credit cards are accepted, including American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa.  Mail/Shipping is also available.

In person:  You may come to our office in person and purchase a death record for $25.00 (credit card fees may apply).  You will fill out the Death Certificate Application via an in-house kiosk. 

Some death records prior to 1908 may be obtained at the Stark County District Library at 1000 Market Avenue North, Canton, Ohio 44702.  The library’s phone number is 330-452-0665.

Birth and Death Record Return and Exchange Policy:

Pursuant to Ohio Revised Code 3705.29, it is unlawful to purposely obtain, possess, use, sell, furnish, or attempt to obtain, possess, use or furnish to another for the purpose of deception any certificate, record or certified copy of it that relates to the birth of another person, whether living or dead.

Refunds: Stark County Public Health (SCHD) does not provide refunds for birth or death certificate sales. 

Exchanges: If an error is found on a birth or death certificate that can be corrected through the Stark County Health Department, our office will correct and replace the birth or death certificate that was purchased from the Stark County Health Department within six (6) months from the original date of purchase. 

If the birth or death certificate was purchased at another health department, please see the contact information for the other three health departments located in Stark County.

The Stark County Health Department will not exchange any certified copy of a birth certificate that has been modified through Probate Court (Example:  legal name change, court order correction, or changes due to adoption) or where there have been changes made due to paternity (Example: Acknowledgement of Paternity or paternity determination).

The Stark County Health Department does not offer or provide credit to the customer for future purchases.

Shipping:

The Stark County Health Department will only guarantee delivery of paid shipping orders placed through USPS Priority Mail and UPS.  Undelivered first-class regular mail will not be replaced.

The Stark County Health Department is not responsible for delays in shipping.  

ALL SALES ARE CONSIDERED FINAL