How to Make Corrections to Ohio Death Records
Ohio's system of correcting death records is quite peculiar. In some ways, it is one of the easiest places to make a correction to a death record and one of the hardest to change once it's made. Except in the case of the date of death or medical certifications, anyone can apply to make a correction to a death record in Ohio, whether or not they are related to the individual who died. However, only the attending doctor, coroner or funeral director listed on the death record can change the date of death. If there are disputes regarding corrections on death certificates, the conflicting information will be accepted and added to the death certificate until one of the applicants applies for a change through the probate court of the city involved.
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Instructions
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Contact the Ohio Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics at 614-466-2531 or by email at VitalStat@odh.ohio.gov. Ask for a Death Affidavit form, also known as the Correction of Death or Fetal Death Record Affidavit. Someone will mail it to you or fax it if you have a fax machine.
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Complete the form, giving the name of the person who died, the date of death and the city and county where he died. You can then make up to five corrections on the form. You will need to get a copy of the death certificate if you do not have one because you must write the exact wording from the original death certificate and how it should read once changed.
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Get the form notarized and send it back to the Ohio Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics. If there are no other death records on file or other competing claims, you are done. If your correction is one that has been contested or there is more than one death record, you will need to contact the probate court in your county to apply for final changes. The process from there depends on the specifics of your situation.
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Tips & Warnings
There is no cost associated with submitting the affidavit for correction, although there is a small fee for a copy of the amended death record.
References
- Photo Credit angel of death. image by Tom Oliveira from Fotolia.com
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Comments
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Not just anyone can submit an Application to file an Affidavit to an Ohio Birth or Death Certificate. The form says right on it that only the informant or the Funeral Director may change the non-medical portions, and only the Doctor or the Coroner may change the medical portions. This article is not factual.
