Contact & Notifications

Fairfield County Coroner's Office

An independent office investigating and certifying the cause and manner of death under Ohio Revised Code 313.12.

Death Notifications 740-652-2864 Fairfield County Sheriff's Office · dispatches an investigator Office & Reports 740-652-2865 Reports, records & general business · Fax 740-304-0653
Investigator on call 24/7/365 — every day of the year
How to obtain a report → Types of death to be reported
Coroner's Office frequently asked questions
Dr. L. Brian Varney, M.D.
Fairfield County Coroner
Coroner@FairfieldCountyOhio.gov Coroner's Office Staff Our Mission Death Certificate Information

What the County Coroner is responsible for

O.R.C.
313.12statutory jurisdiction over reportable deaths
24/7
365an investigator is available every day of the year
4-year
terma licensed physician, elected by the county

The Fairfield County Coroner's Office is an independent agency that investigates and certifies the cause and manner of death of persons who die within the county under circumstances that are sudden, unexpected, unnatural, suspicious, or violent, as designated in Ohio Revised Code 313.12. Only deaths defined in the "coroner's statute" are mandated to be investigated by the coroner.

The coroner is a licensed physician, elected to a four-year term, responsible for the unbiased, independent report and verdict on all deaths that fall under the coroner's jurisdiction. The coroner gathers information about the decedent's health and recent activities to help assign a cause of death; in some cases an autopsy may be necessary to determine the cause and manner of death. The office is also responsible for proper identification of the deceased and timely notification of next of kin.

Our Mission

Service with integrity

To accurately determine the manner and the cause of death of individuals who die within the statutory jurisdiction of the office — through a fair, ethical, and competent investigation of death, performed by qualified and trained individuals, in accordance with the accepted medicolegal death-investigation professional standards.
Read our full mission
Common Questions

Answers for families & the public

What does the Fairfield County Coroner's Office do?
The Coroner's Office is an independent agency that investigates and certifies the cause and manner of death of persons who die within the county under circumstances that are sudden, unexpected, unnatural, suspicious, or violent, as designated in Ohio Revised Code 313.12.
What types of death must be reported to the Coroner?
Deaths that are sudden, unexpected, unnatural, suspicious, or violent must be reported, along with the other categories defined in Ohio Revised Code 313.12. See Types of Death to be Reported for the full list.
How do I report a death after hours?
Death notifications are received 24 hours a day through the Fairfield County Sheriff's Office at 740-652-2864. An investigator from the Coroner's Office is available 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
How do I obtain a Coroner's report?
A Coroner's Report is a public record available by written request through postal mail, fax, or email, and is sent as soon as the case is completed. See How to Obtain a Report.
Does the Coroner issue death certificates?
No. The Coroner provides certain information used to complete the death certificate but does not issue it. Death certificates for deaths in Fairfield County are obtained from the Fairfield County Health Department.
Is there a charge for an autopsy ordered by the Coroner?
No. There is no charge to the next of kin for an autopsy when it is ordered by the Coroner as part of an investigation.
Who is the Fairfield County Coroner?
The Fairfield County Coroner is Dr. L. Brian Varney, M.D., a licensed physician elected to a four-year term. The office is located at 240 Baldwin Drive, Lancaster, OH 43130; phone 740-652-2865.
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Reports, records & office information

Reports & Records

Good to know

About the Office

County Coroner

Contact the Office

Location
Fairfield County Coroner's Office
240 Baldwin Drive
Lancaster, OH 43130 View map
Contact

P: 740-652-2865
F: 740-304-0653
coroner@fairfieldcountyohio.gov

Investigator available: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Death Notifications

Fairfield County Sheriff's Office
P: 740-652-2864

Email the office