Ohio vital records
The Ohio Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics is the vital records office for Ohio.1 It issues certified birth certificates and death certificates1. It does not issue marriage certificates or divorce records; this page shows who does.1 Local offices also issue certified copies.2
On this page
Current notices from the office
- New birth certificate design since Aug. 6, 2025; accepted for all state and federal purposes3
Records and where to get them
| Record | Who issues it | Years held | First copy | Shortest published time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth certificate | Ohio Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, and local vital statistics offices2 | Dec. 20, 1908 to today1 | $21.502 | In person: Same day2 |
| Death certificate | Ohio Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, and local vital statistics offices2 | – | $21.502 | At a local office: Same day2 |
| Marriage certificate | County probate court where the license was issued1 | From the date of each county's creation4 | – | – |
| Divorce records | Clerk of Court of Common Pleas in the county where the divorce was granted5 | – | – | – |
Birth certificate
- Older records
- County probate court (1867 to December 19, 1908); the Ohio History Connection holds some counties6
- Ways to order
- Online, by mail, in person, at a local office
How to get an Ohio birth certificate
Death certificate
- Older records
- Certified copies: local health department where the death took place. Originals: Ohio History Connection2
- Ways to order
- Online, by mail, in person, at a local office
How to get an Ohio death certificate
Marriage certificate
- Who holds it
- ODH does not hold marriage records1
- Older records
- County probate court; the Ohio History Connection holds records from 38 of 88 counties4
- Ways to order
- At a local office
How to get an Ohio marriage certificate
Divorce records
- Who holds it
- ODH does not hold divorce decrees1
- Older records
- County Clerk of Courts or county archives; the Ohio History Connection holds only a few counties7
- Ways to order
- At a local office
How to get Ohio divorce records
Local offices
- Local offices issue certified copies
- Yes2
- Which offices
- Local vital statistics offices (local health departments with local registrars)8
- Any office for any county
- Death: office where the death occurred6
- Directory
- Official list of local offices8
Access rules and the law
Laws and rules the office cites
- ORC 3705.24(A)(1)(a)(ii): search fee, as cited by ODH2
- OAC 3701-5-11: archival transfer of older records, as cited by ODH2
- ORC Chapter 3705 (Vital Statistics)1
- OAC Chapter 3701-51
The state office
- Office
- Ohio Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics1
- Phone
- (614) 466-25311
- [email protected]2
- Mailing address
- Ohio Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, PO Box 15098, Columbus, OH 43215-00982
- Walk-in address
- Bureau of Vital Statistics, 4200 Surface Road, Columbus, OH 432281
- Hours
- Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., only for central Ohio customers who need an expedited birth record and can pay by credit card2
- Website
- Official website1
Questions people ask
How much do birth and death certificates cost in Ohio?
A certified birth certificate costs $21.50 for the first copy and a death certificate $21.50.2
What is the phone number of the Ohio vital records office?
Ohio Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics: (614) 466-2531.1
Where do I get a marriage certificate in Ohio?
County probate court where the license was issued. ODH does not hold marriage records.1
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from these official sources, checked on November 5, 2026. Tap a source number next to a fact to read the exact words.
- Vital StatisticsOhio Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics
- How to Order CertificatesOhio Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statisticsdated December 31, 2024
- New birth certificateOhio Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statisticsdated August 1, 2025
- Marriage recordsOhio History Connection Archives & Librarydated June 29, 2026
- CDC National Center for Health Statistics pageCDC National Center for Health Statisticsdated August 18, 2026
- Birth recordsOhio History Connection Archives & Librarydated June 29, 2026
- Divorce recordsOhio History Connection Archives & Librarydated June 29, 2026
- VS - Local Vital Statistics DirectoryOhio Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statisticsdated May 1, 2025