How to Find Ohio Birth Records
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In 1803, Ohio was created from Ohio Territory. Statewide registration of births began in 1908 in Ohio. Records before 1908 are found in the Probate Court in the county where the birth occurred. The Ohio History Connection has copies of birth records for many counties from 1867.
- Ohio, Births and Christenings, Index, 1800-1962 ($)
- Ohio, Births and Christenings, 1821-1962 Index only.
- Ohio, County Births, 1841-2003 Index and Images, dates vary by county.
- Ohio, Birth Index, 1908-1964 ($), also at MyHeritage, ($), index
Next Step: When did the birth occur? [edit | edit source] |
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Births before 1867[edit | edit source]
County-level registrations of births and deaths began in 1867 and were kept by the probate court; however, they are incomplete. A few counties have records dating from the 1840s. These records include the names of the parents and their place of residence. The obligatory recording on a state level of births and deaths in Ohio began 20 December 1908. Birth records prior to 20 December 1908 are available from the probate court of the county where the event occurred. You must search substitute records to locate your ancestor’s birth date and place.
| Records that give birth information: | ||
Births from 1867 thru 1908[edit | edit source]
If you cannot locate your ancestor in the databases below, try searching for birth information in other records.
For births that exist during the time period, try the following databases.
| Ohio Births Databases - Includes Index and Digital Images | ||||
| Try 1st: | ||||
| 1841 - 2003 - At FamilySearch.org | Free; Index and Images | |||
| Can't find your ancestor in the online index? | Tips for searching online indexes | |||
| No birth record for your ancestor? | Other records with birth information | |||
Births after 1908 to the Present[edit | edit source]
Limited births maybe found in the following databases. Try each link. If you do not find your ancestor's birth or if you want order a copy of the certificate see step two below.
STEP ONE: Find Birth Information[edit | edit source]
If you cannot locate your ancestor in the databases below, try searching for birth information in other records.
For births that exist during the time period, try the following databases.
| Try these databases. | ||
| Database Name | Link or links to access database | |
| Ancestry, Ohio, Birth Index, 1908-1964 | Free using Ancestryinstitution at FamilySearch Centers | $, Use your own Ancestry subscription |
| FamilySearch, Ohio, County Births, 1841-2003 | 1841 - 2003 - At FamilySearch.org, index and images of Ohio Birth Records. | |
| Can't access Ancestry? | Go to Step Two: Part B listed below. You may be able to order the birth record for your ancestor from the Ohio Department of Health State Office. | ||
| Can't find your ancestor in the online index? | Tips for searching online indexes | ||
| No birth record for your ancestor? | Other records with birth information | ||
STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate[edit | edit source]
PART A: You know the exact date of birth
With an exact date (from your records or the index above), you can order a copy of the birth record for a fee from the following locations:
| To Order Birth Certificates | |||
| From County of Birth | From OH Dept. of Health State office | ||
| Pros | Cons | Pros | Cons |
| May be less expensive and faster than ordering from the state | County websites can be more difficult to use | Offers a search of the state index for an additional fee | May be more expensive than ordering from the county |
See list of restrictions for ordering birth records
If you do not want to order the birth record, you can search other records with birth information.
PART B: You don't know the exact date of birth
If you do not know the exact date or place of birth:
For a fee, the Ohio History Connection will do a search.
See list of restrictions for ordering birth records
If you do not want to order the birth record, you can search other records with birth information.
Restrictions for Obtaining Birth Records[edit | edit source]
Ohio is an "open record" state, and vital records (births and deaths) are considered to be public records by the State of Ohio. This means that anyone who can submit the basic facts of a certificate may request a copy of it.
If you do not want to order the birth record, you can search other records with birth information.
Related Wiki Articles[edit | edit source]
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