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Ohio is considered an "open record state" in terms of vital records, meaning that all vital records are considered to be in the public domain. So you can make a requisition for anyone's Ohio birth records provided you fill out the proper forms and pay the search fees, regardless of what your relationship is to the person on the record.
You can make your request for an Ohio birth record from the main Vital Statistics office in Columbus, or any local county health department. For the local offices, it is best to contact the one where the birth took place though some have access to state-wide records. Service can be faster if sending by mail to the local health office due to volume but in-person service is generally done while you wait whether you are at a local office or the main one.
If you are in Columbus, the address for the Vital Statistics office is: Ohio Department of Health, Vital Statistics, 225 Neilston Street, Columbus OH 43215. They are open during regular business hours and generally can fill your Ohio birth record request while you wait, provided you arrive before 4pm.
When sending by mail, the turn-around time is around 3 to 6 weeks. And for this approach, you'll want to send your forms and documents to the Ohio Department of Health, Vital Statistics, PO Box 15098, Columbus OH, 43215-0098 USA.
The cost to search for an Ohio birth record is $21.50 USD, and that covers the search not the document itself. So if nothing is found, you won't be getting any refunds. Fees need to be paid in the form of a check or money order, and it needs to be made out to the "Treasurer, State of Ohio".
The record request form can be printed out from their website (http://www.odh.ohio.gov/pdf/forms/hea2709.pdf) and the same form is used for all vital records requests, so make sure you are filling in the right fields for a birth record. There are fields for the person's full name, date of birth, place of birth, and parent's full names. Because you don't need to be a particular relation to the person on the record, you do not have to provide any ID of your own. You do need to sign the forms and provide your mailing address.
If you do not know the exact date of birth, you can pay an additional $3 fee for a ten-year search based on the names provided. In this case, you can expect another few weeks of processing time, depending on how long it takes them to locate your needed Ohio birth record.
Records held by the Vital Records office will typically date back to 1908, but there may also be some records that are as old as 1867. You can also do further research for older records at the individual county offices where they still have some archives from before state-wide registration began. Some areas have birth registrations from as far back as the 1840s.
Requesting Ohio birth certificates by mail can be completed by taking these steps:
Step 1.
If you would like to request Ohio birth certificates by mail, you will need to complete an Ohio Birth Certificate form.
Step 2.
Fill out the form completely. At least the last name and a period of time to search must be included.
Step 3.
Include a check or money order covering the appropriate fees. A basic Ohio birth record costs $21.50 if all of the information is known and no additional searches are needed.
If you would like more information regarding accessing Ohio birth records, then you can contact:
Ohio Department of Health
Ohio Department of Health
P.O. Box 15098
Columbus, Ohio 43215-0098
(614) 466-2531
Requesting Ohio Birth Records
You are able to request Ohio birth records directly from the Ohio Department of Health. Standard processing takes three to six weeks for you to receive the Ohio birth records requested.
Five Ordering Methods
There are five different methods that you can use to order Ohio birth records. You can visit the local health department where the birth occurred and request a copy in person, or you can visit the state department in person. Alternatively, you can mail in an application or apply online through a third party for an additional charge.
An Open Record State
Ohio is considered an "open record" state, meaning that Ohio birth records are considered to be public information. Anyone who can submit the basic details of the event, fills out an application, and pays the fees can receive a copy. If the exact date is unknown, then additional fees and processing times will be needed to search for your request.
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