Ohio Marriage, Death, Birth Records

Births and Deaths in Public Records | Marriage Jurisdictions | Types of Marriage Records |
Divorce Records | Locating Marriage Records |
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Ohio enacted a statute in 1856–57 that required birth, death, and marriage registration, a law that was generally disregarded. Ann Fenley states in The Ohio Open Records Law and Genealogy (Dayton, Ohio: Ohio Connection, 1989) that the two types of “death records” known to be in existence before 1867 are records of cholera deaths, registered during some epidemics, and veterans' deaths. A later 1867 law again required registration of birth and death records. Some of these have survived. The third law, in 1908, established the more complete records now maintained.

The Ohio Historical Society Archives/Library has most birth records before 1908 and copies of original death certificates on microfilm for the period December 20, 1908 through 1953.

Early in 1989 all Ohio death records for 20 December 1908 through 31 December 1936 and the respective indexes plus death indexes, for 1937–38 were transferred to the State Archives of Ohio housed by the Ohio Historical Society (see Archives, Libraries, and Societies). Actual death records for 1937–38 were not transferred. The Ohio Historical Society will search the aforementioned records for $7. The nonrefundable fee will cover a search of eight years and an uncertified copy of the record, if found. Certified copies require two $7 checks, the first to the Ohio Historical Society, the second made out to the Ohio Division of Vital Statistics. The Ohio Historical Society will forward that check and the certificate to Vital Statistics for certification. The second check will be returned if no record is found. Only one name with one spelling variation will be accepted in each request. One letter per patron per week is the limit, and a two to three month response time should be anticipated.

Marriage records were kept by the office of the county probate clerks until 7 September 1949, when it became a state registration procedure. The statewide index to marriages begins with that date. Certified abstracts of marriages were filed with the state beginning 7 September 1949. The Division of Vital Statistics will search indexes of these abstracts for $3 per hour and indicate the county where the marriage occurred (the search covers about a ten-year period). However, certified copies of marriage records may only be obtained from the probate court of the county that issued the license (see County Resources).

Ohio marriages to approximately 1865 are included in the IGI of the FHL. The marriages in years between 1865 and 1949 are not indexed. Marriage records in Ohio usually include the following information: names of bride and groom, date of marriage, county and possibly the specific location, officiating party, and ages and residences of the bride and groom.

The Ohio Historical Society and the Ohio Network of American History Research Centers (see Archives, Libraries, and Societies) are collecting centers for early birth, marriage, and death records and may need to be contacted regarding their holdings in addition to the county courthouse.

Hamilton County has the jurisdiction for the registration of marriages for Cincinnati. However, many of those records were lost in a courthouse fire. Records that survived were indexed by the WPA and include applications, licenses, and returns. Genealogists have reconstructed marriage records from ministers' daybooks, original certificates, and newspaper accounts.

Marriage records from family and local sources have been collected by the DAR. The State Library of Ohio is the official depository for the state copies of DAR compilations. These records are listed in Carol W. Bell, Master Index Ohio D.A.R. Genealogical and Historical Records, Vol. 1 (Westlake, Ohio: Mrs. Thomas B. Clark, 1985). Local genealogical societies have compiled numerous vital records indexes.

Cincinnati was also a “Gretna Green” (meaning, no questions asked) marriage locale. Although the records for Cincinnati are incomplete, they should be checked for a marriage not otherwise found in Ohio, Indiana, or Kentucky.

Since 1851, divorces have been handled by the county court of common pleas. Prior to 1851 the records were found in either the supreme court, the chancery court, or the court of common pleas, and then appealed through the legislature.

Choose A County in Ohio

Ohio did not make it a law to keep birth records until 1867. Ohio made it a law to record births in 1867. County probate courts kept birth records between 1867 and December 19, 1908. There is no statewide index to birth records from 1867 through December 19, 1908. Go to the list of county probate court birth records held at the Ohio Historical Society. If the Ohio Historical Society does not hold a county's birth records, please contact the county's probate court.

    Ohio Department of Health, Vital Statistics, 225 Neilston Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215; (614) 466-2531. Same-day service available to walk-in customers (for Ohio birth and death records only)., P.O. Box 570, Jefferson City, MO 65102, Please allow up to approximately 3 weeks to 6 months for processing of all type of certificates when ordered through the mail. They have the following records:

  • Birth & Death Certificates: The state of Ohio began issuing certificates for births on December 20, 1908. The Ohio Department of Health holds birth certificates for the state of Ohio from December 20, 1908 to the present. The Vital Statistics Office maintains statewide Death Certificates from 1954 to the present. Individual health departments in the county or city where the death took place keep certificates for their local area (not statewide).
    • Cost: $16.50 per certificate, payment is payable to the Treasurer State of Ohio. The cost for each authentication is $5.00 payable to the Secretary of State of Ohio. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $16.50 for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
    • Processing Time: 3-6 weeks when ordered by MAIL or 2-5 Days when you order ELECTRONICALLY
  • Marriage & Divorce Certificates: The State of Ohio Vital Statistics Office maintains the abstracts of marriages and divorces that occurred in Ohio from January 1, 1954, to present.  Abstracts are brief forms that list limited information extracted from the original marriage licenses or divorce decrees.  This limited information is used for index purposes and the filing of the marriage or divorce within the State of Ohio. We do not have marriage licenses or divorce decrees on file, only abstracts. An abstract is not a marriage license or divorce decree. Please contact the following agencies: Marriage License - County Probate Court; Divorce – County Clerk of Court
  • To request a certified copy of a marriage license contact the Recorder of Deeds in the county where the license was obtained.To request a certified copy of a divorce decree contact the Circuit Clerk in the county where the decree was granted.
    • Cost: Include a fee of $3.00 per 10 year search per last name with request.  Allow 4 to 6 months for the search. Please do not send cash in the mail.
    • Processing Time: Allow 4 to 6 months for the search by MAIL or 2-5 Days when you order ELECTRONICALLY. Mail your search request to: Ohio Department of Health, Vital Statistics, 246 N. High Street, 1st Floor, P.O. Box 15098, Columbus, Ohio 43215-0098

Order In Person:  Same day service is available to walk-in customers. This is the fastest way to obtain a birth certificate. When you arrive, you will complete an application and pay the $16.50 required fee. Walk-in address is Ohio Department of Health, Vital Statistics, 225 Neilston Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215
Phone: (614) 466-2531. You can also obtain the birth/death record from the city or county health department office where the event occurred, provided there is no court or legal action. You may download the application and submit it in person or by mail to the nearest local health department.
Order By Mail:  Turn around is estimated at 3 to 6 weeks from the day the request is received. However, people are urged to allow sufficient time for delivery for all birth/death records. Mail a check or money order of $16.50 for each certified certificate. Do not send cash. Mail to the following address: Ohio Department of Health, Vital Statistics, P.O. Box 15098, Columbus, Ohio 43215-0098. Please include return address on envelope and application form.
Order On-Line:  To obtain a certified copy of a vital record by on-line purchase with a credit card, please link to VitalChek

Search Online Click Here to Search Ohio Birth, Marriage & Death Records! - Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information. Look also for baptism, christening, and burial records in this collection.

Below is a list of online resources for Ohio Vital Records.

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