Ohio Public Records Search
Looking for public records in Ohio is fast and easy as the State makes the records available through various ways. Those looking for the records can obtain copies of the records through several ways such as ordering online, via standard mail, walk in and through customer-assisted phone requests.
To start with, birth and death records are usually available from the State's Vital Office section or the County Department where the event occurred. For divorce decrees and marriage certificates, reports are available from the probate court or the county clerk where the cases were filed and granted. Marriage and divorce records are not obtainable from the Vital Records Office; however, the Office has an index or abstract of marriage and divorce reports, which can be useful for one to locate the actual court or county where the papers were filed and granted.
In searching for birth and death records, researchers can go to the county or city health department to check for the records. The Office of Vital Statistics maintains copies of death records from as far back as January 1, 1954 and birth records filed after December 20, 1908. Records of deaths older than fifty (50) years and births older than one hundred twenty five (125) years are moved to the Ohio Historical Society (OHS) archives. The Office of Vital Statistics cannot certify the copies; however, researchers can check the local health districts for certified copies. For those who only need the records for informational purposes, they can purchase plain paper copies from the OHS.
To get records from the Office of Vital Statistics, one can visit the records office during weekdays and fill up a request form. The cost for each certificate is $21.50 and this can be paid through cash, money order, credit card or check payment method. Same day issuance is available; take note that for those who requested after the 4:30pm cut-off, the service is not guaranteed. One can however pick up the records at a later date or have the records mailed to them.
For the mailing process, those who request the records must send the payment through money order or check. Each record costs about $21.50 each. Processing time takes about 3 weeks. For online ordering, the person requesting the records can place their order to the State Office or to their county health department and pay the order with credit cards. Processing time is 3 weeks; however, processing can be shortened in some counties or city health departments depending on the volume of the requests that the office may have received. Fees of counties and cities can vary from that of the state's office.
The Office also provides searching services for those who are unsure of the exact year the event occurred. Each search service would cost $3 and covers up to 10 years. The search fees double in multiples of 10. For example, when a person wants to cover 20 years in the search, they have to pay $6. The search fee is in addition to the records fee that one has to pay. For researchers who do not need the certified copies or need only basic information, they can check out online public record sites that offer free basic public records search. Alternatively, for full access, they may be charged a minimal fee. This is the fastest and the most convenient way to retrieve information.
To start with, birth and death records are usually available from the State's Vital Office section or the County Department where the event occurred. For divorce decrees and marriage certificates, reports are available from the probate court or the county clerk where the cases were filed and granted. Marriage and divorce records are not obtainable from the Vital Records Office; however, the Office has an index or abstract of marriage and divorce reports, which can be useful for one to locate the actual court or county where the papers were filed and granted.
In searching for birth and death records, researchers can go to the county or city health department to check for the records. The Office of Vital Statistics maintains copies of death records from as far back as January 1, 1954 and birth records filed after December 20, 1908. Records of deaths older than fifty (50) years and births older than one hundred twenty five (125) years are moved to the Ohio Historical Society (OHS) archives. The Office of Vital Statistics cannot certify the copies; however, researchers can check the local health districts for certified copies. For those who only need the records for informational purposes, they can purchase plain paper copies from the OHS.
To get records from the Office of Vital Statistics, one can visit the records office during weekdays and fill up a request form. The cost for each certificate is $21.50 and this can be paid through cash, money order, credit card or check payment method. Same day issuance is available; take note that for those who requested after the 4:30pm cut-off, the service is not guaranteed. One can however pick up the records at a later date or have the records mailed to them.
For the mailing process, those who request the records must send the payment through money order or check. Each record costs about $21.50 each. Processing time takes about 3 weeks. For online ordering, the person requesting the records can place their order to the State Office or to their county health department and pay the order with credit cards. Processing time is 3 weeks; however, processing can be shortened in some counties or city health departments depending on the volume of the requests that the office may have received. Fees of counties and cities can vary from that of the state's office.
The Office also provides searching services for those who are unsure of the exact year the event occurred. Each search service would cost $3 and covers up to 10 years. The search fees double in multiples of 10. For example, when a person wants to cover 20 years in the search, they have to pay $6. The search fee is in addition to the records fee that one has to pay. For researchers who do not need the certified copies or need only basic information, they can check out online public record sites that offer free basic public records search. Alternatively, for full access, they may be charged a minimal fee. This is the fastest and the most convenient way to retrieve information.
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