Vital records, as their name suggests, are connected with central life events: birth, marriage, and death. Maintained by civil authorities, they are prime sources of genealogical information; but, unfortunately, official vital records are available only for relatively recent periods. These records, despite their recent creation in the United States, are critically important in genealogical research, often supplying details on family members well back into the nineteenth century. The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy, by Loretto Szucs and Sandra Luebking.
Ohio Death Certificate Index 1913-1937 – Ohio Historical Society
This database indexes Death Certificates of persons that died in Ohio in the above years, useful for determining date of death and certificate number. Using the index information, a researcher can later obtain a copy of the certificate itself, which holds further information.
Ancestry.com Ohio State Database
A large collection of databases of births, deaths, marriages, census, obituaries, directories, estate records, and service records. Get 14 Days Free Access!!!
Ohio Department of Health
Vital Statistics
35 East Chestnut Street
P.O. 15098
Columbus, OH 43215-0098
Telephone: (614) 466-2531
Make check or money order payable to the Treasury, State of Ohio. Uncertified copies of vital records is minimal – copying cost and postage. Indicate the copies are for genealogical use and you will be sent photocopies of the actual original marked “statistical”.
Birth $9.00 Since Dec 20, 1908 Order Form from State Health Dept
Death $9.00 Since Dec 31, 1945 Order Form from State Health Dept
Birth Death $3.00 1909-1945 from the Ohio Historical Society
Birth Prior to1908
Death Prior to 1908
Marriage Prior to 1949
Some records may be held at the OHS. If not, they may be found at the probate court in the county where the event occurred or at the Ohio Network of American History Research Centers
Marriage Divorce since Sept 1949 from State Health Dept
Divorce Prior to 1949
These records are maintained by the Court of Common Pleas in each county. Prior to 1851, the records were found in either the Supreme Court, the Chancery Court, or the Common Pleas Court.