Certified Copies in Ohio: Where and What It Costs
Certified copies
Ordering Certified Copies in Ohio
Where to order a certified vital record or corporate record issued in Ohio, what it costs, what the office requires, and what happens to it afterwards.
- Birth certificate
- $21.50
- Death certificate
- $21.50
- Marriage
- Varies; county Probate Court
- Divorce
- Varies; county Clerk of Court of Common Pleas
Vital records
Issued by: Ohio Department of Health, Vital Statistics
Post to: Vital Statistics, Ohio Department of Health, P.O. Box 15098, Columbus, OH 43215-0098
Verify current fees: (614) 466-2531
| Record | Certified copy |
|---|---|
| Birth | $21.50 |
| Death | $21.50 |
| Marriage | Varies; county Probate Court |
| Divorce | Varies; county Clerk of Court of Common Pleas |
What Ohio requires
- Marriage and divorce certified copies are county-level; the health department does not issue them.
- Births from 20 December 1908; deaths from 1971 at the state, 1908 to 1970 from Ohio History Connection.
- Cheque or money order to Treasury, State of Ohio.
Corporate records
A certificate of good standing and certified copies of formation documents for a Ohio entity come from Ohio Secretary of State, Client Service Center, normally online and often the same day.
Ohio Secretary of State, Client Service Center
- Order from the state where the entity was formed, not where it trades.
- A certificate of good standing is a statement of current status. A certified copy of the articles is a different product; if a foreign authority asks for the formation documents, you need the latter.
- Ask for a certified or exemplified copy. A plain download from the state website carries no seal and cannot be authenticated.
What happens next
Once you hold the certified copy, authentication in Ohio goes through Ohio Secretary of State, Client Service Center, at $5.00 per apostille or authentication.
Questions people actually ask
Where do I order a Ohio birth certificate?
From Ohio Department of Health, Vital Statistics. Post to Vital Statistics, Ohio Department of Health, P.O. Box 15098, Columbus, OH 43215-0098. A certified copy is $21.50.
Does the Ohio Secretary of State issue birth certificates?
No. Vital records come from the health department; the Secretary of State handles corporate records and, in most states, the apostille. They are separate offices with separate fees.
Can I get a certified marriage certificate from the state of Ohio?
Not in the ordinary way. Varies; county Probate Court Plan on dealing with the county rather than the state office.
What will Ohio reject?
Marriage and divorce certified copies are county-level; the health department does not issue them.
Can I have it apostilled straight away?
Yes, and that is the right order. Order the certified copy first, then send it for authentication. Do not sign, stamp or laminate it in between, and do not open a sealed envelope.
This guide is published by a private document processing service. It is not legal advice and we are not a government agency. Requirements change without notice, so confirm anything critical with the mission before you post documents.
