Find Lakewood Birth Records
Lakewood birth records are handled by the City of Lakewood Division of Vital Statistics on Detroit Avenue. Unlike most Ohio cities, Lakewood runs its own vital records office separate from the county. The office can issue certified birth certificates for anyone born in the state of Ohio, not just Lakewood. Walk-ins are welcome Monday through Friday with no appointment needed. For historical records before 1909, the Cuyahoga County Probate Court in Cleveland holds the ledger books. This page covers the full process for getting Lakewood birth certificates.
Lakewood Birth Records at a Glance
Cuyahoga County and Lakewood Records
Lakewood is in Cuyahoga County, but the city runs its own vital statistics office. This is different from most Ohio cities, where the county health department handles everything. The Cuyahoga County Board of Health does not issue birth or death certificates at all. They direct people to the individual city offices that handle vital records in the county.
For Lakewood residents, this means you go to the city office on Detroit Avenue for your birth certificate. The Cleveland Department of Public Health on Lakeside Avenue is another option, but they do not handle births that took place in Lakewood specifically. If you were born in Lakewood, your city office is the right place.
Lakewood Division of Vital Statistics
The City of Lakewood Division of Vital Statistics is at 12805 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood, OH 44107. Phone is (216) 529-7690. Fax is (216) 529-5910. Email is vitalstats@lakewoodoh.gov. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Walk-ins are welcome. No appointment is needed.
A certified copy of a Lakewood birth certificate costs $25.00, as set by Ohio Revised Code Section 3705.24. Payment options include credit cards, debit cards, checks, money orders, and cash. ID is needed when paying by card or check. Apple Pay and tap payments are not accepted. Birth records go from 1909 to now, with some delayed certificates from 1882 to 1908 also on file. The office also provides paternity affidavits for in-person completion.
For mail orders, download the fillable application from the city website. You can return it by mail, email, fax, or walk-in. The fillable PDF needs Adobe Reader to work right. When you send a request by email or fax, a staff member will call the phone number you gave for payment. Certificates cannot be sent by email or fax.
Lakewood Birth Certificate Resources
The City of Lakewood vital records page shows the application forms, fees, and instructions for ordering birth certificates.
This page has the current $25.00 fee and links to downloadable application forms for both birth and death certificates.
The Lakewood Public Library provides genealogy resources including access to Ancestry.com and HeritageQuest for family history research.
Library card holders can access online genealogy databases, Ohio death certificate indexes, and local history collections from home or in the library.
Cleveland Health Department Option
The Cleveland Department of Public Health at 601 Lakeside Avenue, Room 122, Cleveland, OH 44114 serves as a resource for some Lakewood residents. The recorded line is 216-664-2315. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The fee is about $20 per copy. This office provides birth records for anyone born in Ohio and death records for deaths in Cuyahoga County.
But there is a catch. The Cleveland office does not handle births that took place in Lakewood, Parma, Bedford, East Cleveland, Euclid, Garfield Heights, Rocky River, Shaker Heights, or University Heights. Those cities keep their own records. So if you were born in Lakewood, go to the Lakewood office. If you were born somewhere else in Ohio and now live in Lakewood, the Cleveland office can help.
Historical Lakewood Birth Records
The Cuyahoga County Probate Court at 1200 Ontario Street, Cleveland, OH 44113 holds birth and death records from 1867 through December 19, 1908. These are the oldest vital records in the county. The court also keeps marriage licenses, adoption records, and estate files. For Lakewood families going back to the 1800s, this is where to start.
Under Ohio Revised Code Section 3705.23, certified copies of vital records carry the same legal weight as originals in every Ohio court. A certified copy must show the date of issue, the officer's name and signature, and the seal. Anyone can request a birth record in Ohio. Vital records are public.
Nearby Cities
These cities near Lakewood have birth records pages: