Find Birth Records in Ashland County
Ashland County birth records go through the Ashland County Health Department on Claremont Avenue. The office issues certified copies for births that took place anywhere in Ohio from December 1908 forward. For older records dating back to 1867, the Ashland County Probate Court keeps the original ledger books. The Ohio History Connection also has microfilm copies of those early records. Whether you need a legal certificate or are tracing family roots, this page covers each step to get what you need in Ashland County.
Ashland County Birth Records at a Glance
Ashland County Health Department Records
The Ashland County Health Department is at 1211 Claremont Avenue, Ashland, Ohio 44805. Phone is 419-282-4231. Fax is 419-282-4360. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The department can issue certified birth certificates for anyone born in Ohio from December 1908 to now, thanks to statewide issuance rights granted by the Ohio Department of Health.
Each certified copy costs $25.00. Payment methods include cash, checks, money orders, and credit or debit cards. If you write a personal check, bring a picture ID. Out-of-state personal checks are not accepted. For mail orders, print and fill out the Application for Certified Copies Birth Certificate Request Form from the department website. Include your payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope, then mail everything to the Claremont Avenue address. The department also offers online ordering through VitalChek with an extra $7.00 processing fee added to the base cost.
Note: The hospital birth certificate is not an official certified copy and will not work as legal identification.
Ashland County Birth Certificate Resources
The Ashland County Health Department website shows their birth and death records page with current forms, fees, and payment details.
You can download the birth certificate application form from this page and see all accepted payment types for both walk-in and mail requests.
Order Ashland County Birth Certificates Online
Online ordering goes through VitalChek, an authorized vendor for Ohio vital records. The base fee is $25.00 plus VitalChek's processing charge. You can choose standard mail or faster shipping for an extra cost. Orders are placed online around the clock and processed during business hours. VitalChek takes all major credit cards and gives you a tracking number once your order ships.
If you live nearby, walking into the office is cheaper since you skip the processing fee. But VitalChek works well for people out of town or in a rush. The site verifies your identity and your right to the record before anything ships.
Ashland County Probate Court Birth Records
The Ashland County Probate Court is in the county courthouse at 142 W. 2nd Street, Ashland, Ohio 44805. Call 419-282-4325 for questions. The court holds birth and death records from 1867 to 1908 in the original ledger books. These entries are one line each, listing the child's name, birth date, parents, and a few other details. The court also keeps marriage records from 1846 to now, along with wills, estates, and guardianship files.
The Ohio History Connection has microfilm copies of Ashland County probate court birth records from 1867 to 1908, cataloged as State Archives Series 3144. They also hold death records for the same period as Series 3146 and marriage records from 1845 to 1953 as Series 3149. Their reading room is at 800 E 17th Ave in Columbus. Ashland County has no known courthouse disasters, so records are well preserved going back to 1846.
Ashland County Birth Certificate Fees
A certified copy from the health department is $25.00. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 3705.24, the state sets a base fee of twelve dollars per certified copy, with a five-dollar surcharge going to the state general fund. The Ashland County office keeps the rest for local operations. VitalChek adds roughly $7.00 to the total when you order online.
The state office in Columbus charges $21.50 per copy. Orders placed through the Ohio Department of Health online take about three weeks. Mail orders go to PO Box 15098, Columbus, Ohio 43215-0098.
Birth Record Research in Ashland County
FamilySearch has an Ashland County genealogy page with free access to digitized records. Their collections include Ohio County Births from 1841 to 2003 and the Ohio Birth Index from 1908 to 1998 through Ancestry. Ashland County was formed from Huron, Lorain, Richland, and Wayne counties on February 24, 1846.
The Ashland County Historical Society is at 420 Center Street, Ashland, OH 44805, phone 419-289-3111. The Ashland County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society keeps a Genealogy and Local History Room on the first floor of the Ashland Public Library at 224 Claremont Avenue. The room has census records from 1850 to 1930, obituary files, and county newspapers on microfilm from 1852 to now. The library phone is 419-289-8188.
Under Ohio Revised Code Section 3705.23, certified copies of vital records work the same as originals in all Ohio courts. Anyone can request a birth record by filling out an application and paying the fee.
Nearby Counties
Ashland County is in north-central Ohio. If you need birth records from a neighboring county, check these pages:
Cities in Ashland County
Ashland County does not have any cities above the population threshold that get their own page on this site. The city of Ashland is the county seat. Other communities include Loudonville, Perrysville, and Hayesville. For all birth record requests in Ashland County, the health department on Claremont Avenue serves as the main office.