Belmont County Birth Records Lookup
Birth records for Belmont County come from the Belmont County Health Department in St. Clairsville. The office keeps county birth records from 1908 to now, plus records from the former Bellaire City and Martins Ferry City health departments. For records before 1908, the probate court and the Ohio History Connection both hold early birth ledgers on microfilm. This page covers every way to search for and get Belmont County birth certificates, including online, by mail, and in person.
Belmont County Birth Records at a Glance
Belmont County Health Department Records
The Belmont County Health Department is at 68501 Bannock Road, St. Clairsville, Ohio 43950. The Registrar's phone number is 740-695-1202. Email is bchd@belmontcountyhealth.com. Certified copies cost $25.00 each. At the counter, you can pay with cash or credit and debit cards. Online orders must use a credit or debit card with extra processing fees.
The department has an online request system. You can fill out your request on the web before going to the office, or use the office tablet or your phone when you arrive. Once the request is placed, it takes up to 15 minutes to complete. The vital statistics desk stops printing certificates at 4:00 PM. For online orders, the department processes them within two business days and can mail or hold certificates for pickup.
The office holds three sets of birth records: county births from 1908 to now, Bellaire City births from 1908 to 2000, and Martins Ferry City births from 1908 to 2000. Those city records were absorbed when the city health departments closed.
Belmont County Birth Certificate Resources
The Belmont County Health Department vital statistics page shows their online request system, fees, and payment options for birth certificates.
This page explains how to place a request online before visiting the office, which speeds up the process when you arrive.
The Belmont County Probate Court maintains older birth records and can help with pre-1908 inquiries and delayed birth registrations.
The probate court holds birth records from 1867 to 1908 in the original ledger books, along with marriage records dating back to 1803.
Online ordering through VitalChek is another option for Belmont County birth certificates.
VitalChek charges the $25.00 base fee plus a processing fee. Orders take about two business days and come with tracking.
Belmont County Probate Court Birth Records
The Belmont County Probate Court is at 101 West Main Street, St. Clairsville, Ohio 43950. Phone is 740-699-2144. The court keeps birth records from 1867 to 1908 and death records for the same period. Marriage records go back to 1803. Will records start in 1810.
The Ohio History Connection holds Belmont County records on microfilm. Birth records from 1867 to 1908 are in State Archives Series 6796. Death records are Series 6798. Marriage records from 1803 to 1951 are Series 6800. Will records from 1810 to 1918 are Series 6793. Belmont County is one of 28 Ohio counties with probate court vital records at the state archives. You can visit the reading room at 800 E 17th Ave in Columbus, or request copies through their research services.
The Belmont County Records Center and Archives at 45240 National Road West, St. Clairsville, OH 43950 (phone 740-298-8776) also holds various county records that may be useful for research.
Belmont County Birth Certificate Fees
Certified copies cost $25.00. That is the same for in-person and online requests through the health department. VitalChek adds a processing fee of $7.00 to $12.00 on top. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 3705.24, the state requires a minimum of twelve dollars per copy, with five dollars going to the state general fund.
The Ohio Department of Health in Columbus charges $21.50 per copy. Order from the ODH website or by mail. State orders take about three weeks.
Birth Record Research in Belmont County
FamilySearch has a Belmont County genealogy page with free access to digitized records. Collections include Ohio County Births from 1841 to 2003 and the Ohio Birth Index from 1908 to 1998. Belmont County was named from the French words "belle montagne" meaning "beautiful mountain." It was formed from Jefferson and Washington counties on September 7, 1801.
The Belmont County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society is at P.O. Box 285, Barnesville, OH 43713-0285, phone 740-425-1760. The Barnesville Hutton Memorial Library (308 East Main Street, Barnesville, phone 740-425-1651) and the Belmont County District Library (20 James Wright Place, Martins Ferry, phone 740-633-0314) both hold local history and genealogy collections.
Under Ohio Revised Code Section 3705.23, certified copies carry the same weight as originals in all Ohio courts. Anyone can request a birth record by completing an application and paying the fee.
Nearby Counties
Belmont County is in east-central Ohio along the West Virginia border. These nearby county pages may help your search:
Cities in Belmont County
Belmont County does not have any cities above the population threshold for a dedicated page on this site. St. Clairsville is the county seat. Other communities include Bellaire, Martins Ferry, Barnesville, and Shadyside. For all birth record requests in Belmont County, the health department on Bannock Road in St. Clairsville is the main office.