Henry County Birth Records
Henry County birth records from 1908 forward are on file at the local health department in Napoleon, Ohio. Records before that date sit at the probate court and the Ohio History Connection archives. The county seat is Napoleon, where the health department and courthouse are both based. You can request certified copies in person, by mail, or through the state's online system. This page walks through every way to get Henry County birth certificates, including fees, what forms you need, and where to go for older records.
Henry County Birth Records at a Glance
Henry County Health Department Records
The Henry County Health Department handles birth and death certificates from December 20, 1908 to now. Like all Ohio county health departments, this office can issue a birth certificate for anyone born anywhere in Ohio after that date. You don't have to go to the county where you were born. The Napoleon office takes walk-in requests during business hours on weekdays.
Mail orders work too. Send the full name on the record, date of birth, parents' names, your contact info, and the fee by check or money order. The health department will mail back the certified copy. If you need it faster, the Ohio Department of Health offers online ordering for $21.50 per copy. Online orders from the state take about three weeks to arrive. The state office is at 4200 Surface Road, Columbus, OH 43228, and their phone line is 614-466-2531.
Ohio Vital Statistics Portal
The Ohio Department of Health vital statistics page is where online birth certificate orders start for Henry County and every other county in the state.
This state portal shows fees, accepted payment methods, and the steps for placing an order. As of January 2025, each copy costs $21.50 from the state office.
Henry County Probate Court Birth Records
The Henry County Probate Court in Napoleon keeps birth records from 1867 to December 19, 1908. County-level registration of births began in 1867 across Ohio, though compliance in the early years was spotty. A few counties have some records going back to the 1840s, but most start in 1867. These early records are ledger-style entries that list the child's name, date of birth, parents' names, and place of residence. They are not certificates in the modern form.
The Ohio History Connection holds probate court birth records for Henry County in their archives. Henry County is on their list of counties with records available for copy and research requests. This is a good option if you can't visit Napoleon in person. The archives have microfilm copies of the old ledger books that predate statewide registration.
Note: There is no statewide index to Ohio birth records before December 20, 1908, so you must search county by county for pre-1908 births.
Birth Record Research in Henry County
The FamilySearch Ohio vital records page has information on Henry County birth records and links to free digitized collections. The "Ohio, County Births, 1841-2003" set includes index entries and images for many Ohio counties. Birth records in this collection include parents' names and place of residence, which helps when you are trying to piece together a family line.
Statewide registration of births became required on December 20, 1908. State-level birth records show the child's name, place and date of birth, sex, race, father's name and birthplace, and the mother's maiden name and birthplace. Any county or city health department in Ohio can pull a copy of a birth record for events after that date. For Henry County, the local health department in Napoleon is the closest option.
Under Ohio Revised Code Section 3705.23, a certified copy of a birth record has the same legal standing as the original. The copy must carry the date of issue, the registrar's signature, and the official seal. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 3705.24, the state sets a base fee for certified copies, with a five-dollar surcharge per copy going to the state's general fund.
Nearby Counties
Henry County is in northwest Ohio. If your birth record search crosses county lines, check these neighboring pages:
Cities in Henry County
Napoleon is the county seat and the largest community in Henry County. No cities in the county meet the population threshold for a dedicated birth records page. Other towns include Deshler, Hamler, Liberty Center, and Malinta. For all Henry County birth records, the local health department in Napoleon is the main office to contact.