Search Highland County Birth Records
Highland County birth records are available from the health department in Hillsboro starting with records from 1909. Each certified birth certificate costs $25, and you can order in person, by mail, by phone, or online through VitalChek. The county seat is Hillsboro, where the health department office sits at 1487 N. High Street. For records before 1909, the probate court and the Ohio History Connection hold earlier ledger entries. This guide covers all the ways to get Highland County birth certificates and what each option costs.
Highland County Birth Records at a Glance
Highland County Health Department Records
The Highland County Health Department issues birth certificates for people born in Ohio from 1909 forward. Each copy is $25. If you pay with a credit or debit card, there is an extra $2 fee. The office is at 1487 N. High Street, Suite 400, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133.
You have three ways to request a Highland County birth certificate. The fastest is in person at the Hillsboro office during business hours. You can also call (937) 393-1941, extension 4, and order by phone. Mail orders go to the same address with payment by money order or local check. The health department does not take out-of-area checks by mail, so if you are ordering from out of state, a money order is the safer bet.
For name changes on a birth certificate, the Highland County Probate Court handles those. Call the probate court at (937) 393-9981 for details on the process and any filing fees.
Highland County Birth Certificate Resources
The Highland County Health Department vital statistics page lists the current fee, payment methods, and contact info for ordering birth certificates.
The page explains the three ordering methods and notes the $2 surcharge for card payments. It also mentions that records before 1909 may not exist through the health department.
The VitalChek page for Highland County provides the online ordering portal with expedited processing.
VitalChek takes credit and debit cards and processes orders faster than mail. Their fee is on top of the base $25 charge from the health department.
Highland County Probate Court Birth Records
Birth records from 1867 to 1908 are at the Highland County Probate Court in Hillsboro. These ledger-style entries predate the statewide birth certificate system. The probate court also holds marriage records and estate files for the county. If you need a record from before 1909, the probate court is your first stop in Highland County.
The Ohio History Connection has Highland County probate court birth records in their collection. They can fill copy and research requests for records from 1867 to 1908. FamilySearch has digitized some Highland County records too, including Registration and Correction of Births from 1941 to 1960. These are free to search online at FamilySearch.org.
Highland County Birth Record Fees
The local fee in Highland County is $25 per certified copy. Card payments add $2. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 3705.24, the state sets a minimum fee of twelve dollars for certified copies of vital records. A five-dollar surcharge per copy goes to the state's general fund. The Ohio Department of Health charges $21.50 per copy from their Columbus office at 4200 Surface Road.
Under Ohio Revised Code Section 3705.23, certified copies of birth records serve as legal proof in all Ohio courts. Each copy needs the date of issue, the registrar's signature, and the official seal. Ohio birth records are public records, so anyone can request a copy by submitting an application and paying the fee.
Note: A hospital-issued birth record is not the same as a certified copy and will not work for legal purposes like a passport application.
Nearby Counties
Highland County is in southern Ohio. If your search for birth records extends past county lines, try these nearby pages:
Cities in Highland County
Hillsboro is the county seat and the largest town in Highland County. No cities in the county reach the population threshold for a dedicated page. Other communities include Greenfield, Lynchburg, and Leesburg. All birth record requests for these areas are handled by the Highland County Health Department in Hillsboro.