Find Birth Records in Perry County
Perry County birth records are managed by the health department in New Lexington, Ohio. The Vital Statistics Division there keeps records of births and deaths from 1908 to the present and can issue certified copies for anyone born in Ohio through the statewide system. Older records from 1867 to 1908 are at the probate court and the Ohio History Connection. Whether you need a certified copy for a passport, school enrollment, or genealogy work, Perry County has several paths to get what you need. This page covers each one in detail.
Perry County Birth Records at a Glance
Perry County Health Department
The Perry County Health Department Vital Statistics Division has moved to a new location at 2235 State Route 13, New Lexington, OH 43764. For questions, email vitalstatistics@perrycountyohio.gov. The office keeps records of births and deaths from 1908 to the present as required by Ohio vital statistics laws. Certified birth and death records cost $25.00 per copy as set by Ohio Revised Code.
The health department can issue birth certificates for anyone born in the State of Ohio through the statewide electronic system. You can submit requests in person at the office, by mail with proper payment, or by email to the vital statistics address. Phone orders with a credit card are also an option, though a 3% processing fee applies to card transactions. For birth or death records before 1908, the staff will send you to the Ohio History Connection or the Perry County Probate Court.
Along with issuing certified copies, the Vital Statistics office handles burial and cremation permits and paternity affidavits.
Perry County Birth Certificate Resources
The Perry County Health Department vital statistics page shows the new office location, fees, and contact details for ordering birth certificates.
This page lists the $25.00 fee per copy and explains how to request records in person, by mail, by email, or by phone with a credit card.
Perry County Probate Court Records
The Perry County Probate Court in New Lexington maintains birth records from 1867 through December 19, 1908. These are the original county-level registrations from the time before the state took over. The court also handles marriage records, estate administration, guardianships, and other probate matters.
Birth records less than 100 years old have restricted access under Ohio law. Only the person named on the record, immediate family members, or legally authorized representatives can get copies. After 100 years, birth records become public and any qualified researcher can access them. The probate court can provide certified copies of historical birth records for both legal and genealogy purposes. Call the court to ask about fees, availability, and how to make a request.
The court records page shows the types of vital records and probate files available through the Perry County court system.
Order Perry County Birth Records Online
The Ohio Department of Health keeps Perry County birth records from December 20, 1908 to now. Their office is at 4200 Surface Road, Columbus, OH 43228, phone 614-466-2531. The state fee is $21.50 per certified copy as of January 1, 2025. Online orders take about five business days to process and three weeks for delivery.
For genealogy requests, marriage abroad documentation, or dual citizenship purposes, you have to use the mail-in paper application from the bureau's website. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 3705.24, the state base fee is twelve dollars with a five-dollar surcharge going to the general fund. The state takes Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express for online orders.
Birth Record Research in Perry County
The Ohio History Connection Archives and Library has indexed Perry County birth records in their collection. This is one of the 28 Ohio counties with records available at the state archive. Researchers can get copies of birth records from 1867 to 1908 through their established procedures. These are ledger-style entries from the probate court era.
The Free Online Ohio Birth Records page lists several Perry County resources, including birth records from 1867 to 1908 on FamilySearch, Perry County Family Bibles, Perry County Vital Records at OHGenWeb, and delayed correction and registration of births from 1940 to 1991 with an index. These digitized and transcribed records are available online, many for free. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 3705.23, certified copies of vital records are treated the same as originals in all Ohio courts.
Nearby Counties
Perry County sits in southeastern Ohio. These neighboring county pages may help with birth record searches in the area:
Cities in Perry County
Perry County does not have any cities that meet the population threshold for a dedicated page on this site. New Lexington is the county seat and the largest community. Other towns include Crooksville, Thornville, and Somerset. For birth records in any Perry County community, the health department in New Lexington handles all vital records requests.