Find Birth Records in Union County
Union County birth records are available from two main offices in Marysville, Ohio. The health department holds certified copies of birth certificates from 1909 to now, while the probate court keeps the older records going back to 1867. An online index of those early birth records lets you search by name before you even visit the courthouse. Whether you need a legal copy for ID or you are tracing family lines, Union County has clear paths to get what you need. This page breaks down every option for getting birth records in the county.
Union County Birth Records at a Glance
Union County Health Department Records
The Union County Health Department keeps birth and death records from 1909 to the present. The office is at 940 London Avenue, Marysville, OH 43040. Call (937) 642-2053 for questions. You can get certified copies by mail, in person, or through Ohio's Online Certificates Application platform. The department uses the statewide electronic system, so they can pull birth certificates for anyone born in Ohio, not just Union County.
Mail requests need a completed form, the right fee, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. In-person visits are handled during regular business hours. The online option through the state platform lets you pay by credit card and have the certificate mailed to you. Processing times vary but expect a few weeks for mail delivery.
Note: Uncertified copies of birth certificates are no longer available in Ohio due to changes in state law.
Union County Birth Record Index
The Union County Record Indexes website offers a free online search tool for historical birth records from 1867 to 1908.
This index shows the child's name, date of birth, place of birth, gender, race, and parents' names. You can search by surname, year, or Soundex code to find entries in the old probate court registers.
Union County Probate Court Birth Files
The Union County Probate Court holds birth and death records from 1867 to 1908. Ohio law changed how births were tracked several times during this span. On March 18, 1867, the Ohio General Assembly passed an act that required probate judges to keep a record of all births reported to them. Each entry had to include the date the record was made, the date and place of birth, the child's name, sex, and color, plus the names and residence of both parents.
In 1869, the law shifted again. Township assessors took on the job of gathering birth data and sending it to the probate court. This went on until January 1, 1909, when the Ohio Bureau of Vital Statistics was created and the state took over. Births from March 1908 through December 1908 were still logged at the probate court, so the cutoff in Union County is really January 1909, not the usual December 1908 date you see in most other counties.
The probate court also holds marriage records from 1820 and other estate files. Microfilm copies of the early birth and death records are at the Marysville Public Library, the Ohio Historical Society, and through The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Ohio State Office for Union County Births
The Ohio Department of Health maintains Union County birth records from December 20, 1908 to now. Their office is at 4200 Surface Road, Columbus, OH 43228. Call 614-466-2531 for help. You can order online, by mail, or walk in from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM for same-day service. The state fee is $21.50 per certified copy as of January 1, 2025. Online orders take about five business days to process, and USPS delivery adds around three weeks. Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express are all accepted for online payments.
Birth Record Research in Union County
FamilySearch has a Union County genealogy page with links to digitized records. Their collections include Ohio County Births from 1841 to 2003 and marriage records from the area. Union County was formed in 1820 from Franklin, Madison, Logan, and Delaware counties, so early records may overlap with those neighboring counties. FamilySearch is free to use with an account.
The Union County USGenWeb Project has free transcribed records including births from 1867 forward, deaths from 1867 forward, and marriages from 1820 forward. These volunteer-run transcriptions are a good starting point for genealogy work before you order official copies.
Under Ohio Revised Code Section 3705.24, the state sets a minimum fee of twelve dollars for certified vital record copies, plus a five-dollar surcharge for the general fund. Local health departments must send collected fees to the Ohio Department of Health within thirty days after each quarter ends. Per Ohio Revised Code Section 3705.23, a certified copy has the same legal standing as the original in any Ohio court, as long as it has the date of issue, the officer's name and signature, and the office seal.
Nearby Counties
Union County borders several other Ohio counties. If you need birth records from the region, check these pages:
Cities in Union County
Union County includes Marysville, which is the county seat, along with Richwood, Plain City, and Milford Center. Dublin sits partly in Union County but is primarily in Franklin County. For Dublin birth records, see the dedicated page.
For other Union County communities, the health department in Marysville handles all birth record requests.