Lorain County Public Health

You can expect the process to receive your official, government-issued copy of an Ohio State birth certificate to take between 3 and 5 weeks. If mistakes are made, it may take longer.

By using our online Vital Records office database to find the correct office to receive your document, you can ensure the process does not take longer than provisioned. 

In addition to our database, you can avoid delays by including all the required documentation such as government or state-issued photo identification with your application.

To apply for a copy of your birth certificate, or a copy of your child’s certificate, you will need to pay a processing fee. 

The fee to apply for a new copy of a birth certificate in Ohio is $21.50. You must use either a check or money order to complete the payment. 

Regardless of your preference for a check or money order, the payment must be made payable to the Treasury, State of Ohio.

Only certain photocopies of documents will be considered as a valid form of identification with an application for an Ohio State birth certificate.

You may submit a form of state identification, such as a:

• Driver’s license

• Other government-issued photo-ID

You can also submit 2 of the following documents: 

• U.S. Military ID

• Voter registration card

• Vehicle registration

• Bank statement

• U.S. Passport or a foreign passport

Ensure that the photo ID that you use is not expired when you submit your application.