About Vital Records
The Fairfield County Health Department Vital Statistics division issues certified copies of certificates for births, deaths, and fetal deaths occurring from December 1908 to present.
Certified copy fee: $32 per vital record. (Card fees apply to credit/debit payments.)
We can assist you with:
- Registration of birth and death records
- Issuance of burial transit permits and cremation permits
- Completion of "Acknowledgement of Paternity Affidavits"
- Corrections to birth and death records
- Home births
Please note:
- Birth certificates can be issued for ANY county in Ohio.
- Fetal death certificates can be issued for Fairfield County only.
- If you need to order a birth or death record from a different state, please visit the National Center for Health Statistics (opens in a new window, leaves this site) for contact information.
Obtain a Birth or Death Certificate
Print and complete the application below, then mail or drop it off with payment.
Mail or drop off, with payment, to:
Fairfield County Health DepartmentAttn: Vital Statistics
1550 Sheridan Drive, Ste. 100
Lancaster, OH 43130
We accept cash, check (if it includes address and phone number), e-check, money order, credit/debit card, Apple Pay and Google Pay. Each certificate is $32. (Card fees apply.)
Delivery information
Electronic application: you'll choose Pickup or Mail on the online application.
Printable form (PDF): if you mail in your application, the certificate(s) will automatically be mailed to the address you provided. If you drop it off in person, you can choose to pick up or have it mailed.
Birth and death certificates cannot be emailed.
Questions? Call 740-652-2800, Option 2 for assistance.
Records Prior to December 1908
For Fairfield County birth or death certificates prior to December 1908, contact the Fairfield County Probate Court:
224 E. Main Street, 3rd floor, Lancaster, Ohio 43130
Phone: 740-652-7485
Note:
- Each county houses its own records prior to 1908 at the probate court (opens in a new window, leaves this site) where the birth or death occurred.
- Death certifications for deaths that occurred between December 1908-1970 in Fairfield County are only available at the Fairfield County Health Department.
Guidelines: Requesting a Death Certificate
To see the guidelines for who can request a death certificate with the Social Security number showing, and what two (2) forms of proof are needed, review the following guidelines.
Corrections
Corrections on a birth certificate include correcting the spelling of a name (i.e. Sarah to Sara) or adding a first, middle, or last name to the birth certificate if one was not previously recorded. Corrections do not include changing a first, middle, or last name, or the order of the first, middle, and last name. If you would like to make a correction to your birth certificate or your child's birth certificate, call us at (740) 652-2800, Option 2.
Name Changes
All name change requests are processed through probate court. You can find more information on how to change your name at the Fairfield County Juvenile/Probate Court website (opens in a new window, leaves this site).
How to Add a Father to a Birth Certificate
A father can be added to a birth certificate with a Paternity Affidavit. This form can only be used if no father is currently listed on the birth certificate. You can find more information on establishing paternity at the Ohio Central Paternity Registry website (opens in a new window, leaves this site). Please contact us at (740) 652-2800, Option 2 to see if a Paternity Affidavit can help you add the father to the birth certificate.
Adoption Records
All adoption records are located at the Ohio Department of Health. There are different laws for viewing adoption records depending on the year the adoption took place. For additional information, please refer to the Ohio Department of Health website (opens in a new window, leaves this site).
Marriage & Divorce Records
Marriage and divorce records are not maintained by the Health Department.
Certified copies of marriage licenses and divorce decrees can only be obtained from the county where the event was recorded. Marriage certificate copies can be obtained from the specific county Probate Court. Divorce decrees can be requested from the Clerk of Courts in the specific county where the divorce was finalized.