** Important Notices**
Fee Increase: Effective October 16th, the Vital Statistics fee for certified copies of birth, death and fetal death will increase to $25 per certified copy. This increase has been approved by the Board of Health and is the result of the following:
State mandated increase of $4.00 per certified copy issued to be remitted to the State of Ohio
Technology improvements including but not limited to: optical scanning (imaging) equipment, software & digital storage for birth and death certificates
Temporary suspension of same dayservice for birth certificate certified copies until further notice.
Read public notice (Spanish , Somali)
Certified Birth and Death Certificate Services
Our office issues certified copies of certificates for births and deaths occurring from 1908 to present in Franklin County only.
- Registers all births, deaths, and fetal deaths occurring in Franklin County.
- Issues burial transit permits.
- Helps single parents with completing "Acknowledgement of Paternity Affidavits."
- Assists customers with correcting information on birth and death certificates issued in Franklin County.
Program Services and Hours
- Please allow 8-10 weeks for receipt from the hospital and registration of Newborn birth certificates. Newborn birth application form
- According to City of Columbus Charter, Section 82, your check will be deposited within hours.
- Same day walk-in service is only available for DEATH CERTIFICATE requests 10am-2pm, Monday – Friday
- Walk-in birth certificate requests will be processed for mail out or pick-up the next business day.
- Death certificate requests outside of same day service hours will also be processed for mail out or pick-up the next business day.
- Pick-up hours are 10:00am to 4:15pm, Monday - Friday.
- Office closed on City of Columbus official holidays.
Getting a Birth or Death Certificate
Walk-in, Pick-up or Mail Order
- Print and complete a walk-in birth certificate application form or death certificate application form and bring to Columbus Public Health, Vital Stastics Office.
- Only cash, check or money order payment is accepted for walk-in service. Please see the new hours posted above for same-day service.
- Applications can be mailed into the Columbus Public Health, Vital Statistics Office. All mail order and credit/debit card orders must be sent back to you via reguluar U.S. Mail or UPS Express Service. Mail order/Credit Card form.
Order Online with Vitalchek
For your convenience, certificates can also be ordered online or applications can be faxed in with a debit or credit card payment for an additional $9.95 fee through "Vitalcheck." Click on Franklin County Bureau of Vital Statistics on the Vitalchek homepage. Faxed applications must include advanced payment via credit or debit card number and expiration date. Please also note that faxed requests must be sent back to you via regular U.S. Mail or EPS Express Service.
Before you call...
Birth or death certificates requested by mail that you have not received:
- It takes about 7-10 business days to process mail requests, including those made with a debit or credit card.
- We can only issue certificates for births and deaths occurring in Franklin County from 1908 to present.
- Birth certificates for newborns are not ready for about 8 to 10 weeks after the child is born.
- According to City of Columbus Charter, Section 82, your check will be deposited within 24 hours. If your check has cleared and was sent within the last 2 weeks, your request is being processed.
If your request was sent more than 14 days ago and you have not received your certificates, please e-mail, or call Columbus Public Health, Vital Statistics Office:
E-mail: VS@columbus.gov
Phone: (614) 645-7331
Linea en Espanol: (614) 645-3114
Have the following information ready for the call or include in the e-mail:
- Name on certificate(s) requested
- Date of event (birth or death)
- Mother's maiden name (birth certificate only)
- Father's name (birth certificate only)
- Approximate date sent
- Number of copies ordered and amount paid
- Your name, mailing address and phone number
- Your e-mail address (optional)
Correcting a Birth Certificate (for non-paternity changes)
(1) Circle the mistake.
(2) Write the correct spelling next to it.
(3) Return in person or mail all certified copies to:
Columbus Public Health
Vital Statistics
240 Parsons Avenue
Columbus, OH 43215
For corrections requested by mail, please include your mailing address and daytime phone number. It takes about 10 business days to correct a certificate.
**Please Note - We must have the incorrect certificate(s) to issue a corrected certificate.
If an affidavit is needed to correct the mistake, we will send a completed affidavit form to you. If the mistake needs to be corrected by probate court, we will send you more information on what to do.
Adding a Father to a Birth Certificate
Single, unmarried mothers wishing to add a father to a birth certificate must complete an Acknowledgment of Paternity Affidavit. Affidavit forms can be obtained from any hospital, child support enforcement agency, or local Vital Statistics Office. It takes approximately 6-9 months for a new birth certificate to be completed once a Paternity Affidavit has been received and approved. Please do not return certificates without the father’s name until you have verified with our office that a new certificate is on file. If you wish to check on the status of a new birth certificate with the father’s name added, please call 614-645-7323
Correcting a Death Certificate
Contact the funeral home that submitted the original information.
Cost
Certified birth and death certificates are $25 each. Only certified copies are available. Requests by mail usually take 7-10 business days. Service is also available by telephone, internet and fax with a debit or credit card for an additional $9.95.
Express VitalChek Service (debit/credit card)
For Express service within U.S., please add $15.00 for overnight delivery or $13.00 for 2-3 day delivery - Express service is payable by credit or debit card only. Express delivery orders must be called in to 1-877-648-0605, or placed online at www.vitalchek.com, or application faxed in to 614-645-0730.