OHIO Vital Records -
Prior to September 7, 1949, marriages were record at the county probate courts as each county was formed. At that time, an index of all Ohio marriages was not maintained. It was not until 1949, that a statewide index of marriages that occurred in Ohio was created at the state level with the Ohio Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics. While the state Office of Vital Statistics maintains indexes of all marriages, the county probate courts where the married couples applied for their license is where the official marriage certificate resides.

Ohio law established the Bureau of Vital Statistics on December 20, 1908. On that date, the mandatory registration of birth and death certificates occurred. Since that time, all birth and death certificates have been registered through our office.

statement source -
Mark Kassouf
Compliance Manager/State Mass Fatality Planner/Chief Fraud Officer
Ohio Department of Health
Office of Vital Statistics
614-644-0165