The Division of Vital Statistics of the Youngstown City Health District records vital events occurring in its primary registration district of Mahoning County. The Division maintains birth records dating back to 1909 and death records dating back to 1892.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
· Recording all births that occur in Mahoning County and Northside Medical Center in Trumbull County.
· Recording all deaths that occur in Mahoning County.
· Each week, all original birth, death and fetal death certificates are forwarded to the Ohio Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics, where they are permanently filed. A record of these certificates is kept on file locally.
· Issuing certified copies of birth and death certificates. A certified copy is not an original record, rather it is a copy of the original record. A certified copy is required for various legal matters including passport, social security benefits, state identification cards, driver license, adoption, etc.
THREE WAYS TO ORDER A CERTIFIED COPY OF A BIRTH OR DEATH CERTIFICATE
To order a certified copy of a BIRTH CERTIFICATE you must provide the following information: first and last name on the certificate, date of birth, mother’s maiden name, father’s name, location of birth, and name/signature of requester.
To order a certified copy of a DEATH CERTIFICATE you must provide the following information: first and last name on the certificate, date of death, location of death, and name/signature of requester.
The cost of a certified copy of a birth and death certificate is $23.00.
1. In person. Visit us Monday-Friday 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Enter the building through Entrance B and take the elevator to floor 2. American currency and money orders are the only form of payment accepted.
2. Electronic. Visit www.vitalchek.com to order a birth or death certificate online. The VitalChek network accepts all major credit cards (American Express, Discover, Mastercard, and Visa). A $7.00 processing fee is charged for this service by VitalChek. When ordering, you may select regular mail at no cost or you may select expedited shipping through UPS in which additional fees will apply.
3. Mail. Write to us at the address listed below and include the required information listed above. A Money order is the only form of payment accepted. Please make the $23.00 money order payable to the City of Youngstown. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope with your request. Orders are processed in 3-5 business days.
*Please note that we do not offer payment over the telephone by credit card.
The address for ordering a certified copy in person or in writing is:
Youngstown City Health District
Division of Vital Statistics
345 Oak Hill Avenue, Suite 200
Youngstown, Ohio 44502
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. Do I need to schedule an appointment? No. Please visit us Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. We are open during the lunch hour. The wait time is roughly 5-15 minutes.
2. May I purchase a certified copy of a birth or death certificate for a family member or friend? Yes. Please see above for the information (Three Ways to Order) needed in order to purchase a certified copy.
3. Are other forms of identification or proof of relationship required to purchase a certified copy? No. Please see above for the information (Three Ways to Order) needed in order to purchase a certified copy.
4. May I purchase a non-certified or plain paper copy of a birth or death certificate? No. Per state regulations, our Division no longer issues non-certified copies.
5. What is the cost for a certified copy of a birth or death certificate? $23.00 (no tax).
6. I just had a baby. How long will it take until my baby’s certificate is ready? It takes approximately six to eight weeks from your baby’s date of birth for record completion and registration. You may call our office prior to visiting to determine if the certificate is available.
7. I was born in Ohio but outside of Youngstown/Mahoning County. May I order a certified copy of my birth certificate through your office? Yes. Our Division issues certified copies of birth certificates for any individual born in the State of Ohio.
8. I was not born in the State of Ohio. May I order a certified copy of my birth certificate through your office? No. Please contact our office and we will provide you with contact information for the State Bureau in your respective state of birth.
9. Does your office maintain death certificates for all individuals who lived in Mahoning County? Residency is not a factor. Our office maintains death certificates for all individuals who died in Mahoning County. If you do not know the location of death, please contact our office prior to coming in and we will conduct a search.
10. There is an error on my birth certificate. Can you help me? Yes, in most cases. Please visit us and we will assist you in completing an Affidavit of Correction. The State Office of Vital Statistics makes the final determination and will accept or reject your request. Please note that the Affidavit of Correction is used to request a correction (i.e. misspelling of child’s or parent’s first or last name). An Affidavit of Correction cannot be used to change the child’s name, child’s gender, child’s year of birth, and child’s birthplace.
11. I want to change my name. May I submit this request through your office? No. Legal name changes must be filed through Mahoning County Probate Court. You may contact Probate Court at 330-740-2310.
OTHER SERVICES OFFERED
· Affidavit of Correction of Birth Record forms are prepared at no charge. An Affidavit of Correction is used to correct an error on a birth certificate (e.g. misspelling of child’s name, mother’s name, father’s name, etc). Our Division submits your completed and notarized affidavit to the State Office of Vital Statistics for review and determination. If approved, the corrected birth certificate will be available for purchase on the same day. Please note that an Affidavit of Correction is only used to make a correction and cannot be used to make changes (e.g. changing the child’s name, child’s gender, child’s year of birth, and child’s birthplace).
· Acknowledgement of Paternity Affidavit forms are prepared at no charge. An Acknowledgement of Paternity Affidavit allows unmarried parents to name the natural father and establish paternity for their child. This form is voluntary and must be signed by both parents. If the natural father was unavailable to sign the Acknowledgement of Paternity Affidavit at the hospital of birth, please visit our office and we will assist you. You may also visit www.oh-paternity.com or call 1-888-810-6446 for more information.
If the paternity of the child is unknown, do not sign the Affidavit. Rather, contact the Mahoning County Child Support Enforcement Agency at 330-740-2073 for more information about its Paternity services. Genetic testing is available.
· Public access for geneology or other purposes. A schedule will be posted soon for review of birth and death indexes. Per state regulations, public access is limited to index references only and not the complete birth or death record. Non-certified copies are no longer available.