Birth Certificates

Prior to December 20, 1908, all birth registrations were recorded in the probate court of the county where the birth occurred. On that date, the Ohio Department of Health, Division of Vital Statistics, established health districts in which all live births are now recorded.

Births occurring before December 20, 1908, contact the probate court in the county where the birth occurred.

Births occurring after December 20, 1908, contact the Health Department in the area where the birth occurred or the Ohio Department of Health, Division of Vital Statistics. Addresses are:

City of Canton Health Department 
420 Market Ave., North
Canton, Ohio 44702
Phone number (330)489-3231

City of Massillon Health Department
611 Erie St. S. 
Massillon, OH  44646
Phone number (330) 830-1710

City of Alliance Health Department
537 East Market Street
Alliance, Ohio 44601
Phone number (330)821-7373

Note: This next address is for persons born outside Canton, Massillon, and Alliance

Stark County Health Department 
3951 Convenience Circle N.W. 
Canton, Ohio 44718
Phone number (330)493-9904

Ohio Department of Health 
Division of Vital Statistics
246 North High St., P.O. Box 15098
Columbus, Ohio 43215-0098
Phone number (614)-466-2531

Stark County Probate Court
Records Division-Birth Registration
501 Citizens Building
110 Central Plaza, South
Canton, Ohio 44702-1413
Phone number (330)451-7762

Ohio Law provides that whomever claims to have been born in this State, and whose registration of birth was not recorded, or has been lost or destroyed, or has not been properly and accurately recorded, may file an application for registration of birth, or correction of their birth record.

• The probate court of the county of birth
• The probate court of the county of residence
• The probate court of the county in which the mother resided at the time of birth

1. Submit to probate court an application for birth registration.
2. Attach a letter indicating that a search has been made and no evidence can be found of a birth registration. If the birth occurred prior to December 20, 1908, the letter must be from the probate court of the county where the birth occurred. If the birth occurred after December 20, 1908, the letter must be from the Ohio Department of Health, Division of Vital Statistics.
3. Attach a letter of verification of birth such as an affidavit of the attending physician; affidavits of two (2) persons older than the applicant acquainted with facts concerning the birth, and if such are not obtainable, any combination of 3 pieces of documentary evidence, which will verify the facts set forth in the application, such as:

• • School records
  • Baptismal records
  • Military records
  • Employment records
  • Hospital records
  • Census records
  • Insurance records

Notwithstanding the above requirements, the Probate Judge will give each application individual consideration.

• Submit to probate court an application to correct birth certificate
• Attach a certified copy of birth certificate to be corrected.
• Attach evidence to verify correction--similar to items submitted with application for birth registration listed in procedure for recording birth certificate (paragraph 3, above)