Divorce is always an unhappy event, and over the years, in most cases, the person who left the family long back also disappeared from the memory. So, if you are planning to marry again, it might be important to prove that your divorce actually took place. It might also be important to check about the status of the other person if he/she is claiming to be divorced, as well. Has the divorce actually been granted, or has the person just applied for divorce? Luckily, the records are maintained in the US, and in Ohio, and you can check the records, as well.
The system of record keeping in Ohio goes quite far back in time; the state holds major data from as far back as 1851. The records are not easily accessible to the public though. In case you need to access the records, you can do so legally, and request for a copy by submitting an application.
The Office of Vital Statistics in Ohio does not issue divorce decrees; they are issued by the clerk of courts. The Ohio Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics only maintains an index of divorce records on instances of divorce that took place in Ohio from January 1st 1954 to the present day.
The actual divorce might have taken place in some other county. All records are accessed from different counties and stored in one central pool. Ohio divorce records since 1949 are held at the Court of Common Pleas in each Ohio County and are then forwarded to the central pool.
However, the certified copies will not be available at the State Health Department. Your inquiries will be forwarded to the appropriate counties. For information on Ohio divorce records, you need to contact:
Ohio Department of Health
Office of Vital Statistics
P.O. Box 15098
Phone: 614-466-2531
The cost will vary from one county to county, and it will also depend on the process of searching. The fact is that each individual search might require more or fewer inputs and the cost might thus be different. The time taken will depend on the extent of the search. For instance, if you provide the exact details of the individual you want to search like the precise name, city, county, the date of marriage and divorce, you might have to pay less. However, if you are not sure and cannot provide many details, the cost will be more.
You are required to send a fee by check or money order that is payable to Treasurer, State of Ohio at the P.O. Box mentioned above, for each certified copy of the Ohio divorce record. Once you send it, give it 2 to 3 weeks, or even a bit more than that to receive information.
If you want to get information before 1949, you can approach each county's Court of Common Pleas.
Divorce records before 1851 could be found at the state's Supreme Court or the Chancery, or at the county's Court of Common Pleas. For general information about older divorce records of the state of Ohio, you can approach:
Ohio Historical Society,
Archives/Library Reference Questions,
1982 Velma Avenue,
Columbus, OH 43211
Phone (614) 297-2510
To make a request for an Ohio divorce abstract, follow the directions below:
Step 1.
First, download the Application for Certified Copies form from the Vital Statistics website.
Step 2.
Read the application form carefully before completing it. Fill in the divorce record section of the application, including the full names of the husband and wife, date of event if known, and place if known. Also, signify the years you wish to be searched if date is not known.
Step 3.
Mail the form to the below address. You must send a check or money order for $3 to cover the search fee.
Send your completed form to:
Ohio Department of Health
Office of Vital Statistics
246 North High Street, 1st Floor
PO Box 15098
Columbus, OH 43215-0098
(614) 466-2531
Information About Divorce Records in Ohio
Vital records, including divorce information, are maintained with the Ohio Department of Health Office of Vital Statistics. While this office does maintain divorce information, it is only in abstract form with just limited and important extracted information. Divorce records in this office go back to 1954.
Where To Find Certified Ohio Divorce Certificates
Original divorce decrees are kept with the County Clerk of Court in the county where the divorce was filed. Anyone wishing to obtain a full copy of the original divorce decree must direct their request to the proper county Clerk of Court.
What Are the Search Fees for Divorce Abstract?
The search fee for a divorce abstract from the Office of Vital Statistics is $3.
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