Introduction to Ohio Divorce Certificates

This article is designed to help you get an Ohio Divorce certificate.  Divorce Certificates are a bit more difficult to obtain than Divorce Certificates and Death Certificates.  The main difficulty in obtaining Divorce Certificates is that states have not been registering Divorces for as long as other vital records.  There are some states that still do not register Divorces.  Due to this lack of centralization it is common to contact the county in which the Divorce took place.

Counter to common belief, not everything is a few clicks away on the Internet.  Divorce Certificates are one of the items that you can’t just click some links and get a copy of your Divorce Certificate; this is probably a good thing.  You do not want your Divorce certificate in the public domain, where it can be seen by anyone.  However, this does not mean that you can’t easily get your Divorce certificate by following the correct procedure. 
  

Ohio Divorce abstracts have been maintained by the Ohio Department of Health-Vital Statistics for individuals divorced in the state of Ohio since 1954.  Ohio Divorce certificates are not available from the Ohio State Office of Vital Records.  To obtain an Ohio Divorce Certificate you must order online or contact Probate Judge in county where license was issued.

Ohio Divorce Certificate Authorized Persons

By Ohio state law, Ohio Divorce certificates are confidential records and can only be obtained by the following authorized individuals:

• Person Named on the Ohio Divorce Certificate
• Mother/Father (or Legal Guardian) of Person Named on the Ohio Divorce Certificat
• Grandparent of individual named on the Ohio Divorce certificate
• Husband/Wife of Person Named on the Ohio Divorce Certificate 
• Son/Daughter of Person Named on the Ohio Divorce Certificate
• Grandchild of individual named on the Ohio Divorce certificate
• Sister/Brother of Person Named on the Ohio Divorce Certificate 
• Legal Representative of an Authorized Person of Person Named on the Ohio Divorce Certificate

Ohio Divorce Certificate for Genealogy Purpose

Anyone can obtain an Ohio Divorce Certificate, 125 years or later from the date of the Divorce for genealogy or other reasons.

Ohio Divorce Certificate Ordering

Options Option 1 – Order Ohio Divorce Certificate Online

This option is the simplest and easiest way to get your Ohio Divorce Certificate.  Order online and you will get your Ohio Divorce Certificate usually in less than a week.  Many times you will have the option of receiving your vital record by next-day or second-day service.

Order Birth and Death Records Online!  

Option 2 – In Person

In Person in Ohio: You may go to any county health department in the State of Ohio to obtain a certified copy of an Ohio Divorce certificate. Most Ohio Divorce certificates can be issued while you wait.

Ohio Divorce Certificate Ordering Cost

The fee to search for a Ohio Divorce certificate varies by county.