How can I get a copy of my birth certificate?

A frequently asked question of the Newton Falls Public Library staff is “How can I get a copy of my birth certificate.” If the question is asked by a patron born in Trumbull County, Ohio it can be answered rather simply. The Trumbull County Health Department in Warren is the agency to contact. The cost is $23 for a certified copy of a birth certificate.

We thought the question would be a bit more complicated when patrons were born out-of-state. While looking for vital record sites for each of the states requested, our staff discovered the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics, www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w.htm. This has links to websites in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, New York City, American Samoa, Canal Zone, Foreign or high-seas events, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands. It also includes how to locate and request copies of death, marriage, and divorce records. There is usually a fee involved in getting copies of records. We did find that the fee listed on the CDC site for a Trumbull County birth certificate was not correct, and it wasn’t until we reached the county’s site that we found that the current cost is $23. We confirmed this by phoning the Health Department. Patrons should take care to be in contact with the correct agencies when making their requests and sending money.