500 Market Street
6th Floor
Steubenville, OH 43952

Vital Statistics
and Record Requests

Birth and Death Certificate

The Jefferson County General Health District (JCGHD) maintains all birth and death certificates for Jefferson County. Birth records start in 1876 and death records in 1908. The Jefferson County General Health District files all birth and death records by year, then alphabetically by last name. Stop by our office or download here to complete an application in order to receive your certified copy.

You can receive your certified copy by mail or it can be picked up during regular business hours. The cost is $28.00 for both birth and death certificates.

Jefferson County Health Department, Vital Statistics Division
500 Market Street
6th Floor
Steubenville, OH 43952

Hours:

Monday, Tuesday, & Thursday: 8:15 am – 3:45 pm

Wednesday: 10 am – 4:45 pm

Friday: 8:15 am – 2:45 pm

Once we receive your payment, the certificate is usually sent the next business day. Walk-ins are welcome for immediate service. For online service, visit www.vitalchek.com. For any questions please call us at (740) 283-8530 or contact us online.

What to Bring With You for Certificate Issuance

Please have the following ready to pick up your certificate(s):

Name
Date of birth

Mother’s maiden name

Father’s name

Birth records will be issued as certified abstracts unless you indicate that you are requesting the certified copy for the specific purposes of obtaining dual citizenship, international marriage, legal proceedings, or genealogy.

Death Records:

Please note that death certificates are still filed where the person was pronounced deceased. To obtain the death certificate, you will need to contact the appropriate health department.

As of October 15, 2015, for the first five years after the date of death, the social security number of the deceased will not be included on the death certificate unless the requestor is:

The deceased’s spouse, or lineal descendant

The deceased’s executor, attorney, or legal agent

A representative of an investigative government agency

A private investigator

A funeral director (or agent responsible for disposition of the body) acting on behalf of the deceased’s family

A veteran’s service officer

An accredited member of the media

Individuals requesting a death certificate with the social security number included must indicate on their application that they are requesting the SSN be included, and submit satisfactory identification to the registrar or clerk.

Errors on Birth or Death Certificates

An affidavit can correct death records.

An affidavit can be used to correct spelling or by adding a name to the birth record; however, an affidavit cannot change a name. Probate Court must handle name changes.

Residents can pick up the proper forms at the Jefferson County General Health District, 500 Market Street, Steubenville, OH.

Notice to All Vital Statistics Customers:

Pursuant to Ohio Revised Code 3705.29, it is unlawful to purposely obtain, possess, use, sell, furnish, or attempt to obtain, possess, use, sell, or furnish to another for the purpose of deception any certificate, record, or certified copy of it that relates to the birth of another person, whether living or dead.

Genealogy Requests in Jefferson County, OH

Requests to conduct genealogy research can be made by calling us at (740) 283-8530 or by contacting us online.

Genealogy Resources:

Ohio’s Child Fatality Review

The death of a child can be an indicator of the health of the community. While mortality data provide us with an overall picture of child deaths, it is from a careful study of each and every child’s death that we can learn how to best respond to a death and how to best prevent another. Recognizing the need to understand why children die, the Ohio General Assembly passed Substitute House Bill Number 448 (HB 448) in July 2000, mandating Child Fatality Review (CFR) Boards in each of Ohio’s counties (or regions) to review the deaths of children under 18 years of age.

Purpose:

• Promote cooperation, collaboration, and communication between all groups that serve families and children

• Maintain a database of all child deaths to develop an understanding of the causes and incidence of those deaths

• Recommend and develop plans for implementing local and program changes

• Advise the department of health of aggregate data, trends, and patterns found in child deaths