The Probate court will have the birth & death certificates from 1867 at least, until 1908, December I think. After that most counties set up a Health dept to among other things, register the births & Deaths and forward the copies to the State dept of Health, Dept of Vital Statistics. So if you don't find the record at one (the cheapest) try the other.. My Great Grandfather's death certificate in 1920 couldn't be found at State VS, but when I walked into the Ross Co. Dept of Health and asked for a copy, they went and got it like they knew it was there! (he must have fallen the other way across the county line because most of the other "kin" were in Pike Co.) (actually he died in Richmondale, I was just being funny...) In OHIO Birth & Death records are SUPPOSED to be public records but the "officers of the court" can make it very difficult for you to look at them yourself. At OS=VR, they will xerox the certificate after you look up and give them the page & vol number (most of the time you must make an appointment to search their records and they will give you a 3 1/2 hours appointment in about two weeks time) After they let you look at the xerox copy, you must give it back to them usually they tear it up in front of you. If you wish a copy, you must pay them, they will make another copy, certify it if you wish (and are willing to pay for it) and mail it/them to you. Franklin County Health Dept told me that you have to make an appointment with the County Commissioners (I must say thought that you can obtain the copies while you wait and they don't charge for uncertified copies if you just ask for a few at a time) ...other counties are not as difficult, but all MUST give you some type of access, even if it is like Lawrence Co. used to be and they'd let you look One afternoon a week and there was no place to lay the books you had to stand and hold the book and try to make your notes, or sit on the floor in the hallway to look. I believe that is not the case now. Sorry, I didn't intend to get off on this again.... Carol