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Birth Correction/Delayed Birth Registration

The Franklin County Probate Court will be closed on Monday, April 8, 2024 (solar eclipse) and all filing deadlines will automatically be moved to the next business day.  The court will resume normal operations on Tuesday, April 9, 2024.

Court Hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except legal holidays.
  • Cashier Closes at 4:30 p.m. Please arrive no later than 4:00 p.m. if your business with Court requires a filing fee or payment.
  • The Court remains open until 5:00 p.m. for informational, non-transaction purposes only.

Court Costs

Delayed Birth Registration

$80.00  

Birth Record Correction

$78.00

Preferred payment is certified check, cashier's check, money order, attorney check. Credit or debit card may be used if documents are being picked up in person and not via mail. 
Visa, MasterCard and Discover are accepted if final documents are being picked up in person and not via mail. . There is a separate 3% service charge for all credit/debit transactions that take place in the Probate Court.
Birth Record Correction

To be eligible to apply for a Birth Record Correction through this Probate Court, you must have been born in the State of Ohio and also meet one of the following:

  1. born in Franklin County;
  2. your mother was a resident of Franklin County at the time of your birth; or
  3. you now reside in Franklin County 

To apply for a correction, you may mail or drop off the following documents: 

  • A completed and notarized Application for Correction of Birth
  • Originals of all required supporting documents (see list below) 
  • A photocopy of a valid driver's license or passport
  • Contact information (telephone and email) where court staff can recah you
  • $78.00 court costs, payable by money order, cashier's check, attorney or personal check. 
    • if you wish to pay with cash it may only be dropped off in person so a receipt can be issued. Do not sned cash through the mail. 
    • arrangements may be made to pay by credit/debit card after paperwork is processed.

You must present the Court with two valid documents to prove the information that you wish to correct. Below is an example of evidence that may be used in this Court:

  • Certificate of Baptism
  • Federal Census Records
  • School records or transcripts, with an original signature from the records secretary
  • Honorable Discharge from U.S. Armed Forces (DD 214)
  • Certified copy of application for marriage license, showing vital information
  • Life insurance policies (still in effect), at least four years old, showing date and place of birth
  • Letter from Hospital or Doctor (indicating vital information) on letterhead
  • Notarized Affidavit of a witness to the birth
  • Certified copy of one child's birth certificate

Once we have approved the application, we will send you a certified copy of the registration, which can be used as a birth certificate for any legal purpose. 

Record searches may be requested by U.S. Mail or emailed to [email protected]

For requests submitted by U.S. Mail, please send a self addressed stamped envelope with your request to the following address:

Franklin County Probate Court
ATTN: Certified Desk
373 South High Street, 22nd Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215-6311

Delayed Birth Registration

To be eligible to apply for a Delayed Birth Registration through this Probate Court, you must have been born in the State of Ohio.

To apply for a Delayed Birth Registration, you may mail or drop off the following documents: 

  • A completed Application for Registration of Birth
  • A No-Record Letter from the Ohio Department of Health, Vital Statistics
    • For births before December 20, 1908, please contact the Probate Court in the county where the birth occurred for the search
  • Originals of all required supporting documents (see list below) 
  • A photocopy of a valid driver's license or passport
  • Contact information (telephone and email) where court staff can recah you
  • $80.00 court costs, payable by money order, cashier's check, attorney or personal check. 
    • if you wish to pay with cash it may only be dropped off in person so a receipt can be issued. Do not sned cash through the mail. 
    • arrangements may be made to pay by credit/debit card after paperwork is processed.

You will need to provide the Court with a No-Record Letter from the Ohio Department of Health, Vital Statistics and three valid documents to prove the date and place of your birth and your parents' names. Below is an example of evidence that may be used in this Court:

  • Certificate of Baptism
  • Federal Census Records
  • School records or transcripts, with an original signature from the records secretary
  • Honorable Discharge from U.S. Armed Forces (DD 214)
  • Certified copy of application for marriage license, showing vital information
  • Life insurance policies (still in effect), at least 4 years old, showing date and place of birth
  • Letter from hospital or doctor (indicating vital information) on letterhead
  • Notarized Affidavit of a witness to the birth
  • Certified copy of one child's birth certificate
Gender Marker Changes
Individuals who were born in Ohio who wish to change the gender marker in their birth record must obtain a court order to do so. To request the court order approving the change in gender marker, applicants shall follow the general process for birth corrections as provided by Ohio Revised Code 3705.17(A) and also include the appropriate affidavit. See below. 

To be eligible to file an Application for Correction of Birth Record in the Franklin County Probate Court the individual must have been born in the State of Ohio and meet one of the following:
  • was born in Franklin County
  • currently resides in Franklin County, Ohio
  • the individual’s mother was a resident of Franklin County, Ohio at the time of the individual’s birth
ADULT APPLICANTS
Adults applicants must provide to the court:
  1. a verified application for Correction of Birth Record;
  2. a certified copy of their Ohio birth record (also referred to as a birth abstract or birth certificate);
  3. a copy of their current state-issued photo identification; and
  4. Adult applicants must also submit an Affidavit to Correct Gender Marker in Birth Record
MINOR APPLICANTS
If the correction is for minor (under the age of 18), the application and affidavits must be completed by the minor’s parent or court-appointed legal guardian. The applicant must provide to the court:
  1.  a verified application for Correction of Birth Record;
  2. a certified copy of the minor’s Ohio birth record (also referred to as a birth abstract or birth certificate);
  3. a copy of the applicant’s (not the minor’s) current state-issued photo identification; and
  4. an Affidavit to Correct Gender Marker in Birth Record for a Minor;
    • if a notarized waiver or a notarized consent form is not completed by each of the minor’s legal parents, the correction will be set for hearing. Additional documentation and/or testimony from the minor may be required before the court will approve an order to make the gender marker change
  5. proof of the applicant’s legal relationship to the minor: certified copy of birth certificate or certified copy of court order appointing applicant as the minor’s legal guardian.