Ottawa County Civil Records

Records of Births, Marriages, Divorces and Deaths are kept as described below.   Early records of each have been microfilmed and are available through Family History Centers operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Births: 

Many early births prior to 1900 were unrecorded.   For early births, baptism records may be a more reliable source.

Birth records from 1867-1908 are maintained at the office of the Ottawa County Probate Court.
Birth records from December 20, 1908 to the present time are maintained at the Ottawa County Health Department.
Birth records from December 20, 1908 to the present time are maintained at the Ohio Department of Health.

On-line data:	A portion of Ottawa County, Ohio Births, 1867-1908 is on-line through the LDS IGI at:  www.familysearch.org Enter "Region" as "North America" and "Batch Number" as "C513432" On-line content consists of approximately 2500 births recorded from 1868-1875
	Ohio Births and Christenings, 1821-1962 - index at beta.familysearch.org - no charge
Other:	Ottawa County, Ohio Births, 1867-1908 - on microfilm through the LDS Family History Centers

Marriages: 

Marriage records from July 1840 to the present time are maintained at the office of the Ottawa County Probate Court.
Abstracts (summarized data) of marriage records from January 1, 1954 to the present time are maintained at the Ohio Department of Health.

On-line data:	A portion of Ottawa County, Ohio Marriages, 1840-1930 is on-line through the LDS IGI at:  www.familysearch.org Enter "Region" as "North America" and "Batch Number" as "M513431" On-line content consists of approximately 10000 marriages recorded from 1840-1885
	Ohio Marriages Index 1800-1958 - index at beta.familysearch.org - no charge
	Ottawa County Ohio Marriages, 1850-1890 - index at Ancestry.com (fee - membership required)
Other:	Ottawa County, Ohio Marriages, 1840-1952 - on microfilm through the LDS Family History Centers
	Ottawa County Ohio Marriages, 1850-1890 - available for purchase through OCGS

Divorces:

Divorce records are maintained by the Ottawa County Clerk of Courts

Abstracts (summarized data) of divorce records from January 1, 1954 to the present time are maintained at the Ohio Department of Health.

Deaths: 

Many early deaths were unrecorded, even as late as 1920.  Tombstone readings and church records may provide evidence not available in the civil records.

Death records from 1869-1908 are maintained at the office of the Ottawa County Probate Court.
Death recrods from December 20, 1908 to the present time are maintained at the Ottawa County Health Department.
Death records from January 1, 1954 to the present time are maintained at the Ohio Department of Health.

On-line data:	Ohio Death Certificate Index and Images 1908-1953 - at beta.familysearch.org - no charge
	Ohio Deaths and Burials 1854-1997 - index at beta.familysearch.org - no charge
	Ohio Death Certificate Index 1913-1944 - no charge
	Michigan Death Certificate Index and Images 1900-1920 - no charge
	Rootsweb Social Security Death Index - no charge
	Ohio Deaths, 1958-2000 - index at Ancestry.com (fee - membership required)
Other:	Ottawa County, Ohio Deaths 1869-1908 - on microfilm through the LDS Family History Centers
	Ottawa County, Ohio Deaths 1869-1909 - available for purchase through OCGS

Additional records of interest include citizenship and census records:

Declarations of Intent and Naturalizations:

Declarations of Intent and Naturalizations were handled at various times through the Ottawa County Probate Court and the Ottawa County Court of Common Pleas.  Many Ottawa County residents filed papers in Sandusky and Toledo, so if records are not found in Ottawa County, these additional sources should be checked.

On-line data:	none known
Other:	Ottawa County, Ohio Declarations of Intent 1877-1902 (and later) and Naturalization Records 1877-1903 (and later)  - on microfilm through the LDS Family History Centers

Census: 

Census records for 1790-1930 are available on microfilm at many genealogical libraries.

Census data for 1840 forward will be identified as Ottawa County.  For 1830 and earlier, inhabitants will be reported under Sandusky, Erie or Lucas Counties.

On-line data:	1850 Census - index and images at familysearch.org (no charge)
	1860 Census - index and images at familysearch.org (no charge)
	1870 Census - index and images at familysearch.org (no charge)
	1880 Census - index at familysearch.org (no charge)
	1880 Census - index at familysearch.org (no charge)
	1900 Census - index and images at familysearch.org (no charge)
	1920 Census - index at labs.familysearch.org (no charge)

If you have a library card from a major library, you may have at-home access to census index and image data through HeritageQuest.  Check your library's website for further information.

Do you have transcribed copies of extracted vital records?
Your contributions will make this page a valuable resource to others. 
Send submissions to county coordinator G Knopp.

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