The state twice raised fees for birth and death certificates in recent years to pay for the $13.9 million database. It is already being used at the state level and people can order birth and death certificates from the state registrar.
But county vital statistics offices are still using paper records or their own internal computerized records. Ulvestad said that can mean slow going for people trying to do research.
The county will offer training and roll out the statewide database at the county level by the end of the year, said Judith Nagy, state registrar.
The state will help counties pay for the hardware necessary to make the database accessible to the public, said Kelly Friar, chief for the state’s center of health and vital statistics.
Searching the index will be free, but people will continue to be charged for a certified copy of a birth or death record. Those charges vary because some counties add their own fees. Montgomery, Miami and Warren counties all charge $22 per certified record. Greene County charges $24.
Ulvestad said there is growing interest in genealogical research.
“I can say that I’ve noticed a younger and younger group of people coming in,” Ulvestad said. ““They can use the Internet at their convenience, get a start on their family history and then make a trip (to the library.)”
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7455 or lhulsey@DaytonDailyNews.com.
About the Author
