Ohio Marriage Laws
When you apply for your license, you'll not only need a proof of identification and age, but you'll need to apply for the certificate together, will need to provide any information about previous marriages, and will need to pay a nominal fee. You will also need to have a witness when you sign the application, so plan on bringing your maid of honor or best man with you. The bride will need to know what her married name will be before she signs the marriage certificate. You'll have to write that name on the application. And, believe it or not, just because you have your marriage license sent to you in the mail does not mean you are officially married. You need to have a justice of the peace or a religious clergyman sign the document. On your wedding day, you'll give your chaplain your marriage license, then after the ceremony, he'll sign it and send it to the proper government agency for validation. ID Requirement: Government issued ID such as drivers license, visa, passport, state ID. You need to know your social security numbers. Residency Requirement: Do not have to be a resident of Ohio. You must apply in the county in which you want to get married. If a resident of Franklin County, you may get your license in Franklin County and it can be used anywhere in the state. If previously married: Bring certified copy of divorce decree or a copy of deceased spouse's death certificate. Application Requirement: Both parties to a marriage should appear in person to obtain the license. Fees: $40+ depending on county - Cash only. Some counties accept money orders. Franklin County is cash only. Waiting Period: No waiting period. Blood Tests: No tests. Under 21: If you are 18 to 21 years of age, you will need to show your birth certificate. Persons aged 16-17 must have consent to marry from parents or legal guardians and may have to contact the Probate Court. Additionally, the Judge may require the minors to state that they have received marriage counseling that is satisfactory to the court. Section 3101.05 also mentions how the court will deal with a pregnant minor. Proxy Marriages: No. Common Law Marriage: Yes and No. A Common Law marriage entered into in Ohio before October 10, l991 constitutes a valid, legal marriage in Ohio. After October 10, l991, new Common Law marriages are prohibited in Ohio.
The six essential elements of a Common Law marriage in Ohio are: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. a mutual agreement of marriage "in praesenti" (presently); made by persons competent to marry; followed by cohabitation (including a sexual consummation of the marriage); a holding out to the public that the parties are actually husband and wife; a reputation in the community that the parties are husband and wife; and that the Common Law marriage was entered into before October 10, l991.
Cousin Marriage: No. Same Sex Marriage: No. Officiants: Any ordained or licensed minister of any religious society or congregation within this state may perform marriages. Before performing a marriage, ministers must present their ordination credentials to the probate judge of any county. The judge will provide the minister with a license to perform marriages. The minister must then present his license to the probate judge in any county in which he performs a marriage. Ministers must send a certificate of marriage to the probate judge of the county which issued the marriage license within 30 days after the marriage. Valid: License is valid for 60 days. The license can only be used within the State of Ohio.
Ohio Clerk's Office
Adams County West Union, OH 937.544.2368 Allen County Lima, OH 419.223.8501 Ashland County Ashland, OH 419.289.0000 Ashtabula County Jefferson, OH 440.576.3451 Athens County Athens, OH 740.592.3251
Hancock County Findlay, OH 419.424,7079 Hardin County Kenton, OH 419.674.2230 Harrison County Cadiz, OH 740.942.8868 Henry County Napoleon, OH 419.592.7771 Highland County Hillsboro, OH 937.393.9981
Noble County Caldwell, OH 740.732.5047 Ottawa County Port Clinton, OH 419.734.6830 Paulding County Paulding, OH 419.399.8256 Perry County New Lexington, OH 740.342.1493 Pickaway County Circleville, OH 740.474.3950
Augliazze County Wapakoneta, OH 419.738.7710 Belmont County St Clairsville, OH 740.699.2144 Brown County Georgetown, OH 937.378.6549 Butler County Hamilton, OH 513.887.3300 Carroll County Carrollton, OH 330.627.2323 Champaign County Urbana, OH 937.652.2108 Clark County Springfield, OH 937.328.2435 Clermont County Batavia, OH 513.732.7243 Clinton County Wilmington, OH 937.382.2280 Columbiana County Lisbon, OH 330.424.9511 Coshocton County Coshocton, OH 740.622.1837 Crawford County Bucyrus, OH 419.562.8891 Cuyahoga County Cleveland, OH 216.443.8920 Darke County Greenville, OH
Hocking County Logan, OH 740.385.3022 Holmes County Millersburg, OH 330.674.5881 Huron County Norwalk, OH 419.668.4383 Jackson County Jackson, OH 740.286.1401 Jefferson County Steubenville, OH 740.283.8554 Knox County Mount Vernon, OH 740.393.6798 Lake County Painesville, OH 440.350.2624 Lawrence County Ironton, OH 740.533.4343 Licking County Newark, OH 614.349.6060 Logan County Bellefontaine, OH 937.599.7252 Lorain County Elyria, OH 440.329.5175 Lucas County Toledo, OH 419.245.4750 Madison County London, OH 740.852.0756 Mahoning County Youngstown, OH
Pike County Waverly, OH 740.947.2560 Portage County Ravenna, OH 330.297.3870 Preble County Eaton, OH 937.456.8137 Putman County Ottawa, OH 419.523.3012 Richland County Mansfield, OH 419.774.5583 Ross County Chillicothe, OH 740.774.1179 Sandusky County Fremont, OH 419.334.6211 Scioto County Portsmouth, OH 740.355.8351 Seneca County Tiffin, OH 419.447.3121 Shelby County Sidney, OH 937.498.7263 Stark County Canton, OH 330.438.0755 Summit County Akron, OH 330.643.2323 Trumbull County Warren, OH 330.675.2521 Union County Marysville, OH
937.547.7345 Defiance County Defiance, OH 419.782.4181 Delaware County Delaware, OH 740.368.1880 Fairfield County Lancaster, OH 740.687.7090 Fayette County Washington, OH 740.335.0640
330.740.2314 Marion County Marion, OH 740.387.7614 Medina County Medina, OH 330.725.9703 Meigs County Pomeroy, OH 740.992.3096 Mercer County Celina, OH 419.586.8779 Miami County Troy, OH 937.332.6823 Monroe County Woodsfield, OH 740.472.1654 Montgomery County Dayton, OH 937.225.4593 Morgan County Mcconnelsville, OH 740.962.2861 Morrow County Mt. Gilead, OH 419.947.5575 Muskingum County Zanesville, OH 740.455.7113
937.645.3029 Van Wert County Van Wert, OH 419.238.0027 Vinton County McArthur, OH 740.596.5480 Warren County Lebanon, OH 513.932.1181 Washington County Marietta, OH 740.373.6623 Wayne County Wooster, OH 330.287.5575 Williams County Bryan, OH 419.636.1548 Wood County Bowling Green, OH 419.636.1548 Wyandot County Upper Sandusky, OH 419.294.2302
Franklin County Columbus, OH
614.462.3898 Fulton County Wauseon, OH 419.337.9242 Gallia County Gallipolis, OH 740.446.4612 Greene County Xenia, OH 937.376.5280 Guernsey County Cambridge, OH 740.432.9262 Hamilton County Cincinnati, OH 513.946.3600