How to Get Married at the Courthouse in Ohio: License, Fees, Ceremony

To get married at the courthouse in Ohio, both partners go together to a county probate court, show photo ID, complete the marriage license application under oath, and pay a fee that runs roughly $50 to $75 depending on the county. Ohio has no waiting period, so a probate judge can issue the license the same day, and many courts will also perform the ceremony that day or shortly after.¹

Who Can Marry in Ohio

Both applicants must be at least 18.² A 17-year-old can marry only with juvenile court consent, and if just one partner is 17, the other cannot be more than four years older.³ No one under 17 can marry in Ohio for any reason.

You cannot marry a relative closer than a second cousin.² You cannot marry if you already have a living spouse; doing so is bigamy, a first-degree misdemeanor.⁴

Same-sex couples marry on the same terms as anyone else. The text of Ohio Revised Code 3101.01 still refers to “one man and one woman,” but the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2015 decision in Obergefell v. Hodges (an Ohio case) settled the question nationwide, and every Ohio probate court issues licenses accordingly.

Which Probate Court to Use

Apply at the probate court in the county where you or your partner lives. If neither of you is an Ohio resident, apply in the county where the ceremony will take place, and the ceremony must happen in that same county.¹ Both partners must appear in person. One of you cannot handle the paperwork alone.

What to Bring

Each applicant needs a valid photo ID showing date of birth. A driver’s license, state ID, or passport all work.¹ You will also give your Social Security number.

If either of you has been married before, bring a certified copy of your most recent divorce decree, dissolution decree, or a death certificate for a deceased former spouse.⁵ Some courts ask for case numbers, dates, and locations of every prior marriage, not only the most recent one, so bring whatever paperwork you have.

The application itself puts each of you under oath to state your name, age, residence, place of birth, occupation, father’s name, mother’s maiden name (if known), and the name of the person you expect to officiate. If either applicant is 17, you must also confirm that the court’s marriage counseling requirement has been met.¹

Fees, Timing, and How Long the License Lasts

License fees are set county by county. Hamilton County charges $75, Franklin County charges $65, and Greene County charges $50, so plan on something in that range.⁶⁵⁷ Most courts take cash, credit, and debit, though a credit card may add a small processing fee. Call ahead to confirm what your county accepts.

Some counties waive the license fee if you complete a qualifying premarital education course. Not every county participates. Ask when you call.

There is no waiting period. The judge can issue the license as soon as you finish the application.¹ Once issued, the license is good for 60 days. Miss that window and it expires. You would then apply and pay again.⁸

Getting a Judge or Magistrate to Perform the Ceremony

Ohio law authorizes several categories of officiant:⁹

A probate judge, county court judge, or municipal court judge.
The mayor of any Ohio municipality, anywhere in the state.
An ordained or licensed minister of any religious society who holds an active license through the Ohio Secretary of State.¹⁰
A religious society, acting under its own rules.

For a straightforward courthouse wedding, the simplest path is to ask the probate court whether a judge or magistrate can perform the ceremony when you pick up your license. Many courts will do it on the spot or schedule it for later that week. Courts typically charge a modest ceremony fee separate from the license fee.

What Happens at the Ceremony

A courthouse ceremony is short. The officiant walks you through the vows and the declarations needed to form a legal marriage. Rings are optional; Ohio law does not require an exchange. The whole thing often runs under ten minutes.

Ohio does not require witnesses. You can bring family or friends, and most courts will let a small group into the room, but only you, your partner, and the officiant are legally necessary. Bring the marriage license with you on ceremony day. The officiant fills it out, signs it, and returns it to the probate court.

Getting Your Certified Marriage Certificate

The officiant is legally required to return the signed license to the issuing probate court within 30 days. Failing to do so is a minor misdemeanor with a $50 fine.¹¹ If the probate judge who issued your license also performed the ceremony, the certificate is filed in that same office inside the 30-day window.

Once the marriage is recorded, you can order certified copies of the marriage certificate from the probate court. Some counties include one certified copy in the license fee; others charge per copy.⁶ Order at least two or three. You will need them for name changes, insurance, and other post-marriage paperwork. Only a certified copy issued by the probate court counts as legal proof of marriage. A commemorative certificate handed to you by the officiant, or a photocopy, will not be accepted by the BMV or other government agencies.

1
Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 3101.05 – Application for Marriage License
2
Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 3101.01 – Persons Who May Be Joined in Marriage
3
Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 3101.02 – Marriage of Persons Age Seventeen
4
Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 2919.01 – Bigamy
5
Franklin County Probate Court. Marriage License Requirements
6
Hamilton County Probate Court. Marriage License Process
7
Greene County, OH – Official Website. Marriage License
8
Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 3101.07 – Marriage License Validity
9
Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 3101.08 – Who May Solemnize Marriages
10
Ohio Secretary of State. Minister Licenses
11
Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 3101.14 – Return of Marriage License