To get a marriage license in Lima, Ohio, both partners apply together at the Allen County Probate Court at 1000 Wardhill Avenue. The fee is $50, there is no blood test and no waiting period, and the license is valid for 60 days from the day it’s issued.1Allen County Juvenile & Probate Court. Marriage Applications Information Most couples finish the entire process in one visit.
Who Can Apply
Both applicants must be at least 18 to apply on their own under Ohio law.2Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 3101.01 – Persons Who May Be Joined in Marriage Neither partner can already be married, and the two of you cannot be closer relatives than second cousins. A 17-year-old can marry only with a juvenile court consent on file, and when only one party is 17, the other cannot be more than four years older.3Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 3101.02 – When Minors May Marry No one under 17 can marry in Ohio.
Same-sex couples apply on exactly the same terms as any other couple.
Which Court Issues the License
If either of you lives in Allen County, the Allen County Probate Court is your court. State law lets you apply in the probate court of the county where either applicant resides, so a Lima resident marrying someone from another Ohio county can still use Allen County.4Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 3101.05 – Application for Marriage License
If neither of you lives in Ohio, you apply in the county where the ceremony will take place, and the ceremony has to happen in that same county.4Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 3101.05 – Application for Marriage License A destination wedding in Lima with two out-of-state partners means an Allen County license and an Allen County ceremony.
What to Bring
Allen County asks each applicant to come prepared with:1Allen County Juvenile & Probate Court. Marriage Applications Information
- A government-issued photo ID — a driver’s license, state ID, passport, or visa.
- Your Social Security number. You don’t need the physical card, but the court records the number.4Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 3101.05 – Application for Marriage License
- Personal details given under oath: name, age, residence, place of birth, occupation, father’s name, and mother’s maiden name.
- A copy of any prior divorce or dissolution decree, including the names of both former spouses, the names and ages of any minor children, and the jurisdiction, date, and case number.
- The name of the person you expect to officiate.
How the Application Works
Fill out the application online first. Allen County requires the online form to be completed before you arrive, so take your time with spellings since the information carries straight onto the official record.1Allen County Juvenile & Probate Court. Marriage Applications Information
Then both of you go to the courthouse together. The address is 1000 Wardhill Avenue, Lima.5Allen County Juvenile & Probate Court. Directions A deputy clerk reviews your paperwork, administers the oath, and has you both sign. You pay the $50 fee at the visit.
The court is open 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on business days, closed for lunch, and closed on legal holidays. Applications are not accepted after 4:00 p.m.1Allen County Juvenile & Probate Court. Marriage Applications Information The court will refuse to issue the license if either applicant appears to be under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance.
How Long the License Is Good For
Ohio requires no blood test, no physical, and no waiting period. The license is effective the moment it’s issued, so a same-day ceremony is allowed.4Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 3101.05 – Application for Marriage License You then have 60 days to hold the ceremony. If the 60 days run out before the wedding, the license expires and you have to apply and pay again.1Allen County Juvenile & Probate Court. Marriage Applications Information
Who Can Perform the Ceremony
Ohio law lists the people authorized to solemnize a marriage:6Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 3101.08 – Who May Solemnize Marriages
- A minister of a religious society or congregation in Ohio who is licensed to perform marriages.
- A county court judge, municipal court judge, or probate judge.
- The mayor of any Ohio municipality.
- The sitting governor or any former governor of Ohio.
- A religious society acting according to its own rules.
Thinking about a friend who got ordained online? Call the Allen County Probate Court first. The statute requires ministers to be “of any religious society or congregation within this state,” and courts have at times questioned whether online ordinations meet that test. A quick phone call now beats a disputed marriage later.
After the Wedding
Your officiant has to return the signed certificate to the probate court that issued the license within 30 days of the ceremony. Missing that deadline is a minor misdemeanor and carries a $50 fine.7Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 3101.14 – Notice on License of Penalty for Failure to Return Certificate of Solemnized Marriage A reminder to your officiant on the day of the wedding, or a day or two after, is worth sending.
Once the court records the certificate, your marriage is part of the permanent county record and you can order certified copies from the Allen County Probate Court. Contact the court for current copy fees. Those certified copies are what you’ll use for a name change at Social Security, the Ohio BMV, your passport, bank accounts, and your employer. The practical order is Social Security first, since the other agencies pull from that record. The Social Security Administration uses Form SS-5 and requires original or custodian-certified documents rather than photocopies.8Social Security Administration. Application for a Social Security Card (Form SS-5) Your Social Security number stays the same; only the name on the record changes.