Ohio Marriage License Requirements 2026: Fees, No Waiting Period

In Ohio, the probate court in each county issues marriage licenses. Under Chapter 3101 of the Ohio Revised Code, both of you must appear in person at the probate court of the county where either of you lives, adults have no waiting period (a probate judge may grant the license "at any time after the application is made"), and the license expires 60 days after it is issued. The statute's base marriage license fee is $10, but each county adds its own charges, so couples pay $60 to $75 at the seven county courts checked for this page.

The minimum age is 18, with one exception: a 17-year-old can marry only after the juvenile court consents, and the probate court then waits at least 14 days. For other states, see our guide to marriage license requirements by state.

Information last verified on October 7, 2026. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.

Jurisdiction scope: This article covers getting a marriage license and marrying in Ohio under Chapter 3101 of the Ohio Revised Code, with fee schedules and procedures from the Cuyahoga, Franklin, Hamilton, Montgomery, Summit, Lucas and Stark County probate courts. It does not cover divorce, ordering older marriage records, common-law marriage (see Ohio common-law marriage), or the rules of other states.

Where to Get a Marriage License in Ohio

Ohio marriage licenses come from the county probate court, not from a state office. Section 3101.05(A) sets the place you apply:

"Each of the persons seeking a marriage license shall personally appear in the probate court within the county where either resides, or, if neither is a resident of this state, where the marriage is expected to be solemnized. If neither party is a resident of this state, the marriage may be solemnized only in the county where the license is obtained."

That gives two different rules depending on residence:

• At least one of you lives in Ohio. Apply in the county where either of you lives. Franklin County's probate court states, "The license is valid anywhere in the State of Ohio," and Lucas County says Ohio residents apply where one of them lives and may marry anywhere in Ohio.
• Neither of you lives in Ohio. Apply in the county where the wedding will take place. The ceremony must happen in that same county. Hamilton County, for example, accepts out-of-state applicants only if they are marrying in Hamilton County.

Some courts add their own residency checks. Franklin County requires at least one applicant to live in Franklin County, and if both IDs show an address in another county, you need proof of Franklin County residence dated within the last 30 days. Montgomery County requires at least one applicant to live in the county, unless neither of you is an Ohio resident and the ceremony will be in Montgomery County.

An Ohio license is for an Ohio wedding. Summit County's probate court states it "may only issue a license to couples who are getting married in the State of Ohio."

Online applications still need an in-person visit

Several courts let you start online, but none of the seven checked for this page issues a license without both of you coming in:

• Cuyahoga: online pre-registration is mandatory before you come to court. The court keeps the data for 90 days. No appointment is needed, and the court does not process payments after 4:15 p.m. (Local Rule 53).
• Franklin: the online application is the starting point. Both applicants then appear, and the court issues the license the same day if you arrive by 4:00 p.m.
• Summit: after you submit the eMarriage License Application online, both applicants must come to the court within 30 days.
• Hamilton offers an online pre-application, and Lucas lets you apply online or in person.
• Montgomery: both applicants apply together in person.

If one of you cannot come to court

Section 3101.05(A) has one narrow exception to the personal-appearance rule. If a physician, clinical nurse specialist or certified nurse practitioner in active practice and residing in the county gives an affidavit that one partner cannot appear "by reason of illness or other physical disability," the judge may grant the license on the other partner's application and oath. The absent partner must still file an affidavit.

Chapter 3101 has no provision for proxy marriage, where a stand-in takes the place of an absent partner at the ceremony. The illness or disability affidavit above is the only absent-party mechanism in the chapter.

What to Bring: ID, Proof of Age and Divorce Papers

Each of you completes a sworn application. Under section 3101.05(A), it asks for your name, age, residence, place of birth, occupation, father's name, mother's maiden name if known, and the name of the person expected to perform the ceremony.

You must also present one document proving your age. The statute accepts any one of these:

• A copy of a birth record, or a birth certificate issued in Ohio or by another state, territory or country
• A baptismal record showing your date of birth
• A passport
• A driver's license or permit
• Any government-issued or school-issued ID showing your date of birth
• An immigration record or naturalization record
• A court or other governmental record showing your date of birth

County courts layer their own ID rules on top. Franklin County asks both applicants for "a valid photo ID" and a Social Security number if you have one. Summit County asks for government photo ID plus a Social Security number. Montgomery County asks for photo ID and states that no birth certificate is required. Lucas County, by contrast, requires a certified birth certificate listing a parent's name from any applicant under 21.

Social Security numbers

The application includes each applicant's Social Security number, though the court may keep the numbers in a separate record that is not public, and the license itself may not display it (ORC 3101.05(A)). Marriage license records are open to public inspection, but section 3101.051 requires the probate court to remove Social Security numbers before anyone inspects them.

If either of you was married before

If you were previously married, the application must list the parties to each prior marriage and any minor children. If the marriage ended in divorce, it must give "the jurisdiction, date, and case number of the decree" (ORC 3101.05(A)).

Courts differ on whether you must bring the paperwork itself:

• Cuyahoga requires a certified copy of your last divorce decree at the time you apply.
• Franklin requires a certified copy of your most recent divorce, annulment or dissolution decree, or the death certificate of a late spouse.
• Hamilton asks you to bring the decree so you have the jurisdiction, date and case number, but says the document itself is not mandatory.
• Montgomery says to bring a copy of your most recent divorce decree, or the death certificate if your spouse died.
• Summit, Stark and Lucas also require proof of how your most recent marriage ended; Summit and Stark ask for a certified decree or entry.

Answer the application truthfully. Under section 3101.05, an applicant who knowingly makes a false statement on the application or affidavit is guilty of falsification under section 2921.13, and the court may not issue a license if it has reason to believe any statement is false.

How Much Does an Ohio Marriage License Cost?

Ohio's probate-court fee statute lists a $10.00 marriage license fee and $2.00 for a certified abstract of each marriage (ORC 2101.16(A)(46)). Section 3113.34 separately directs the probate court to "collect and deposit in the county treasury a fee of seventeen dollars for each marriage license issued." Stark County says this $17 goes to the state domestic violence shelter fund, and Summit County describes it as going to the state fund for abused and battered spouses.

Counties add their own charges on top, so the price you pay is the one your county probate court posts. Here is what each court's own page stated on October 7, 2026:

Three notes on that table:

• Stark County. The court's page reads "$60.00 ($75 as of October 1st, 2026)." October 1 has passed, so $75 is the current figure on the court's own terms, but the page still lists $60 first. Call the court to confirm before you go.
• Summit County. The court's fee schedule (Appendix A to its local rules, amended effective March 18, 2024) lists the license at $60.00. Its marriage page gives $64.00, which it says includes two certified copies.
• Fees change. County charges are set locally and can rise without a change in state law. Treat your county probate court's current page or phone line as the final word.

Is There a Waiting Period in Ohio?

No, not for adults. Section 3101.05(A) states: "A probate judge may grant a marriage license under this section at any time after the application is made." Hamilton County's court puts it plainly: "There is no blood test or waiting period." Lucas County says, "There is no waiting period in Lucas County."

You can marry as soon as the license is issued. The only waiting period in Chapter 3101 applies to 17-year-olds, covered below.

How Long Is an Ohio Marriage License Valid?

60 days. Section 3101.07 provides: "No marriage license shall be effective nor shall it authorize the performance of a marriage ceremony after the expiration of sixty days from the date of issuance." The expiration must be printed on the license.

If the 60 days run out before the wedding, you need a new license.

Age Requirements to Marry in Ohio

The minimum age is 18. Section 3101.01(A) allows marriage by persons "of the age of eighteen years," and section 3101.02 provides the only route for anyone younger: a 17-year-old with juvenile court consent. No section of Chapter 3101 authorizes marriage below 17, and Cuyahoga County's probate court states that the earliest legal age to marry is 17.

The 17-year-old route

Section 3101.02 sets two versions of the rule:

• Both partners are 17. Each needs juvenile court consent filed under section 3101.04.
• Only one partner is 17. That person may marry only if "(1) The juvenile court has filed a consent to the marriage under section 3101.04 of the Revised Code" and "(2) The other person to be joined in marriage is not more than four years older."

Before it consents, the juvenile court must consult a parent, guardian or custodian of each 17-year-old and appoint an attorney as guardian ad litem for each one (ORC 3101.041). It must also determine that each 17-year-old has entered the armed services, become employed and self-subsisting, or otherwise become independent of parental care; that the decision is free from force or coercion; and that the marriage and emancipation are in that person's best interests.

When the juvenile court files its consent, it also issues an order that the 17-year-old "has the capacity of an eighteen-year-old person" (ORC 3101.042). For what that change in legal status means, see Ohio emancipation laws.

After consent, the probate court "may issue a license not earlier than fourteen calendar days after the juvenile court files the consent" (ORC 3101.04). The 17-year-old's application must also state that they received marriage counseling satisfactory to the court (ORC 3101.05(A)).

Senate Bill 341 is pending, not law

Senate Bill 341 of the 136th General Assembly would repeal sections 3101.02, 3101.04, 3101.041 and 3101.042 and amend related sections, ending the 17-year-old exception so that 18 becomes the minimum with no exceptions. The bill was introduced in the Senate on January 20, 2026, referred to the Judiciary Committee on February 11, 2026, and reported out of that committee on June 10, 2026. As of October 7, 2026, the Senate had not passed it and the House had not received it.

Until a bill like this is enacted, the 17-year-old route described above remains Ohio law.

Who Cannot Marry in Ohio

Section 3101.01(A) sets the core bars. It allows marriage only by people "not nearer of kin than second cousins, and not having a husband or wife living." In practice:

• Relatives. Second cousins may marry. First cousins and closer relatives cannot get an Ohio license.
• A living spouse. If either of you is still married to someone else, you cannot marry until that marriage has ended.

Section 3101.06 adds two grounds for refusal at the counter: "No marriage license shall be granted when either of the applicants is under the influence of an intoxicating liquor or controlled substance or is infected with syphilis in a form that is communicable or likely to become communicable."

Same-sex couples

Section 3101.01(A) still reads, in the text published on the state's code website, that "only male persons of the age of eighteen years, and only female persons of the age of eighteen years" may be joined in marriage, and the section still refers to marriage between one man and one woman. Division (B) of the same section declares same-sex marriage void. The legislature has not amended that language since 2019.

That text is unenforceable. In Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. 644 (2015), the U.S. Supreme Court held that "same-sex couples may exercise the fundamental right to marry," which requires every state, Ohio included, to license same-sex marriages.

Blood Tests and Medical Requirements

Ohio does not require a blood test or medical exam to get a marriage license. No such requirement appears in Chapter 3101, and Hamilton County's court states, "There is no blood test or waiting period." The only health-related rule in the chapter is the section 3101.06 bar on issuing a license to an applicant with communicable syphilis.

Who Can Perform a Marriage in Ohio

Section 3101.08 lists who may solemnize a marriage:

• An ordained or licensed minister of a religious society or congregation who is licensed to solemnize marriages in Ohio
• The governor or a former governor of Ohio
• A county court judge (under section 1907.18)
• A municipal court judge (under section 1901.14)
• A probate judge (under section 2101.27)
• The mayor of a municipal corporation anywhere in Ohio
• The superintendent of Ohio deaf and blind education services
• A religious society, in accordance with its church rules

A probate judge may perform marriages within the judge's own county and may charge a fee set by local rule (ORC 2101.27). Separately, Lucas County says a minister is usually available at the courthouse for a $50 ceremony fee, paid in cash.

Ministers must hold a license from the Secretary of State

A minister cannot simply officiate on the strength of ordination. Under section 3101.10, a minister who produces to the Ohio Secretary of State "credentials of the minister's being a regularly ordained or licensed minister of any religious society or congregation" is entitled to a license "authorizing the minister to solemnize marriages in this state." The minister must show that license on request of either party or the probate judge.

The Secretary of State records the names of licensed ministers, and that record together with the license is evidence that the minister is authorized to solemnize marriages in Ohio (ORC 3101.11, 3101.12). Section 3101.10 also directs the Secretary of State to license ministers who hold a license from another state, or who have satisfactory work experience or a government or private certification under Chapter 4796 as ministers who solemnize marriages in a state that does not issue licenses.

County courts phrase the rule in their own words. Franklin County lists "an ordained or licensed officiant who is registered with the Secretary of the State of Ohio," and Hamilton County lists ministers licensed by the Ohio Secretary of State, the probate judge, municipal court judges and mayors.

If your officiant was ordained online, ask the Secretary of State's office before the wedding whether those credentials qualify for a license. We could not open the Secretary of State's own minister licensing page for this article, so this page does not state its fee, forms or position on online ordination.

No one may officiate without authority or without a license

Section 3101.09 provides: "No person, except those legally authorized, shall attempt to solemnize a marriage, and no marriage shall be solemnized without the issuance of a license." A violation is a criminal offense under section 3101.99(B).

Witnesses

Chapter 3101 does not contain a witness requirement. If your officiant or religious tradition uses witnesses, that comes from the ceremony, not from the license statute.

After the Ceremony: Returning the License

The officiant, not the couple, files the paperwork. Under section 3101.13, "a certificate of every marriage solemnized shall be transmitted by the authorized person solemnizing the marriage, within thirty days after the solemnization, to the probate judge of the county in which the marriage license was issued." A probate judge who performs the ceremony files the certificate directly.

Section 3101.14 requires the court to print that duty on every license and to provide an addressed return envelope. An officiant who fails to return the certificate faces a fine of up to $50 under section 3101.99(C). Cuyahoga County lets officiants e-file the return.

Getting a certified copy

Once the certificate is recorded, you can order certified copies from the probate court that issued the license. Hamilton County includes the first certified copy in the license price and mails it. Cuyahoga and Stark counties charge $2.00 per certified copy, and Summit's $64.00 marriage-page price includes two. For later requests, see Ohio marriage and divorce records and our guide on how to get a copy of your marriage certificate.

Changing your name

A certified marriage certificate is the document most agencies ask for when you change your surname. See Ohio name change laws and the national guide to changing your name after marriage.

Common Misconceptions

• "Ohio has a waiting period." Not for adults. A probate judge may grant the license at any time after you apply. The 14-day wait applies only after a juvenile court consents to a 17-year-old's marriage.
• "Ohio has banned child marriage." Not yet. Senate Bill 341 would do that, but it is still pending.

Disclaimer: This article provides general legal information about marriage licenses under Chapter 3101 of the Ohio Revised Code and the published procedures of seven Ohio county probate courts, verified on October 7, 2026. It is not legal advice. Fees and procedures change, so confirm with the probate court in the county where you will apply, and consult a lawyer licensed in Ohio about your specific situation.

Related

• Marriage license requirements by state
• Ohio marriage and divorce records
• Ohio common-law marriage
• Ohio name change laws
• Pennsylvania marriage license requirements
• Kentucky marriage license requirements

Last updated: October 7, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do you get a marriage license in Ohio?

At the county probate court. Apply in the county where either of you lives; if neither of you lives in Ohio, apply in the county where the wedding will take place (ORC 3101.05(A)).

How much is a marriage license in Ohio?

It depends on the county. On October 7, 2026, county probate courts listed $60 (Cuyahoga, Lucas in person), $64 including two certified copies (Summit), $65 (Franklin) and $75 (Montgomery, Hamilton, and Stark as of October 1, 2026). Check your county court's current page.

Is there a waiting period to get married in Ohio?

No, not for adults. Under ORC 3101.05(A) a probate judge may grant the license at any time after you apply. Only a 17-year-old faces a wait: at least 14 days after the juvenile court files its consent (ORC 3101.04).

How long is an Ohio marriage license good for?

60 days from the date it is issued. After that the license cannot authorize a ceremony and you must apply again (ORC 3101.07).

Do both people have to be present to get a marriage license in Ohio?

Yes. Both applicants must personally appear at the probate court (ORC 3101.05(A)). The one exception is a medical professional's affidavit that a partner cannot appear because of illness or physical disability.

Can I apply for an Ohio marriage license online?

You can start online in several counties, and Cuyahoga requires online pre-registration. Both of you must still come to the probate court in person; Summit, for example, requires the visit within 30 days of the online application.

Can I get a marriage license in one Ohio county and get married in another?

Yes, if at least one of you lives in Ohio; Franklin County says its license is valid anywhere in Ohio. If neither of you is an Ohio resident, the ceremony must take place in the county that issued the license (ORC 3101.05(A)).

Can a 17-year-old get married in Ohio?

Only with juvenile court consent, and the probate court must then wait at least 14 days (ORC 3101.02, 3101.04). If only one partner is 17, the other may be no more than four years older. Senate Bill 341 would end this exception but is not law.

Can first cousins marry in Ohio?

No. ORC 3101.01(A) allows marriage only between people who are not nearer of kin than second cousins.

Does Ohio require a blood test to get married?

No. Chapter 3101 contains no blood test or medical exam requirement, though ORC 3101.06 bars a license for an applicant with communicable syphilis or who is under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance.

Who can officiate a wedding in Ohio?

A minister licensed by the Ohio Secretary of State, a probate, municipal or county court judge, a mayor, the governor or a former governor, the superintendent of Ohio deaf and blind education services, or a religious society under its own rules (ORC 3101.08, 3101.10).

Who returns the marriage license after the wedding in Ohio?

The officiant. The certificate must reach the probate court that issued the license within 30 days of the ceremony (ORC 3101.13), and failing to return it can bring a fine of up to $50.