Lima Marriage License Records

Lima marriage license records are kept by the Allen County Probate Court on Wardhill Avenue. Both partners must fill out the online application before showing up in person at the courthouse.

Allen County Probate Court

The Allen County Probate Court is at 1000 Wardhill Ave, Lima, OH 45805. The main phone is (419) 223-8501, and the marriage records line is (419) 227-5531. Email the court at probate@allencountyohio.com. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The court closes at lunch, so plan your visit around that break.

Allen County requires you to complete the marriage license application online before your visit. This is not a suggestion. It is a mandatory first step. After you submit the online form through the Allen County Probate Court website, both people must appear at the courthouse to sign the application under oath in front of a Deputy Clerk.

Here is a screenshot of the Allen County Probate Court homepage.

For questions about the online form, call Deputy Clerk Marissa Davis at (419) 227-5531, option 2, then option 3. She handles all marriage record inquiries.

What You Need to Bring

Bring a government-issued photo ID. Driver's licenses, state IDs, passports, and visas all work. You need to know your Social Security number, though the court keeps it off the public record per ORC 3101.051. Both people must appear in person. No exceptions to this rule.

The application asks for each person's name, age, residence, birthplace, occupation, father's name, and mother's maiden name. You must also name the person who will perform the ceremony, if you know. Under ORC 3101.05, all of this is required by law.

Previously married applicants must provide detailed information about each prior marriage. This includes names of both parties, names and ages of minor children, and the jurisdiction, date, and case number of the divorce decree. A copy of the divorce or dissolution decree is required. The Allen County Clerk of Courts can provide certified divorce records if you need them.

Fees and License Details

The fee is $50.00. You pay when you finish the in-person part of the process. Ohio ended its five-day waiting period in February 2001, so the license is good from the day it is issued. It expires after 60 days under ORC 3101.07. Miss that window and you start the whole thing over.

Certified copies of marriage records are available from the court. The Allen County Health Department deals with birth and death records but has nothing to do with marriage licenses. Make sure you call the right office.

The health department screenshot above shows the vital statistics page, which covers births and deaths but not marriages.

Historical Records and Research

Allen County has marriage records from 1831 to today. These are stored in original form, on microfilm, on microfiche, and in computerized indexes for some record types. Birth and death records from 1867 to 1908 are also at the Probate Court.

For older records, the Ohio Department of Health has a statewide marriage index starting September 7, 1949. The Ohio History Connection also has a guide for locating marriage records across Ohio counties. The Allen County Genealogical Society keeps a marriage records index from March 1943 through 1957 at the Elizabeth M. MacDonall Memorial Library, 620 West Market St., Lima.

Under ORC 149.43, all marriage records are public. Anyone may request to see them during business hours. The court removes Social Security numbers before making records available.

To get copies by mail, write to the Allen County Probate Court at 1000 Wardhill Ave, Lima, OH 45805. Include both names before the marriage, the date, and the correct fee. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope. You can also call Deputy Clerk Marissa Davis at (419) 227-5531 to check on a record before sending a written request. Remember, the court is closed at lunch from noon to 1:00 p.m., so plan your calls around that break.

Early marriage records from Allen County in the 1830s and 1840s are fairly basic, showing just the names and the ceremony date. Later records from the 1900s onward include birthplaces, parents' names, occupations, and prior marriage details. The Allen County Genealogical Society's index covering 1943 to 1957 can be a helpful shortcut if you are searching that specific time range. It is stored at the Elizabeth M. MacDonall Memorial Library on West Market Street in Lima.

Who Can Perform the Ceremony

The list of authorized officiants is in ORC 3101.08. Ordained ministers registered with the Ohio Secretary of State can do it. So can county court judges, municipal court judges, probate judges under ORC 2101.27, and the mayor of any Ohio municipality. Religious societies can perform ceremonies under their own rules.

The officiant files the signed certificate with the Allen County Probate Court within 30 days. A return envelope comes with the license. Failing to return it on time is a minor misdemeanor with a $50 fine.

Legal Resources in Lima

Ohio Legal Help provides free guidance on marriage license procedures and has a searchable county directory. The Ohio Supreme Court website includes self-help resources and standardized probate forms that can help if you are working through the process without a lawyer.

Nearby Ohio Cities

Browse marriage license info for other major Ohio cities.