Search Brown County Marriage License
Brown County marriage license records are housed at the Probate Court in Georgetown. The court on East State Street handles new applications and copies of past records.
Brown County Overview
Brown County Probate Court
The Brown County Probate Court is at 510 E State Street, Georgetown, OH 45121. The phone number is (937) 378-6549. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This court handles marriage licenses, estates, guardianships, adoptions, and other probate matters.
Both people who want to get married must come to the courthouse together. ORC 3101.05 makes that clear. Each person provides their personal details under oath: name, age, where they live, place of birth, what they do for a living, and their parents' names. You also name the person you plan to have perform the ceremony. If the judge finds no legal problem, the license is issued during that same visit.
Brown County is a rural county, so the court office tends to be less busy than you would find in a larger Ohio county. Still, calling ahead to confirm hours is always a smart move, especially around holidays or if you plan to visit on a Friday afternoon.
Marriage License Documents
You need a valid photo ID. A driver's license is the most common choice, but a state ID card or passport work just as well. Each person must also show their Social Security number. Ohio law under ORC 3101.051 requires the court to remove Social Security numbers from any public copy of the marriage record.
If either person was married before, bring the divorce decree or death certificate that ended each prior marriage. The court needs specifics: names of both spouses from the prior marriage, any minor children, and the case number, date, and jurisdiction of the divorce. False statements on a marriage license application are punishable under ORC 2921.13. The Brown County Probate Court will not process your application until all required documents are in hand.
Note: Applicants with multiple prior marriages must bring a divorce decree for each one, not just the most recent marriage.
Fees for a Brown County Marriage License
The fee is approximately $50. Contact the court at (937) 378-6549 to verify the current amount and ask about accepted payment methods. Each Ohio county sets its own fee, so prices differ slightly from place to place. There is no waiting period. Ohio got rid of the five-day wait back in 2001.
Your Brown County marriage license is valid for 60 days. That time frame is set by ORC 3101.07. The expiration date is printed in large type on the license. If the wedding does not happen within those 60 days, the license becomes void and you would need a new one.
Accessing Brown County Marriage Records
Marriage records in Brown County are public. ORC 149.43 guarantees that anyone can request to view these records or get copies. The court removes Social Security numbers before sharing any record. Certified copies cost a small fee and carry the court's official seal, making them valid for legal use.
The Ohio Legal Help page for Brown County provides guidance on the process and contact information. Below is a screenshot of that resource.
For genealogy work, Brown County records go back to 1818. Earlier records are basic and may only list names and the date. Later records from the mid-1800s onward are more detailed. The Ohio Department of Health runs a statewide marriage index from September 7, 1949, forward, which can help if you are not sure which county to check. Certified copies, however, always come from the Brown County Probate Court.
Wedding Officiants in Brown County
Ohio law defines exactly who can perform a marriage ceremony. Under ORC 3101.08, authorized officiants include ordained or licensed ministers who are registered with the Ohio Secretary of State, county and municipal judges, probate judges, mayors of any Ohio municipality, and religious societies acting under their own church rules.
After the ceremony, the officiant has 30 days to file the signed marriage certificate with the Brown County Probate Court. That deadline comes from ORC 3101.13. A stamped, pre-addressed envelope is provided with every license. If the certificate is not returned on time, the officiant faces a minor misdemeanor with a possible fine of up to $50.
Genealogy Tips for Brown County
Brown County's location on the Ohio River makes it an interesting area for family history research. Early settlers often had ties to Kentucky just across the river. If you cannot find a marriage record in Brown County, consider checking northern Kentucky counties as well. Some couples married across state lines, especially before county boundaries were firmly established.
The Ohio History Connection provides a research guide that can help point you in the right direction. For the period before September 7, 1949, there is no statewide index, so knowing the county is critical. Try checking the U.S. Federal Census for where the couple lived around the time of the marriage. That usually tells you which county to search.
The Ohio Legal Help website provides a full directory of all 88 Ohio county probate courts if you need to reach out to other counties during your search.
Note: Brown County was formed in 1818, so marriage records before that date would be found in the parent counties from which it was created.
Nearby Counties
Browse marriage license records in neighboring Ohio counties.