Champaign County Marriage License Search
Marriage license records in Champaign County are filed at the Probate Court in Urbana. Both new applications and certified copies go through the office on the third floor of the county building.
Champaign County Overview
Champaign County Probate Court
The Champaign County Probate Court is the sole office that can issue a marriage license in this county. It sits at 200 North Main Street, 3rd Floor, Urbana, OH 43078. You can reach the main office at (937) 484-1027 or (937) 484-1028. There is also a special Marriage License Information Line at (937) 484-1045, which is a nice touch that not all Ohio counties offer. The fax line is (937) 484-1026.
Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Both people who want to get married must show up in person. This is not optional. Under Ohio Revised Code 3101.05, each party has to appear at the probate court and fill out the application under oath. You can't send someone else or mail it in.
Note: The Marriage License Information Line at (937) 484-1045 can answer most questions about fees, hours, and what to bring to your visit.
What You Need to Apply
Bring a valid photo ID when you come to the court. A driver's license or state ID card works. A passport is fine too. You will also need your Social Security number. The court may ask for the card itself or just the number, so bring the card if you have it. The application asks for your name, age, place of birth, and the names of both parents. If you have been married before, you will need to give details about the prior marriage and show a certified copy of the divorce decree or death certificate.
The fee for a marriage license in Champaign County is roughly $50. Cash is the safest bet, though you should call ahead to ask about payment methods. Once the license is in hand, it stays valid for 60 days under ORC 3101.07. If the wedding does not happen in those 60 days, the license expires and you must start over with a new application and a new fee.
Marriage License Requirements in Ohio
Ohio got rid of its waiting period back in February 2001. Before that, couples had to wait five days. Now there is no wait at all. You can get the license and use it the same day if you want. There is also no blood test. Some states still ask for one, but Ohio does not.
Both applicants must be at least 18 years old. If one person is 17, they need consent from a juvenile court under ORC 3101.02, and the other person cannot be more than four years older. The court will not issue a license to anyone under the influence of drugs or alcohol, per ORC 3101.06. These rules apply in every Ohio county, not just Champaign.
You can apply at the probate court in the county where either person lives. If neither person lives in Ohio, you apply in the county where the wedding will take place.
Who Can Perform the Ceremony
Once you have the license, you need someone who is legally allowed to marry you. ORC 3101.08 spells out who qualifies. The list includes ordained or licensed ministers who are registered with the Ohio Secretary of State, judges of county and municipal courts, probate judges, and mayors of any Ohio city or village. Religious societies can also perform ceremonies in line with their own rules.
After the ceremony, the officiant must sign the marriage certificate and send it back to the Champaign County Probate Court within 30 days. This is not a suggestion. Under ORC 3101.13, failing to return it on time is a minor misdemeanor with a $50 fine. The court gives an envelope for the return with each license to make it simple.
Getting Certified Copies
Certified copies of Champaign County marriage licenses are only available from the Probate Court. The state health department does not issue them. Ohio keeps a statewide index of marriages from September 7, 1949, to the present, but the actual certified documents come from the county where the license was filed.
To get a copy, contact the court at (937) 484-1027. You can go in person during business hours or send a written request by mail to 200 North Main Street, 3rd Floor, Urbana, OH 43078. Include the full names of both spouses and the date of the marriage. There is a small fee for each certified copy.
Note: Marriage records in Ohio are public records under ORC 149.43, but Social Security numbers are removed before the records are shared.
Champaign County Marriage Records History
Champaign County has kept marriage records since 1805. That is a long run. The county name comes from the French word for "open plain," which fits the flat farmland in this part of west-central Ohio. Records from 1819 forward are available for genealogy research through the Probate Court and the Champaign County Historical Society.
Wright State University Libraries hold Champaign County marriage records covering 1805 to 1864 in their special collections. If you are doing family research and need older records, that can be a good place to start. The Ohio History Connection also has a guide to finding marriage records across all 88 Ohio counties. Keep in mind that records before 1899 usually do not list the names of parents, which can make older research harder.
Legal Resources and Help
Ohio Legal Help offers free guidance for people who need to find the right court or understand what forms to fill out. Their site has a directory for every county probate court in the state, including Champaign County. The Ohio Supreme Court website also has standardized probate forms and self-help tools.
If you need to verify that a minister is registered to perform marriages in Ohio, contact the Ohio Secretary of State at 1-877-767-6446. Only ministers with a current license on file can legally solemnize a marriage. Having an unauthorized person perform the ceremony can cause legal problems down the road.
The screenshot above shows public records resources for Champaign County. Each Ohio county probate court runs its own system, so the look and features vary from one county to another.
Nearby Counties
Browse marriage license records in neighboring Ohio counties.