Columbiana County Marriage License
Marriage license records in Columbiana County are managed by the Probate Court in Lisbon. The court at 105 South Market Street handles new applications and certified copies.
Columbiana County Overview
Columbiana County Probate Court
The Columbiana County Probate Court is at 105 South Market Street, P.O. Box 349, Lisbon, OH 44432. The phone number is (330) 424-9516. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The court handles marriage licenses along with estate administration, guardianships, adoptions, and other probate matters.
Both applicants must appear in person at the court. This is a firm rule under ORC 3101.05. Each person gives information under oath, including name, age, residence, place of birth, occupation, and parents' names. You cannot send someone else on your behalf or submit the application by mail.
Marriage License Requirements
Bring valid photo ID. A driver's license, state-issued ID card, or passport all work. You also need your Social Security number. The court may ask you to bring the card itself. If either person was married before, you must have a certified copy of the most recent divorce decree or, if widowed, the death certificate. List all prior spouses and any minor children on the application.
The fee is about $50. Ohio has no waiting period and no blood test. You can apply and get the license on the same visit. The license stays valid for 60 days from the issue date. After 60 days, it expires and you have to start over. These rules come from ORC 3101.07 and apply across all 88 Ohio counties.
Note: Both applicants must be at least 18. If one person is 17, juvenile court consent is needed and the other person cannot be more than four years older.
The Ceremony and Filing
After you get the license, you need an authorized officiant to perform the ceremony. ORC 3101.08 says who can do this: ordained ministers registered with the Secretary of State, county and municipal court judges, probate judges, mayors, and religious societies. The governor and former governors can also marry people in Ohio.
The officiant signs the marriage certificate and must return it to the Columbiana County Probate Court within 30 days. The court gives you an envelope for this when they hand over the license. Late filing is a minor misdemeanor with a $50 fine under ORC 3101.14. Until the certificate is returned, the court cannot issue certified copies of your marriage record.
Columbiana County Marriage Records
Columbiana County was formed in 1803. That means marriage records go back more than 220 years. The county sits in eastern Ohio, along the Pennsylvania border, and it played a role as a parent county. Mahoning County was carved from Columbiana in 1846, so if you are looking for records from what is now Mahoning County before that year, Columbiana is where you need to look.
The Ohio History Connection notes that early Ohio marriage records, especially those before 1899, often do not list the parents' names. For Columbiana County records from 1803 through the mid-1800s, you may only find the names of the bride, groom, officiant, and ceremony date. The Ohio statewide marriage index starts in September 1949, so for records before that, you must go directly to the Columbiana County Probate Court.
Note: Columbiana County is a parent county for Mahoning County (formed 1846). Researchers looking for pre-1846 Mahoning area marriages should check Columbiana records.
Getting Certified Copies
Marriage records in Ohio are public records. ORC 149.43 guarantees public access. Anyone can request to see or copy a marriage record. The court will remove Social Security numbers before sharing, but all other information on the license is available. You do not need to state a reason for your request.
For certified copies, contact the Probate Court at (330) 424-9516. You can go in person to the courthouse at 105 South Market Street in Lisbon or send a written request by mail. Include the full names of both spouses and the marriage date. There is a fee for each certified copy. Certified copies carry the court's seal and are valid for legal purposes.
Age and Eligibility Rules
Ohio requires both applicants to be at least 18 years old. If one person is 17, the process is more involved. Under ORC 3101.02, the juvenile court must file consent, and the other party cannot be more than four years older. The court also looks at whether the decision is free from force and is in the best interests of both people. These safeguards were updated as recently as 2025.
The Probate Court will not issue a license if either applicant appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. That is under ORC 3101.06. And no marriage can happen without a license being issued first. Having a ceremony without a valid license creates legal problems for everyone involved.
Legal Aid and Resources
Ohio Legal Help provides free guidance for Columbiana County residents who need help finding the right court or understanding marriage license rules. The Ohio Supreme Court website offers standardized probate forms used by courts across the state. For questions about the legal side of marriage in Ohio, these are good starting points.
The county's location on the Pennsylvania border means some couples may have connections to both states. If your marriage took place in Pennsylvania, Ohio courts will not have the record. You would need to contact the Pennsylvania county where the ceremony happened. Ohio only has records for marriages that were licensed and performed under Ohio law.
Ohio Legal Help provides a directory entry for the Columbiana County Probate Court, with directions and guidance on standard Ohio marriage license procedures.
Nearby Counties
Browse marriage license records in neighboring Ohio counties.