Franklin County Marriage License Records

Marriage license records in Franklin County are handled by the Probate Court in downtown Columbus. The court has an online application system and a searchable marriage license index.

Franklin County Probate Court

The Franklin County Probate Court Marriage Department is at 373 South High Street, 23rd Floor, Columbus, OH 43215. You can call the marriage department at (614) 525-3108 or email marriage@franklincountyohio.gov. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The last marriage license is issued at 4:00 p.m., and both parties must be present by that time or the clerk cannot process the application that day.

Franklin County requires you to complete an online application before coming to the courthouse. The online form is available on the court's website. Once you submit it, the application stays valid for 30 days. If you don't appear within that time, you will need to fill it out again. This system speeds things up at the counter since the clerk already has your information on file when you arrive.

The Franklin County Probate Court marriage department page shows the application process and office hours.

This page from the court's site explains the online pre-application, fees, required documents, and the 4:00 p.m. cutoff for same-day service.

Application Requirements

Both people must appear in person at the courthouse. Each needs a valid photo ID and a Social Security number. Under ORC 3101.05, the application asks for your name, age, residence, place of birth, occupation, parents' names, and the name of the person who will perform the ceremony. The Social Security number is used for the application but never appears on the license itself.

Applicants must be at least 18 years old. They cannot be nearer of kin than second cousins. Neither person can have a living spouse. If either was married before, a certified copy of the most recent divorce decree is required. The decree must show the case number, date, and court. You also have to list the names of any minor children from previous marriages. For anyone 17, the juvenile court must file consent first, and there is a 14-day wait after that consent order before the license can issue.

Franklin County Marriage License Fees

The marriage license fee in Franklin County is $65.00. The court accepts cash and credit or debit cards. A 3% service charge applies to card payments. Certified Marriage Abstracts cost $2.00 per copy. The abstract is the document you'll use for name changes at the BMV, Social Security Administration, banks, and other places. The court recommends getting at least five copies to cover all the agencies you may need to notify.

Other fees include $5.00 to correct a minor error on the application and $35.00 to amend the application for additional previous marriages (a notary is required for amendments). These fees are set by the court and may change, so confirm the current amounts when you call or check the website.

Marriage License Index Search

Franklin County has an online marriage license index that lets you search records from January 3, 1995, to the present. You can search by name or date range to see if a license was issued and whether the officiant returned the signed certificate. This is a helpful tool if you need to verify a marriage before ordering a certified copy. Historical records from 1803 to the present are available at the Probate Court in person.

For records going back before 1995 or for certified copies, contact the Probate Court directly. The Ohio Department of Health keeps a statewide marriage index from September 1949 forward, which can help you track down a record if you don't know which county holds it. The Ohio History Connection holds Franklin County marriage affidavits from 1844 to 1857 and possibly other records.

Ceremony and Certificate Filing

The Franklin County Probate Court does not perform civil wedding ceremonies. If you want a civil ceremony, call the Franklin County Municipal Court at 614-645-8214 to schedule one. Under ORC 3101.08, authorized officiants include ordained or licensed ministers registered with the Secretary of State, judges, mayors, and probate judges (per ORC 2101.27). You can verify a minister's registration by calling (877) 767-6446.

The officiant must return the signed marriage certificate to the Franklin County Probate Court within 30 days after the ceremony under ORC 3101.13. Before ordering certified copies, you should verify that the certificate has been returned. You can do this through the online marriage license index or by calling the court. If the certificate has not been filed yet, the court cannot issue certified copies.

Cities in Franklin County

Residents of Columbus, Dublin, and other Franklin County cities all apply for marriage licenses at the same Probate Court on South High Street. No city hall or municipal office issues marriage licenses in Ohio. The Probate Court is the only place in the county that can handle these applications, regardless of which city you live in. The Ohio Legal Help website has a directory page for the Franklin County Probate Court with links to free legal resources.

Marriage records in Franklin County are public under ORC 149.43. Social Security numbers are removed before records are made available to the public, but all other information on file can be inspected or copied during regular business hours.

Nearby Counties

Browse marriage license records in neighboring Ohio counties.