Harrison County Marriage License Search

Harrison County marriage license records are on file at the Probate Court in Cadiz. This court handles all marriage license applications and keeps the completed certificates.

Harrison County Probate Court

The Harrison County Probate Court sits at 105 Jamison Ave., Cadiz, OH 43907. The phone number is (740) 942-8868 and the Court Administrator can be reached at (740) 942-2088. The fax number is (740) 942-8483. Court hours run from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, but the office closes for lunch from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. Judge Matthew P. Puskarich presides over the court. Marriage license appointments are required in Harrison County, so call (740) 942-8868 before you go.

This is a detail worth stressing. You must call ahead. Unlike some larger Ohio counties where you can walk in any time, Harrison County runs on an appointment schedule for marriage licenses. The court is small, and scheduling keeps things running on time. Do not show up without calling first.

Applying for a Marriage License

Harrison County offers an online pre-application. Fill it out before your visit and bring the confirmation number to your appointment. Both people must show up in person at the probate court. One party must be a Harrison County resident, or both parties must be out-of-state residents planning to marry in the county. These rules follow Ohio Revised Code Section 3101.05.

Bring a current driver's license or other valid photo ID. You need to provide each person's name, age, residence, birthplace, occupation, father's name, and mother's maiden name. Social Security numbers go on the form, but the court strips them out before making the record public per ORC 149.43. If you were married before, have a certified copy of the most recent divorce decree ready. Widowed applicants need a death certificate for the former spouse.

The license takes effect right away. No waiting period. It is good for 60 calendar days from the date issued, per ORC 3101.07. No blood test is needed.

Harrison County License Fee

The fee for a marriage license in Harrison County is $42.00. That is below the statewide average. The court accepts cash, credit cards, and debit cards. This is one of the more affordable counties in Ohio for a marriage license. The fee is due when you file the application. It covers the processing and issuance of the license.

Certified copies of the completed marriage certificate cost extra. Contact the probate court at (740) 942-8868 for the current copy fee. You can get copies in person during court hours or by mail with a written request and payment.

Online Records Access

Harrison County has an online records search system. The county uses the CountyFusion platform to provide access to documents going back to 1789. That is a long span of records. You can search from a computer at home or use the public terminals at the courthouse. Note that the public terminals shut down at 4:00 PM daily. Office staff will not do record searches for you, so you need to look things up on your own using the system.

The Harrison County online records search provides access to documents from 1789 to the present.

This makes Harrison County one of the more accessible counties in Ohio for records research.

Who Can Perform the Wedding

Ohio law under ORC 3101.08 names the people who can officiate a marriage. Ordained or licensed ministers with a license from the Ohio Secretary of State are on the list. So are county court judges, municipal court judges, and probate judges. Under ORC 2101.27, a probate judge can solemnize marriages in the county and must pay any ceremony fee into the county treasury. Mayors, the Governor, and former governors of Ohio round out the list.

After the wedding, the officiant signs the certificate and returns it to the Harrison County Probate Court within 30 days. Failing to do so is a minor misdemeanor. The fine is up to $50 under ORC 3101.14. This step is what makes the marriage official on the county's books.

Religious societies can also conduct wedding ceremonies under their own church rules. This is authorized by the same statute. Couples should make sure their officiant is properly licensed or otherwise authorized. For ministers, you can verify credentials through the Secretary of State's office. A few weeks after the wedding, check with the probate court to confirm the signed certificate is on file.

Historical Marriage Records

Harrison County marriage records date back to the county's formation. For genealogy research, the Ohio History Connection holds marriage records from some Ohio counties, though not all. The statewide marriage index from the Ohio Department of Health begins on September 7, 1949. Records before that date must be searched at the county level. Keep in mind that marriage records before 1899 rarely include the names of the couple's parents.

All Harrison County marriage records are public under ORC 149.43. The court removes Social Security numbers before releasing records. You can request copies in person at the courthouse or by mail. Ohio Legal Help provides a directory with contact information for every county probate court in the state.

Nearby Counties

Browse marriage license records in neighboring Ohio counties.