Union County Marriage License Search

Union County marriage license records are kept by the Probate Court in Marysville. The court handles new applications and requests for past records, with both walk-in and mail options.

Union County Probate Court

The Union County Probate Court is at 128 S. Main Street, Suite 109, Marysville, OH 43040. You can reach the court at (937) 645-3029. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Walk in during those hours and both of you can fill out the application that same day. The court staff will ask for the information listed in ORC 3101.05, which covers names, ages, places of birth, residences, occupations, parents' names, and the name of the person who will perform the ceremony.

Union County sees a steady number of marriage license applications each year. In recent years the court has issued around 275 to 315 licenses per year, putting it on the smaller side compared to urban Ohio counties but still busy enough that you should plan ahead if you need a specific date. Call the court if you want to confirm hours on a holiday week or ask about walk-in wait times.

Here is a look at the Union County Probate Court website where you can find contact details and forms.

The court also maintains a computer terminal that the public can use to look up records on site. Records from May 28, 1996, onward are in the computer system, but older records go back to 1820 on microfilm.

Marriage License Requirements

Both people must come to the courthouse. You each need a valid photo ID like a driver's license, state ID, or passport. You also need your Social Security number, though it will not show on the public version of the record per ORC 3101.051. If you were married before, bring a certified copy of your most recent divorce decree. The application asks for names, dates, and case numbers of all past divorces, plus the names of any minor children from those marriages.

Ohio law under ORC 3101.01 sets the age at 18 for marriage. If you are 17, juvenile court consent is needed first under ORC 3101.04, and there is a 14-day delay before the license can issue. No blood test has been required in Ohio for years. There is no waiting period either, so the license is valid the moment you get it.

Fees and Payment

The fee for a Union County marriage license is $50. If you want the probate judge to perform the ceremony at the courthouse, the combined cost is $75 for the license and wedding. That is a popular option for couples who want something fast and simple. The judge can legally solemnize marriages under ORC 2101.27, and the fee goes straight to the county treasury.

The license stays good for 60 days. If you do not use it in that window, it expires and you have to start over with a new application and new fee. This 60-day rule comes from ORC 3101.07 and is printed on every license in large type so you can't miss it.

Getting Copies of Union County Records

Union County keeps marriage records from 1820 to the present day. That is over 200 years of records. Older records are on microfilm and the court has digitally indexed all of them. You can request certified copies in person at the Probate Court, or by mail to the address at 128 S. Main Street, Suite 109, Marysville, OH 43040. Marriage records are public under ORC 149.43, so anyone can ask for them without showing a reason.

The Ohio Department of Health keeps a statewide marriage index going back to September 7, 1949. This is useful when you know a marriage took place in Ohio but you are not sure which county. The index points you to the right county, but certified copies still come from the Union County Probate Court. For records before 1949 there is no statewide index. You need to search the county records directly.

The Union County Records Center and Archives holds historical and closed court files. If you are doing genealogy work, that is a good place to check. The court also has birth and death records from 1867 to 1909 which can help you piece together family connections alongside marriage records.

Who Can Perform the Ceremony

ORC 3101.08 spells out who can legally perform a wedding in Ohio. Ordained or licensed ministers who are registered with the Ohio Secretary of State can do it. Judges, mayors, and probate judges can too. Religious societies may also conduct ceremonies under their own rules. Whoever performs the wedding must file the marriage certificate with the Union County Probate Court within 30 days under ORC 3101.13. Late filing is a minor misdemeanor.

Historical Marriage Records

Union County has some of the most complete early records in central Ohio. Marriage records date to 1820, well before many surrounding counties were even formed. The Ohio History Connection has records from dozens of Ohio counties in its archives, and the FamilySearch database covers Ohio marriages from 1789 to 2013. If the Union County court cannot find what you need in its own files, these are good backup sources.

Keep in mind that marriage records before 1899 usually do not list the parents of the bride and groom. That detail started showing up regularly only in later decades. If you are trying to trace a family line back to the early 1800s, you may need to cross-reference marriage records with census data or other court filings to fill in the gaps.

Nearby Counties

Browse marriage license records in neighboring Ohio counties.