Find Van Wert County Marriage License
Van Wert County marriage license records are handled by the Probate Court on East Main Street in Van Wert. The court issues new licenses and keeps records of all marriages filed in the county.
Van Wert County Overview
Van Wert Probate Court Details
The Van Wert County Probate Court sits at 121 E. Main St., Van Wert, OH 45891. Call (419) 238-0027 to reach the clerk's office. The fax number is (419) 238-7315. Hours are Monday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Tuesday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Note that Monday has an extra hour at the end of the day compared to the rest of the week.
Both people applying for the marriage license must go to the court in person. You need to state under oath the information that ORC 3101.05 requires. That means names, ages, residences, birthplaces, occupations, and parents' names. You also have to tell the court who will perform the wedding. The officiant must already be registered to solemnize marriages in the state of Ohio.
Below is a screenshot of the Van Wert County Probate Court website with contact and license information.
You should arrive at least 30 minutes before closing time so the staff can get through the full application with you. Showing up five minutes before close is not going to work.
What You Need to Bring
Bring a valid photo ID. A driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID all work. Your Social Security number is needed for the application, but it will not appear on the public record. ORC 3101.051 protects that information. If either of you was married before, bring a certified copy of your divorce decree. You must list the names of prior spouses, names and ages of minor children, and the court, date, and case number of the divorce.
You need to be at least 18 years old. If someone is 17, the juvenile court has to give consent under ORC 3101.04, and the other person cannot be more than four years older. There is a 14-day wait after juvenile court files consent before the probate court can issue the license. For everyone 18 and over, no blood test and no waiting period apply.
License Fees and Payment
The marriage license fee in Van Wert County is $45.00. Cash and money orders are accepted. If you live in Van Wert County, you can also pay by check. Out-of-county residents need to use cash or a money order. The court does not take credit or debit cards for this.
Once issued, the license is valid for 60 days per ORC 3101.07. If it expires, you will need to apply all over again and pay the fee a second time. Ohio got rid of the five-day waiting period back in 2001, so the license works right away. At least one applicant must live in the county. If neither person is an Ohio resident, the ceremony itself must happen in Van Wert County.
Note: Van Wert County only accepts checks from county residents. Everyone else should bring cash or a money order.
Copies of Marriage Records
The Van Wert County Probate Court holds marriage records going back to the formation of the county. You can request certified copies by visiting the courthouse in person or by sending a written request by mail to 121 E. Main St., Van Wert, OH 45891. Include the names of both parties at the time of the marriage, the approximate date, and your payment. Marriage records are public records under ORC 149.43, so you do not need to explain why you want them.
For statewide searching, the Ohio Department of Health has a marriage index covering all 88 counties from September 7, 1949, forward. That helps when you are not sure where a marriage happened. But certified copies always come from the county court. The Ohio History Connection also has marriage records from many Ohio counties and can help with older genealogy research.
Officiants and Ceremony Filing
After getting your Van Wert County marriage license, you can have the wedding done by anyone listed in ORC 3101.08. That includes ordained ministers licensed through the Ohio Secretary of State, judges, mayors, and probate judges. Religious societies can also perform the ceremony. The officiant has 30 days to file the signed marriage certificate back with the Van Wert County Probate Court. A pre-addressed envelope comes with the license to make this easy.
The probate judge in Van Wert County can also perform ceremonies under ORC 2101.27. The fee for a judge-performed ceremony is set by local rule and goes to the county treasury. If you want a quick courthouse wedding, call ahead and ask about scheduling.
Genealogy and Older Records
If you are looking for marriage records that are many decades old, the Van Wert County Probate Court is still the first place to check. Records before 1949 are not part of the statewide index, so you need to search at the county level. The FamilySearch database has indexed Ohio county marriages from 1789 to 2013 and can be a helpful starting point for narrowing dates and names. Records from before 1899 may not list the parents of the bride or groom. That level of detail became common only in later records.
The Ohio Supreme Court oversees probate court rules statewide, and the court's website has links to local court information and standardized forms. If you need help navigating the court system, Ohio Legal Help has a county-by-county directory with contact details and self-help guides for family law matters.
Nearby Counties
Browse marriage license records in neighboring Ohio counties.