Search Warren County Marriage License

Warren County marriage license records are managed by the Probate Court in Lebanon. The court has records going back to 1803 and handles a high volume of applications each year.

Warren County Probate Court

The Warren County Probate Court is at 900 Memorial Drive, Lebanon, OH 45036, inside the Probate-Juvenile Courts Building. The mailing address is 570 Justice Drive, Lebanon, OH 45036. Phone: (513) 695-1771. For marriage record questions, contact Chief Deputy Clerk Sue Roberts at (513) 695-1180 or email Sue@warrenprobate.org. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. You need to arrive by 4:00 p.m. to be seen that day.

Both applicants must appear together at the courthouse. The application process follows ORC 3101.05, which requires each person to provide their name, age, residence, birthplace, occupation, parents' names, and the name of the intended officiant. You fill this out under oath in front of a deputy clerk. If you have been married before, additional details are needed about each prior marriage.

Here is a screenshot of the Warren County Probate Court marriage license page.

The court handles marriage licenses, estates, guardianships, and other probate matters. If you call the main number, ask for the marriage license desk or use the direct line to Sue Roberts.

License Requirements

Bring a government-issued photo ID. Driver's licenses, passports, state IDs, and military IDs all work. You need your Social Security number for the application, but it will not show up on the public record because of ORC 3101.051. Warren County also requires proof of residency for at least one party. No blood test is needed. No waiting period applies.

If you were divorced, bring the most recent divorce decree. It has to be a time-stamped and signed copy. The court needs the names of prior spouses, the jurisdiction, date, and case number of the divorce, and any minor children. Making false statements on the application is falsification under ORC 2921.13, which is a criminal offense. The court takes this seriously and will verify the information you provide.

Fees and Payment

The marriage license fee is $48.00. Warren County accepts cash only for new license applications. This is different from some other Ohio counties that take checks or money orders. Plan accordingly and bring the right amount. There is no change machine at the courthouse, so exact change helps.

The license is valid for 60 days from the date of issue, per ORC 3101.07. After that it expires. If the wedding does not happen within 60 days, you go through the whole process again. Ohio has not had a waiting period since 2001, so the license is good right away.

Getting Marriage Record Copies

Warren County has marriage records from 1803 to the present. Certified copies cost $2 each. If you visit in person, you can get copies the same day. For mail requests, send the names of both parties as they were at the time of the marriage, the date of the marriage, your payment by money order or cashier's check, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Send to: Warren County Probate Court, 900 Memorial Drive, Lebanon, Ohio 45036, Attn: Marriage License.

Marriage records are public under ORC 149.43. Anyone can request them. Social Security numbers are removed before the records are made public. The Ohio Department of Health has a statewide marriage index from September 7, 1949, forward that covers all Ohio counties. But certified copies come only from the Warren County Probate Court.

The court also holds birth records from 1867 to 1908, death records from the same period, wills from 1803 onward, and estate and guardianship records. Early records are housed at the Edna L. Bowyer Record Center and Archives. For older genealogy research, the Ohio History Connection has marriage records from dozens of Ohio counties and can help you fill in gaps.

Officiants and Filing

After receiving your Warren County marriage license, the ceremony must be performed by an authorized person under ORC 3101.08. This includes ordained ministers registered with the Ohio Secretary of State, county and municipal court judges, probate judges, and mayors. Religious societies may also perform ceremonies according to their own traditions.

The officiant has 30 days to file the signed marriage certificate with the Warren County Probate Court under ORC 3101.13. A pre-addressed envelope is included with each license. Late filing carries a $50 fine. The probate judge can also perform ceremonies under ORC 2101.27, with the ceremony fee going straight to the county treasury.

Correcting a Marriage Certificate

Mistakes happen. If there is an error on your Warren County marriage certificate, Ohio law provides a way to fix it. Under ORC 3101.15, a person who is not a party to the marriage can file an application to correct the certificate when both original parties are deceased or unable to act. The application must be supported by an affidavit from at least one person with knowledge of the correct facts. The court may set a hearing date no less than seven days after the filing. If the judge is satisfied that the facts are correct, an order to correct the certificate will be issued.

For parties who are still living, the process is simpler. Contact the Warren County Probate Court at (513) 695-1771 and explain the error. The Ohio Supreme Court website has standardized probate forms that may be needed. Ohio Legal Help can also guide you through the steps if you are handling the correction on your own.

Nearby Counties

Browse marriage license records in neighboring Ohio counties.