Find Williams County Marriage License
Williams County marriage license records are handled by the Probate Court in Bryan. Walk-ins are welcome during business hours for new applications and record requests.
Williams County Overview
Williams County Probate Court
The Williams County Probate Court is at One Courthouse Square, 2nd Floor, Bryan, OH 43506. The phone number is (419) 636-1548. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The courthouse is in downtown Bryan and easy to find. Both applicants must appear in person to fill out the marriage license application.
Under ORC 3101.05, each person must state under oath their name, age, residence, place of birth, occupation, parents' names, and who will perform the wedding. The clerk walks you through each part. If you have done this before in another county, the process is the same because it follows the same state law. Williams County is a small court, so you can usually get in and out fairly quickly without a long wait.
Below is a screenshot of the Ohio Revised Code page showing the marriage license application requirements that apply in Williams County and every other Ohio county.
If you are coming from Indiana or Michigan, which border Williams County, the same Ohio rules apply to you. At least one applicant needs to live in the county, or if both are from out of state, the ceremony must happen in Williams County.
What to Bring
Bring a valid photo ID. A driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID will work. You need your Social Security number for the application, but under ORC 3101.051 it is removed from any public version of the record. If either person has been married before, bring the certified divorce decree from the most recent marriage. You will list all prior spouses, any minor children, and the court details of the divorce.
Both people must be 18 or older. Someone who is 17 needs consent from juvenile court under ORC 3101.04, and the other party cannot be more than four years older. After consent is filed, there is a 14-day wait before the probate court can issue the license. No blood test is needed in Ohio. There is no waiting period for adults.
License Fee and Validity
The marriage license fee in Williams County is approximately $50. Call (419) 636-1548 to confirm the current amount and what payment methods are accepted. Some smaller Ohio courts only take cash or money orders, so check before you go.
Ohio dropped the five-day waiting period back in 2001. Your license is valid the moment it is issued. It stays good for 60 days per ORC 3101.07. If the wedding does not happen in that time, the license expires. You would need to apply again and pay the fee once more. The 60-day rule is printed right on the license in large type.
Note: Williams County borders Indiana and Michigan. If you live in one of those states, you can still get married in Ohio, but the ceremony must take place in Williams County if neither person is an Ohio resident.
Marriage Record Copies
Williams County keeps marriage records going back to 1820. You can get certified copies in person at the courthouse or by mail. Send your request to One Courthouse Square, 2nd Floor, Bryan, OH 43506 with the names of both parties at the time of the marriage, the approximate date, and payment. Marriage records are public under ORC 149.43. You do not need to give a reason for wanting them.
The Ohio Department of Health maintains a statewide marriage index from September 7, 1949, forward. This covers all 88 Ohio counties and helps when you know a marriage happened in Ohio but are not sure where. Certified copies always come from the county probate court. For records before 1949, there is no statewide index and you need to search at the county level.
The Ohio History Connection has marriage records from many Ohio counties. The FamilySearch database covers Ohio county marriages from 1789 to 2013. These are good starting points for genealogy, especially when you need to narrow down names and dates before ordering official copies from the court.
Who Can Officiate
After getting your Williams County marriage license, the wedding can be performed by anyone authorized under ORC 3101.08. Ordained ministers licensed through the Ohio Secretary of State are on the list, along with county and municipal court judges, probate judges, mayors, and religious societies acting under their own church rules. The Williams County probate judge can also perform weddings under ORC 2101.27.
The officiant must file the signed marriage certificate with the Williams County Probate Court within 30 days of the ceremony per ORC 3101.13. A pre-addressed envelope comes with every license. Failing to return the certificate on time is a minor misdemeanor with a $50 fine.
Legal Resources
Ohio Legal Help has a county directory with probate court contact information and self-help guides for family law matters. The Ohio Supreme Court website has standardized probate forms used across the state. For questions about marriage law, name changes, or how to correct a marriage certificate, these resources can help you figure out your options before calling the court.
Nearby Counties
Browse marriage license records in neighboring Ohio counties.