Frequently Asked Questions About Marriage Licenses
Who is allowed to apply?
Individual adults who are 18 or over, who are not nearer of kin than second cousins to the other applicant, and who do not have a living spouse may apply for a license with their intended spouse.
What if i am under the age of 18?
Any applicant under the age of 18 must first file a petition for consent to the marriage of a minor with the Franklin County Juvenile Court. After you have obtained the consent of the Juvenile Court, a license may not be issued until 14 days after the final order of the Juvenile Court is filed. The Probate Court will not issue a license or accept an application prior to the 14 days. A certified copy of the order must be provided before an application will be accepted.
Please contact the Franklin County Juvenile Court first to confirm your eligibility and initiate the consent process before you contact the marriage license department for an appointment.
Can I receive a license if i am a Franklin county resident?
If you are getting married in the State of Ohio and are a resident of Ohio, you must obtain your license within the county where either applicant resides. The license is valid for a ceremony anywhere in the State of Ohio. If one or both applicants is a Franklin County resident who intends to marry somewhere in the state of Ohio, you may apply for your license in this Court. Proof of residency must be provided. If your photo ID does not list your current address in Franklin County, you must provide an alternate proof of residency. Accepted verifications include a bank statement, lease agreement, mortgage statement, utility bill, Social Security Statement, other government issued benefit statement, etc. dated within the last 30 days.
Can I receive a license if i am aN out-of-State resident?
If you are not a resident of Ohio, but are getting married in Ohio, you must obtain your license in the county where the ceremony will take place. If you are getting married in Franklin County, Ohio, you may obtain your license with this court.
HOW DO WE APPLY?
The online license application must be completed within 30 days of appearing in-person to complete the license process. Each applicant must provide an unexpired photo ID that includes their birth date.
To be directed to the application, please click here.
HOW DO WE APPEAR FOR OUR License?
Licenses are inssued in-person at the courthouse on a walk-in basis from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Both parties muct be present at 4:00 p.m. or the license cannot be issued. In very limited circumstances the court may be able to conduct a remote appointment for individuals with a disability that medically precludes them from coming to the courthouse, or active-duty military personnel who are deployed out of state. (This option is only for residents of Franklin County, over whom the court has jurisdiction on an ongoing basis.) Couples may also be able to schedule in-person appointments in limited and extraordinary circumstances.
WHAT IF WE NEED AN INTERPRETER?
Interpretation services can be provided. Please contact the Probate Court ahead of your appointment to request an interpreter.
MUST WE SHOW PROOF OF DIVORCES/ANNULMENTS OR THE DEATH OF A PREVIOUS SPOUSE?
If the marriage ended in divorce or annulment, the applicant(s) must provide a certified copy of the most recent divorce/annulment/dissolution decree along with case numbers/dates/locations (county/state/country) of all previous marriages, names of previous spouses and all current minor children.
Applicants are required to produce certified copies of death certificates for deceased spouses.
What if a required document is from another country?
If a document required for a marriage license was issued by a foreign government in a language other than English, it is your responsibility to have the document professionally translated and include an attestation from the qualified translator.
IS THERE A WAITING PERIOD?
No. After the application is accepted there is no waiting period to receive the license. The license is valid for 60 days from its date of issuance.
WHAT IF WE DISCOVER THERE'S AN ERROR ON OUR MARRIAGE LICENSE OR APPLICATION?
We encourage you to verify the information on your license before you leave your appointment. There is a fee to correct errors that are found after the fact. Correcting a minor error on a marriage application is $5.00. Amending an application to include additional previous marriages is $35.00 and requires both parties to sign in front of a notary. If you believe there is an error on your marriage application, you can visit the Court's marriage department and apply to have it corrected. Please click here for the Application and Entry to Correct Marriage Record form.
WHO MAY SOLEMNIZE A MARRIAGE?
Only an ordained or licensed officiant who is registered with the Secretary of the State of Ohio, a judge, a mayor, or the Superintendent of the State School for the Deaf may solemnize a marriage.
To find out if your minister is registered with the Secretary of State, call (877)-767-6446 or visit Ohio Secretary of State Ministers Search.
CIVIL CEREMONY INFORMATION
The Franklin County Probate Court only issues marriage licenses, it does not perform civil ceremonies. You may schedule a ceremony with the Franklin County Municipal Court online at: https://franklincountymunicourt.org/Departments-Services/Weddings
We encourage you to make an appointment with them before you schedule your license appointment with us. This will ensure that your license is valid on the date of your scheduled ceremony in that court.
I JUST GOT MARRIED, HOW DO I CHANGE MY NAME?
You do not need to apply for a legal name change if you were just married. The Certified Abstract of Marriage (green paper) obtained from the Marriage Department, can be used to legally change your last name if you wish. We recommend you obtain at least five copies of the document for the BMV, Social Security Administration, banks, employers, etc.
WHAT IF I HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS?
If you have additional questions, please email [email protected] or call 614-525-3108 to speak with a deputy clerk during business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. We strive to respond to messages within 48 business hours.
HOW DO WE GET A CERTIFIED COPY OF OUR MARRIAGE ABSTRACT
(PROOF OF MARRIAGE)?
You can obtain a certified copy of your marriage abstract in person, online, or through the mail.
Certified Marriage Abstracts are $2.00 per copy.
Before you order your Marriage Abstract in Franklin County, please review the following information. We cannot issue refunds for orders once they are placed, even if the license was issued in another county. Please make sure you can answer “Yes” to the following two questions:
1.) Was the Marriage License issued in Franklin County, Ohio?
- If not, please contact the Probate Court in the county where the marriage license was issued.
- If “Yes” proceed to question #2.
2.) Have you verified that your officiant has returned the signed Certification to Probate Court?
- To confirm this, please search for your names in the Marriage License Index Search. If there is no date listed under “Certif Returned” in your case entry, contact your officiant to see when they will return the Certification to Probate Court. The Court cannot issue a Marriage Abstract until the Certification has been signed by your officiant and returned.