Marriage License Fee in Ohio

The fee on this page covers the probate court issuing the marriage license based on the statutory application requirements in Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3101. The license is the legal authorization to marry and must be delivered to the officiant before the ceremony. This fee does not include optional services such as a civil ceremony performed by a judge or mayor or certified copies of the marriage record after the ceremony.

If you will need certified copies later, ask the probate court about the separate copy fee and ordering options, and plan ahead if you need multiple copies for agencies like the Social Security Administration or the BMV. Always confirm the current total and payment methods with the probate court that will issue your license.

Probate courts may also publish local fee schedules and totals that reflect additional county costs or transaction fees, so the amount you pay can be higher than the statewide schedule. The best way to confirm the current total is to check the probate court in the county that will issue your license.

For example, the Franklin County Probate Court lists a $65 license fee and notes that credit or debit card transactions are subject to a separate financial institution fee. Use that as a local example and verify the fee with your county before you apply.

If neither party is a resident of Ohio, the application must be made in the county where the marriage is expected to be solemnized. The statute also says that if neither party is an Ohio resident, the marriage may be solemnized only in the county where the license is obtained.

These rules determine which probate court is your issuing office and where a nonresident couple can legally marry. ORC 3101.09 also states that no marriage may be solemnized without the issuance of a license and that only authorized persons may officiate, so the probate court that issues the license is central to the process.

The application must be made under oath and includes each party's name, age, residence, place of birth, occupation, and parents' names. Applicants must also state the name of the person expected to solemnize the marriage. If either party has been previously married, the application must include the names of the parties to any previous marriage and any minor children, and for divorces it must include the jurisdiction, date, and case number of the decree.

Immediately upon receipt of the application, the court places the parties' record in a book kept for that purpose. If the probate judge is satisfied that there is no legal impediment and if one or both parties are present, the judge must grant the license. If a party cannot appear due to illness or disability, the statute allows an affidavit-based exception described in the timing section.

The statute also directs licensing officers not to issue a license if the officer has not received the required application or has reason to believe any statement is false. This is why probate courts may ask for documentation that supports the sworn answers on the application.

Providing complete and accurate information, especially about prior marriages and minor children, helps the probate court confirm there is no legal impediment and issue the license without delay.

The statute says the record containing Social Security numbers is not a public record except in limited circumstances under ORC 3101.051. It also states that a marriage license issued may not display either party's Social Security number.

Be prepared to provide Social Security numbers when you apply and ask the probate court how those numbers are recorded and protected.

Applicants must present documentary proof such as a birth record or birth certificate, baptismal record, passport, a driver license or permit to operate a motor vehicle, government or school ID showing date of birth, immigration or naturalization record, or a court or other government record showing date of birth.

Because the probate court must verify age before issuing the license, bring one of the listed documents and confirm with the court if your document is unusual, recently issued, or out of state.

If both parties are 17, the juvenile court must file a consent to the marriage. If only one party is 17, the juvenile court must consent and the other party cannot be more than four years older.

ORC 3101.05 also requires the judge to confirm that 17-year-old applicants received marriage counseling satisfactory to the court. If either applicant is 17, contact the juvenile court and the probate court early to confirm the consent and counseling requirements before applying for the license.

ORC 3101.05 says a probate judge may grant a marriage license at any time after the application is made, provided there is no legal impediment. Local courts may still require appointments or limit issuance to specific hours, so plan ahead.

If a party cannot appear due to illness or disability, ORC 3101.05 allows the license to be granted based on an affidavit from a reputable physician, clinical nurse specialist, or certified nurse practitioner, plus an affidavit from the party who cannot appear that includes the same required application information.

The statute requires this 60-day limit to be printed on each license in prominent type. The license is not effective for a ceremony after that window, so schedule your ceremony within 60 days of issuance.

If the license expires, you must apply again and pay the fee again.

ORC 3101.09 states that no marriage shall be solemnized without the issuance of a license. In practice, that means you must deliver the license to the person who will officiate before the ceremony begins, and the officiant must complete the certificate after the marriage is solemnized.

Build time into your plan to pick up the license, give it to the officiant, and ensure they know the return deadline. If the officiant does not have the license in hand, they may refuse to proceed to avoid violating the statute.

ORC 3101.10 also provides that ministers must be licensed by the Ohio secretary of state to solemnize marriages.

Before your ceremony, confirm that your officiant is authorized under Ohio law and properly licensed if required.

ORC 3101.11 requires the secretary of state to record licensed ministers, and ORC 3101.12 states that the record and the license are evidence of authority to solemnize marriages.

If you are working with a religious officiant, ask them to confirm their Ohio license and be prepared to show it if the probate court requests verification.

The probate court must record certificates in the order received. ORC 3101.14 requires the license to include notice of this requirement and provides that failure to return the certificate within thirty days is a minor misdemeanor with a possible fifty-dollar fine.

This return step is how the marriage becomes part of the official record, so confirm with your officiant that they will return the certificate promptly.

The Franklin County Probate Court, for example, states that it issues marriage licenses to Franklin County residents who plan to marry in Ohio and to out-of-state residents who plan to marry in Franklin County. Franklin County requires applicants to complete an online application before appearing in person, and the court notes that applications are valid for 30 days. It also states that both parties must be present and that the last license is issued at 4:00 p.m.

Franklin County lists a $65 license fee and notes that applicants may pay in cash or by credit or debit card, with a separate transaction fee for card payments. The court further states that licenses are valid for 60 days from issuance and that proof of residency is required for county residents, with alternate documents accepted when a photo ID does not list the current address. Use this as a local example and confirm your county's requirements and fee before you apply.

ORC 3101.05 requires personal appearance, proof of age, and detailed application information, including prior marriage details and the name of the officiant. Applications can also be delayed if Social Security numbers are missing or if one party cannot appear without the required medical affidavit. Some courts will not process an application without required proof of residency or a completed online application, and missing documents can mean a second visit.

Finally, some couples miscalculate the 60-day validity window and let the license expire. Confirm county requirements, documents, and timing before you apply to avoid a repeat visit.