• Who may apply?
• How do we apply?
• How much does a Marriage License Cost?
  
• What if I need an interpreter?
• Must I show proof of divorce or death of a previous spouse?
• Must I show proof of age?
• Is there a waiting period?
• Do I need a blood test?
• How do I get a certified copy of my Marriage Abstract?
• What are the hours and location of the Marriage License Department?
• Who May solemnize a marriage?
• Civil Ceremony Information
• How do I change my name after I'm married and who do I notify?
• Update Your Insurance Coverage
• Consider Your Legal Status
• Estate Planning
• Retention of Records
• Ohio Constitution Article XV § 11
• Helpful Telephone Numbers
• Marriage License Statistics for Franklin County, Ohio
• Legal Practice In The Probate Court

If either the woman or the man applying for a marriage license does not speak English well enough to complete the application process, they have two choices of how to proceed.

1. They can bring in a family member or friend to interpret for them. The only requirement for the friend is that the person cannot be one of the two people applying for a marriage license.

2. If they do not have a family member or friend who can interpret for them, the deputy clerks at the marriage license department can schedule an interpreter to assist them. The applicants must pay a $38 fee, in cash, the minimum cost for an interpreter. This $38 fee is in addition to the marriage license costs and must be paid each time an interpreter appears at Court, even if it is the same case.

Applicants must call the Court at least 48 hours in advance to schedule an interpreter to assist them with the marriage licnese application process.

Please call 614-462-3108 if you would like the Court to schedule an interpreter for you.

Use your Credit or Debit card through Official Payments Corporation, a secured website 3rd party vendor. The cost is $2.00 for each certified copy, plus mailing fees. There will be a convenience fee charged by Official Payments in the amount of $1.00 per transaction. Further explanation of these fees is available at this link. To proceed to the Credit/Debit webpage click here.

Request in Person:

To obtain Marriage Records for Franklin County, Ohio you may visit the Court at 373 S. High Street, Columbus, Ohio, 23rd floor and obtain the record while you wait. Court hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, closed all legal holidays. The cost for each certified abstract is $2.00 (CASH ONLY). You will need the following information:

• Groom's full name
• Bride's full (maiden or previous to this marriage) name
• The year of the marriage (the Court needs at least an approximate year to be able to search for the record)

Request by Mail:

Mail your request to:

Franklin County Probate Court
Attention: Marriage Records
373 S. High St., 22nd Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6311

In your request you need to include:

• Groom's full name
• Bride's full (maiden or previous to this marriage) name
• The year of the marriage (the Court needs at least an approximate year to be able to search for the record)
• Daytime phone number
• $2.00 (CASH OR MONEY ORDER ONLY) for each copy that you need
• A self addressed stamped envelope so the Court can send the abstract back to you

By custom, a wife who chooses to take her husband's name as a result of a marriage does not need to go through a court proceeding to change her name.  With certified copies of your marriage abstract, (see "How do I get a Certified Copy of my Marriage Abstract?") the name change may be accomplished by notifying the appropriate agencies. By way of example, a wife should record her new name with Social Security, her employer, the IRS, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, the Board of Elections, the school she attends or has children attending, and all financial institutions in which she transacts business. These agencies may require a certified copy of your marriage abstract.

The husband may adopt the wife's name and the parties may hyphenate their name.  However, since these changes are not common, they may be more difficult to accomplish.  The parties may need to file an application for a legal name change in the Probate Court of the county of residence for the past year. Name Change Information for Franklin County, Ohio is available at this link.

Employers should be notified of the change in marital status.  If appropriate, the married couple should adjust their federal and state income tax withholdings and the beneficiaries of any retirement plans.  Some contracts, divorce decrees, and domestic court rules require notice of the change in marital status.  Such documents should be reviewed to determine if notice is necessary.  If either party changes their residence address, the Board of Elections in the county of the new residence should be contacted.

Individuals should be aware of the existence of nongovernmental agencies claiming to change social security and/or credit card information for a nominal fee.  This Court does not endorse such services.  This can be accomplished at no charge by directly contacting Social Security and the other entities previously mentioned.

By way of example:

A properly drawn will assures that:

"Only a union between one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized by this state and its political subdivisions. This state and its political subdivisions shall not create or recognize a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance or effect of marriage."

Adopted November 2, 2004.

Social Security Administration
or Toll Free