Introduction to Ohio Marriage Certificates

This article is designed to help you get an Ohio Marriage certificate.  Marriage Certificates are a bit more difficult to obtain than Marriage Certificates and Death Certificates.  The main difficulty in obtaining Marriage Certificates is that states have not been registering marriages for as long as other vital records.  There are some states that still do not register marriages.  Due to this lack of centralization it is common to contact the county in which the marriage took place.

Counter to common belief, not everything is a few clicks away on the Internet.  Marriage Certificates are one of the items that you can’t just click some links and get a copy of your Marriage Certificate; this is probably a good thing.  You do not want your Marriage certificate in the public domain, where it can be seen by anyone.  However, this does not mean that you can’t easily get your Marriage certificate by following the correct procedure. 
  

Ohio Marriage abstracts have been maintained by the Ohio Department of Health-Vital Statistics for individuals married in the state of Ohio since 1954.  Ohio Marriage certificates are not available from the Ohio State Office of Vital Records.  To obtain an Ohio Marriage Certificate you must order online or contact Probate Judge in county where license was issued.

Ohio Marriage Certificate Authorized Persons

By Ohio state law, Ohio Marriage certificates are confidential records and can only be obtained by the following authorized individuals:

• Person Named on the Ohio Marriage Certificate
• Mother/Father (or Legal Guardian) of Person Named on the Ohio Marriage Certificat
• Grandparent of individual named on the Ohio Marriage certificate
• Husband/Wife of Person Named on the Ohio Marriage Certificate 
• Son/Daughter of Person Named on the Ohio Marriage Certificate
• Grandchild of individual named on the Ohio Marriage certificate
• Sister/Brother of Person Named on the Ohio Marriage Certificate 
• Legal Representative of an Authorized Person of Person Named on the Ohio Marriage Certificate

Ohio Marriage Certificate for Genealogy Purpose

Anyone can obtain an Ohio Marriage Certificate, 125 years or later from the date of the Marriage for genealogy or other reasons.

Ohio Marriage Certificate Ordering

Options Option 1 – Order Ohio Marriage Certificate Online

This option is the simplest and easiest way to get your Ohio Marriage Certificate.  Order online and you will get your Ohio Marriage Certificate usually in less than a week.  Many times you will have the option of receiving your vital record by next-day or second-day service.

Order Birth and Death Records Online!  

Option 2 – In Person

In Person in Ohio: You may go to any county health department in the State of Ohio to obtain a certified copy of an Ohio Marriage certificate. Most Ohio Marriage certificates can be issued while you wait.

Ohio Marriage Certificate Ordering Cost

The fee to search for a Ohio Marriage certificate varies by county.