While your wedding day may be the happiest day of your life, not following the legal requirements to get married could put a damper on you and your beloved's union. In order to receive a marriage license in Ohio, you must meet eligibility, procedural and other requirements.

Individual Eligibility

To apply for a marriage license, the man and the wife must both have legal capacity to marry. This means that the man must be at least 18 and the woman at least 16, neither is currently married and are more related than second cousins. Minors are allowed to marry with the consent of a parent, legal guardian, court or a child services agency.

Remarrying

If you have already been married and are divorced or widowed, additional requirements apply. No matter where in the world you were previously married, you must meet these requirements. For the divorced, you must have a certified copy of the final decree of divorce. For the widowed, you must have a certified copy of the death certificate. Contact the appropriate local agency to procure these documents.

Application

Applications are available online and in the county court. Generally, documents needed for application are a government-issued ID and proof of social security number, generally through a social security card. You may be required to prove that you are residents of the county of the court in which you are applying or that your ceremony will be performed in that county.

Costs

The cost of a marriage license, which is to be paid when you complete the application, is $50. That amount is generally only accepted as cash. Additional costs may be incurred for copies of the marriage license.

Waiting Period

Unlike some other states, there is no waiting period in Ohio after you receive your marriage license. You may get married anytime after receipt and up to 60 days following the issuance of the license.

Warning

Though requirements remain substantively the same throughout the state, keeping eligibility, waiting period and proof requirements the same, some details are subject to change. Contact your local courthouse or look up local rules to verify details for the county you will be applying in, using the link for Ohio County courts. Aspects such as form of payment and online availability of the application may change.

Source:

Ohio Marriage License Requirements

Resource:

Ohio County Courts