Search Cleveland Marriage Records
Cleveland marriage records are managed by the Cuyahoga County Probate Court at 1 Lakeside Avenue West in downtown Cleveland. The court has been keeping marriage records since 1810, making it one of the oldest collections in the state. If you need a marriage license, want to search old records, or need a certified copy, the Probate Court is your starting point. Cleveland is the second largest city in Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. The Marriage License Bureau on the first floor handles all new applications. You can also search the court's Historical Marriage Index online for records going all the way back to 1810.
Cleveland Overview
Cleveland Marriage License Process
To get a marriage license in Cleveland, both people must go to the Cuyahoga County Probate Court together. The Marriage License Bureau is in Room 146 on the first floor. You need valid photo ID such as a driver's license or passport. Both applicants must be at least 18, or have parental consent if younger.
The fee for a marriage license varies. You can pay with cash, check, or card. The license is good for 60 days after it is issued, per ORC Chapter 3101. Neither person can be currently married to someone else. If either party was previously married, bring proof that the prior marriage ended, such as a divorce decree or death certificate.
| Court | Cuyahoga County Probate Court - Marriage License Bureau |
|---|---|
| Address | 1 Lakeside Avenue West Cleveland, OH 44113 |
| General Info | (216) 443-8785 |
| Marriage License | (216) 443-8920 (recorded info) / (216) 443-8921 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
Note: Ohio law may require a short waiting period of one to three days between application and the ceremony, depending on the county's procedures.
How to Search Cleveland Marriage Records
The Cuyahoga County Probate Court has an online Historical Marriage Index that covers records from 1810 to the present. You can search by name to find marriage records filed in the county. The index is also available on microfilm in the Probate Court Microfilm Room, which is Room 31 in the basement of the courthouse.
For research at the courthouse, start in the Microfilm Room. Staff there can help you find the right records. The room has marriage records on microfilm going back over two hundred years. Call (216) 443-8935 to check hours or ask about what is available before you visit.
Marriage records are public records in Ohio. Anyone can ask for a copy. You do not need to give a reason. Under ORC 149.43, the court must provide access to public records upon request. Certified copies can be picked up in person or ordered by mail.
Cuyahoga County Marriage Records Tools
The Cuyahoga County Probate Court website has a section dedicated to marriage licensing. You can find it at the Cuyahoga County Probate Court page.
This page covers the court's main functions including estate settlement, guardianships, adoptions, and marriage licensing. It has links to forms and contact info.
For searching the marriage license index directly, the court offers a dedicated lookup tool. Visit the Cuyahoga County Marriage License Index to search by name.
The index covers all brides and grooms in Cuyahoga County from 1810 forward. It is free to use and does not need an account.
Cleveland Historical Marriage Records
Cuyahoga County has one of the longest marriage record histories in Ohio. Records start in 1810. The Cuyahoga County Archives at 3951 Perkins Avenue in Cleveland holds original marriage files and an index covering 1810 to 1941. These are also on microfilm at the Cleveland Public Library Microform Center.
The Probate Court was originally part of the Common Pleas Court. Records from 1811 to 1852 are called Common Pleas Probate records. After 1852 they are Probate Court records. This matters if you are doing genealogy work and need to find the right collection.
The Ohio History Connection may hold microfilm copies of Cuyahoga County marriage records in its archives. The FamilySearch website has free digitized Ohio county marriage records from 1789 to 2016, including Cuyahoga County. You need a free account to see the images.
Note: Early records from before 1899 usually do not include parents' names.
Nearby Cities With Marriage Records
Several other cities in the Cleveland area also go through the Cuyahoga County Probate Court for marriage records. Parma and Lakewood are both in Cuyahoga County and use the same court. Euclid is also in Cuyahoga County. If you need to search marriage records for any of these cities, the process is the same as for Cleveland.
Akron is in Summit County, about 40 miles south. Lorain and Elyria are in Lorain County to the west. Canton is in Stark County to the southeast. Youngstown is further east in Mahoning County. Each city uses its own county's probate court for marriage records.
Cuyahoga County Marriage Records
Cleveland is the county seat of Cuyahoga County. All marriage licenses and records for the county go through the Cuyahoga County Probate Court. The court serves Cleveland and many suburbs. For more details on county-wide resources, visit the Cuyahoga County page.