Middletown Marriage Records
Middletown marriage records are held by the Butler County Probate Court in Hamilton, about 15 miles south of the city. The court keeps all marriage license files for every town in Butler County, and Middletown is no different. If you want to look up a past marriage, get a certified copy, or apply for a new license, the Probate Court is where you go. Both people who plan to marry must show up in person at the court. You can also search Butler County court records through an online case access system that covers marriage licenses, estates, and other probate filings.
Middletown Overview
Middletown Marriage License Process
The Butler County Probate Court handles all marriage licenses for Middletown. The court is at 315 High Street in Hamilton, OH 45011. You can reach them by phone at 513-887-3278. Hours run Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Middletown sits along the Great Miami River in Butler County, and all couples who live here must go to Hamilton to file their marriage license application in person.
Both parties need to show up with valid photo ID. A driver's license or passport will work. If either person was married before, bring a certified copy of the divorce decree or death certificate. Ohio law under ORC Chapter 3101 sets out the rules for who can marry and what the court needs to see. The license stays good for 60 days from the date it is issued. The fee for a marriage license in Butler County runs between $50 and $100, and you can pay with cash, check, or card at the court.
Butler County may require a short wait of up to three days between the time you apply and the ceremony itself. A judge can waive this wait if there is a good reason. Once issued, you can hold the ceremony anywhere in Ohio as long as it falls within that 60-day window.
| Court | Butler County Probate Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 315 High Street Hamilton, OH 45011 |
| Phone | (513) 887-3278 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM |
Note: The Butler County Clerk of Courts does not keep marriage license records, so always contact the Probate Court for copies.
Search Middletown Marriage Records
Marriage records in Middletown are part of the Butler County court system. The Probate Court has an online case access tool that lets you search for marriage licenses by name or case number. This covers current and recent filings. For older records, you may need to call the court or go in person. The court keeps marriage licenses on a permanent basis, per its retention schedule, so nothing gets thrown out.
If you need a certified copy of a Middletown marriage record, the Probate Court is the only place to get one. The Butler County Clerk of Courts has made clear that their office does not hold marriage license files. That is strictly a Probate Court function. You can pick up copies at the courthouse in Hamilton or request them by mail. Include the full names of both parties and the date of marriage when you make your request.
Ohio is an open records state. Under ORC 149.43, the public has a right to inspect and copy public records. Marriage records fall under this rule. You do not have to give a reason to get them. Anyone can walk into the Probate Court and ask to see marriage files.
Butler County Marriage Records Tools
The Butler County court records portal gives access to filings from multiple courts in the county. You can view this system at the Butler County Court Records site.
The portal covers the Probate Court, Clerk of Courts, and area municipal courts. You can search by name, case type, or case number. Marriage license records are filed under the Probate Court section. The system also shows estates, guardianships, and adoptions.
For copy requests specifically, Butler County has a separate page through the Clerk of Courts. You can see that page at the Butler County Clerk of Courts Copy Requests portal.
Keep in mind that the Clerk of Courts handles civil and criminal case copies but directs all marriage license requests to the Probate Court. The site is still useful for other types of Butler County records you might need.
Historical Marriage Records in Middletown
Butler County has kept marriage records since its founding. These records go back to the early 1800s. If you are doing genealogy work or looking for an older Middletown marriage record, the Probate Court in Hamilton is still the main source. Older records may be on microfilm or in bound volumes at the courthouse.
The Ohio History Connection holds microfilm copies of many Ohio county marriage records, and Butler County is included. The FamilySearch website has free digitized marriage records from Ohio counties going back to 1789. You need a free account to view the images. These can be helpful if the Probate Court does not have the exact record you want or if you cannot travel to Hamilton in person. The Ohio Department of Health Vital Statistics office can also help locate records when you are not sure which county holds them.
Note: Marriage records from before 1899 may not list parents' names on the license.
Nearby Cities With Marriage Records
Fairfield is also in Butler County and uses the same Probate Court in Hamilton. Hamilton is the county seat and home to the courthouse itself. If you live in Middletown, the drive to the Butler County Probate Court takes about 20 minutes south on Route 4.
Dayton is in Montgomery County, just to the north. Kettering and Huber Heights also fall under the Montgomery County Probate Court. Springfield is in Clark County to the east. Each city uses its own county probate court for marriage records, so the process differs from Butler County.
Butler County Marriage Records
Middletown is part of Butler County. All marriage licenses and records for Middletown go through the Butler County Probate Court in Hamilton. The court serves all cities and townships in the county. For more details on county resources, fees, and forms, visit the Butler County page.