Fairfield County Marriage Records Search
Fairfield County marriage records are maintained by the Juvenile/Probate Court in Lancaster. The county was created in 1800 and covers a large stretch of south-central Ohio. You can search for marriage licenses and records online using the Probate Records Search portal, or visit the courthouse in person. The court issues marriage licenses by appointment and keeps records going back to the county's early days. Whether you need a certified copy for a name change or are tracing family lines, the Fairfield County Probate Court is your main resource.
Fairfield County Overview
Fairfield County Probate Court
The Fairfield County Juvenile/Probate Court handles all marriage records and license applications for the county. The court is on the third floor of the Hall of Justice at 224 East Main Street in Lancaster. Marriage license appointments are required. Call (740) 652-7485 to schedule one. The court also offers virtual appointments for couples who cannot come in person.
Fairfield County's Probate Court has a wide range of duties. Beyond marriage licenses, it handles estates, guardianships, adoptions, name changes, and birth certificate corrections. The court's online portal provides access to hearing and court records from about 1991 to the present. You can search by case number or party name for free. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
| Court | Fairfield County Juvenile/Probate Court |
|---|---|
| Address |
Hall of Justice, 3rd Floor 224 East Main Street Lancaster, OH 43130 |
| Phone | (740) 652-7485 |
| juvenileprobate@fairfieldcountyohio.gov | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
Note: Marriage licenses in Fairfield County are issued by appointment only, so call the court before visiting.
How to Search Fairfield County Marriage Records
The Fairfield County Probate Court offers an online records search portal. You can search by party name or case number at no cost. The portal covers records from approximately 1991 to the present. For older records, you need to contact the court directly or visit in person. The Fairfield County website also has links to the Common Pleas Case Inquiry Search and the Municipal Court search tools.
Another way to find Fairfield County marriage records is through Ohio Court Records. This site lets you search by name and points you toward the right office for getting copies. In-person requests at the Clerk of Court Records Division can be made during office hours at (740) 652-7358. You can also send an email to the clerk's office.
Sealed records are not available online and must be requested directly from the clerk. Under ORC 149.43, most court records in Ohio are public. The Fairfield County Records Division does not require you to give your name or a reason when making a public records request.
Fairfield County Marriage Record Fees
A marriage record copy from the Fairfield County Probate Court costs $2. You can pay by cash, check, money order, or credit card. Credit card payments are taken by phone at (740) 652-7485. The court also uses LexisNexis VitalChek for online payments. To get a copy by mail, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to the court with the names of both parties before marriage, the wedding date, and your phone number.
Court record copies from the Clerk of Courts have different fees. Certified copies cost $5 each. Authenticated copies are $6. Paper photocopies run $0.05 per page. These fees apply to Common Pleas and other court records, not just marriage files. Always check with the specific office for the most current fee schedule.
Fairfield County Records Resources
The Fairfield County Probate Court website provides forms, court rules, and fee schedules along with their online records search portal.
The Probate Court site is the starting point for marriage license applications and online record searches in Fairfield County.
The Fairfield County documents and forms page connects you to various court search tools and public records request options across county departments.
This county page links to forms and search portals for multiple court divisions in Fairfield County, including the Probate Court.
For broader research, Ohio Court Records provides a search tool covering Fairfield County court records across all divisions.
Ohio Court Records shows how to access Fairfield County records online and explains the different search portals available for each court division.
Cities in Fairfield County
All marriage licenses in Fairfield County are issued by the Probate Court in Lancaster. No matter which city you live in within the county, you go to the same court.
Other communities in Fairfield County include Pickerington, Canal Winchester (partly), Amanda, and Baltimore. All marriage records are filed through the Fairfield County Probate Court.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Fairfield County. Check your address to make sure you are searching for records in the right place.