Find Franklin County Marriage Records
Franklin County marriage records are kept by the Probate Court in Columbus, the state capital. Created in 1803, Franklin County is the most populous county in Ohio. The Probate Court Marriage Department on the 23rd floor of 373 South High Street handles all license applications and maintains marriage records dating back to the county's founding. You can search the Marriage License Index online, visit in person, or order certified copies by mail. With Columbus and its suburbs generating thousands of marriage licenses each year, this is one of the busiest probate courts in the state.
Franklin County Overview
Franklin County Probate Court Marriage Department
The Franklin County Probate Court Marriage Department is on the 23rd floor at 373 South High Street in Columbus. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The last marriage license of the day is issued at 4:00 PM, and both parties must be there by that time. The court is closed on all legal holidays recognized by the county.
Franklin County issues marriage licenses to county residents who plan to marry in Ohio. Out-of-state residents who want to marry in Franklin County can also get a license here. All applicants must complete the online application before appearing in person. Applications are valid for 30 days. The license fee is $65, payable by cash or credit/debit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover). A 3% service charge applies to card payments.
There is no waiting period. Once your application is approved, you can marry right away. The license is valid for 60 days under ORC Chapter 3101. If you were married before, you need proof of how that marriage ended. Documents in languages other than English must be professionally translated.
| Court | Franklin County Probate Court - Marriage Department |
|---|---|
| Address |
373 South High Street, 23rd Floor Columbus, OH 43215 |
| Phone | (614) 525-3108 |
| marriage@franklincountyohio.gov | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
Search Franklin County Marriage Records Online
The Franklin County Marriage License Index lets you search marriage records online by name. Records from 1803 through 1994 are available at the Probate Court. All records on the case search are current as of the prior day's close of business. This is a free tool and anyone can use it.
The Franklin County Clerk of Courts also has an online system called Case Information Online (CIO). This tool covers criminal and civil cases from the Court of Common Pleas. It is meant for public use but is not a source for bulk data downloads. Efforts to mine large amounts of data will be detected and stopped. For marriage records specifically, the Probate Court's Marriage License Index is the right place to look.
For certified copies or records not available online, contact the Probate Court Copy Requests department at (614) 525-3899 or email probate@franklincountyohio.gov. You can request copies in person without an appointment. The Ohio Legal Help page for Franklin County also has guidance on how the court works.
Note: After the officiant returns the signed license, couples can order certified marriage abstracts in person, online, or by regular mail.
Franklin County Marriage License Costs
The marriage license fee in Franklin County is $65. That covers the license itself. If you pay by credit or debit card, add a 3% service charge. Correcting a minor error on the application costs $5. Amending an application to add previous marriages costs $35, and both parties must sign in front of a notary for that change.
Certified marriage abstracts (the official record of the marriage) can be ordered after the officiant returns the signed license. You can pick them up at the courthouse, order them online, or request them by mail. The Probate Court also handles copy requests at (614) 525-3899. Fees for certified copies are typically $2 to $3 per copy, in line with other Ohio counties.
Franklin County Marriage Records Resources
The Franklin County Probate Court Marriage Department website has everything you need to start the license process, including the online application.
The Marriage Department page shows hours, fees, requirements, and a link to the online pre-application for Franklin County marriage licenses.
The Marriage License Index provides free online searches of Franklin County marriage records going back to 1803.
This search tool lets you look up marriage records by name and view case details from the Franklin County Probate Court database.
The Franklin County Clerk of Courts Case Information Online system covers civil and criminal cases in the Common Pleas Court.
CIO is a public access tool for Franklin County court records. For marriage records specifically, use the Probate Court's Marriage License Index instead.
Ohio Legal Help has a resource page for the Franklin County Probate Court with helpful guides on court procedures.
Ohio Legal Help provides free guidance on getting ready for hearings, name changes, and other services at the Franklin County Probate Court.
Cities in Franklin County
Franklin County includes Columbus and several suburbs. All marriage licenses are issued through the Franklin County Probate Court no matter which city you live in.
Other communities in Franklin County include Westerville, Reynoldsburg, Gahanna, Grove City, Hilliard, and Upper Arlington. Marriage records for all of them go through the same Probate Court in Columbus.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Franklin County. Confirm the address on the license to make sure you search in the right county.