NOTICE: Applicants are required to maintain 6 foot distancing by staying at the marks on the floor unless requested to move forward by the clerk.
You and the person you are marrying must bring all necessary information to the Summit County Probate Court. In order to process your application and issue a license, it is advised that you be at the Court no later than 3:30 p.m.
In Ohio, the Probate Court issues marriage licenses. Once the license is issued, it is valid for 60 days. If 60 days pass without getting married, the marriage license expires and you must reapply for a new license.
When applying for a license, both applicants must appear at the Court. The court will not issue a license to anyone who appears under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- To view a video on the Marriage Application process, please click on: Marriage Video [1]
TO OBTAIN A MARRIAGE LICENSE:
- Have your credit card available when you apply.
- Complete the Marriage Application using the eMarriage License Application portal and review all the information for accuracy.
- Once you have completed and paid the application fee, you will receive a confirmation email and a separate email with a receipt.
- The marriage license fee is $64.00, which includes 2 certified copies of your Marriage abstract for your convenience. (There will be a 5% credit card processing fee)
- You will have 30 days from the time of your application to come into the Court for issuance. The application fee is non-refundable and you must reapply and pay the fee if you do not obtain your license within the thirty days.
- Both applicants MUST come to the Court during regular business hours to complete the process.
Residency Requirements:
- If you plan to get married in Ohio, you must have an Ohio marriage license. Apply for your license in the County where either of you live.
- If you live outside Ohio, but plan to get married in Ohio, apply for a license in the County where the ceremony will take place.
- If you apply here, but your identification shows residency in another county, the Court requires proof of Summit County residency (Utility Bill, Cable Bill, Rental/Lease Agreement, Bank Statements, etc.)
Information Needed:
- Each applicant must provide their Social Security number (kept confidential), current address, age, birth date, place of birth, and birth names of each father and mother.
- If the birth name of the parent is unknown, you must bring your birth certificate to the Court.
- Applicants must have a valid government-issued photo ID (Driver’s License, State ID, Passport, Military ID, or Green Card).
Fill out the eMarriage License Application [2] and review all the information for accuracy.
Marriage License – FAQ’s [3]
Previous Marriages:
If your most recent marriage ended by divorce, dissolution or annulment, you must bring a CERTIFIED copy of the final decree or judgment entry to the Court at the time of your application. If your most recent marriage ended due to a death, the date of death for your previous spouse must be included on the application and you must provide a copy of the death certificate.
Marriage License Fee:
The marriage license fee is $64.00.
- You will receive 2 certified copies of your marriage abstract.
- 5% credit card processing fee will be applied.
- Seventeen dollars ($17.00) of this fee is deposited with a fund established by the State of Ohio for aid to abused and battered spouses.
Officials Permitted to Perform a Marriage Ceremony:
An ordained or licensed minister of any religious society or congregation within Ohio licensed to perform marriages, an authorized judge of a county court, a judge of a municipal court, the mayor of a municipal corporation within their own county, the superintendent of the state school for the deaf, or any religious society, in conformity with the rules and regulations of its church are permitted to perform a marriage ceremony. Civil marriage ceremonies may be scheduled by calling the Akron Municipal Court at (330) 375-2059.
Ministers may obtain information about licensing requirements by contacting:
State of Ohio Office of The Secretary of State
30 E. Broad St., 14th Floor
Columbus, OH 43266-0418
614.466.2585
www.sos.state.oh.us [4]
Change of Name:
Although it is not mandatory to do so, you may take your spouse’s last name. It is your responsibility to notify the appropriate agencies and businesses. This includes: credit accounts, banks, the Social Security Administration, and the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to have the driver’s license changed.
Information on changing your name with Social Security may be obtained by contacting:
Social Security Administration
2nd Floor Federal Building
2 South Main Street
Akron, OH 44308
1.800.772.1213
www.ssa.gov [5]
Legal Proof of Marriage and Certified Copies:
Probate Court retains a record (marriage abstract) for every marriage license issued in Summit County. If legal proof of your marriage is needed, a certified copy of the abstract may be obtained in the Probate Court Records Room.
- Certified copies are $2.00 each and can be paid for with cash, in-state personal check, cashier’s check, or a certified check made payable to Summit County Probate Court.
- Credit cards are accepted. A 3% charge will be added if using a credit card as payment.
- Copies may be requested in person, or by mailing a Records Request Form [6] to: Summit County Probate Court, ATTN: Records Room, 209 S. High Street, Akron, OH 44308.
- If requesting a certified copy by mail, include a self-addressed stamped envelope, $2.00 cash or money order (NO OUT OF STATE CHECKS), and a letter of request. The letter of request must include: applicant’s name prior to marriage, spouses name, date of marriage and a current phone number to contact. If you hold a “non-public marriage license”, please contact the Court at (330) 643-2352 for further instructions.
The Court’s “Historical Marriage Index” contains Summit County marriage records from September 9, 1980 to the present. These records can be accessed through Records Search.
Marriage Records before September 9, 1980, can be accessed through Ancestry.com [7].
Destination Weddings:
For couples planning to marry outside the United States, you must contact the Country and location where your ceremony will be performed to obtain a marriage license.
Couples married outside the United States are not required to submit any documentation to the Summit County Probate Court.
Obtaining a Marriage Record of Your Destination Wedding:
If you marry outside the United States, Summit County Probate Court will not have a record of your marriage in our database. To obtain a certified copy of your marriage record, you must contact the Country and location where your marriage took place.
Marriage of Minors:
The minimum age to apply for a marriage license is eighteen (18) years of age. If one or both of the applicants is under the age of 18, you must have the consent of the Juvenile Court (330) 643-2900.
Inmate Marriage:
If you plan to marry an individual who is currently incarcerated, please click on the link below for more information.
Inmate Marriage Info [8]
Correction of a Marriage Abstract:
Corrections for a marriage abstract are only done when the information pertaining to the Applicants’ information is incorrect as of the date of application not after the marriage.
The Summit County Probate Court can only correct Marriage Abstracts issued in Summit County in the State of Ohio.
Corrections can be made in regards to the following:
- Name of Applicants
- Age of Applicants at time of application
- Birthplace of Applicants
- Name of Parents’ of Applicants
- Previously Married information
- Date of marriage
- Name of Officiator
Evidence must be presented that verify the facts of the Marriage Abstract as of the date of issuance.
The following form must be filed with the verification evidence:
Form – Application For The Correction Of A Marriage Record [9]
The Court cost for correction must be made at time of filing.
Filing Fee:
- The Filing Fee is $25.00
- $1.00 per certified copies requested
- If you use a credit card, a 3% charge will be added to the total fee.
For further questions, comments, or concerns please contact our office directly.
recordsinfo@summitohioprobate.com [10] or (330) 643-2346