How to Find Ohio Marriage Records

How To Find U.S. Marriage Records How To Find Ohio Marriage Records

Finding Ohio Marriage Records

• Marriages are kept by the county clerk for each county and begin at the creation of the county
• 1949 - county clerks began sending copies to the state

Next Step: When did the marriage occur?		Marriage Records Choose a time period: Before 1949 1949 to Present Marriage year unknown

Learn more about U.S. Marriage Records

Marriages Before 1949

• Marriages are kept by the county clerk for each county and begin at the creation of the county

If you cannot locate your ancestor in the databases below, try searching for marriage information in other records.

STEP ONE: Find Marriage Information in Index

Marriage Indexes and Digital Images
Database Name - Index and Image	Link or links to access database		# of records
FamilySearch, Marriages, 1797-1954	On FamilySearch; free; INCOMPLETE for all counties and years		184,092
Ancestry, Marriages, 1852-1914	Free using Ancestryinstitution at FamilySearch Centers	$, Use your own Ancestry subscription	230,792

If you do not locate the marriage in the above, try:
Database Name-Index Only	Link or links to access database		# of records
FamilySearch, Marriages, 1785-1979	On FamilySearch; free; INCOMPLETE for all counties and years		1,532,533
Ancestry, Marriages, 1795-1850	Free using Ancestryinstitution at FamilySearch Centers	$, Use your own Ancestry subscription	7,970
Ancestry, Marriages, 1802-1850	Free using Ancestryinstitution at FamilySearch Centers	$, Use your own Ancestry subscription	72,640
Ancestry, Marriages, 1851-1900	Free using Ancestryinstitution at FamilySearch Centers	$, Use your own Ancestry subscription	307,737

Can't access Ancestry?	Visit your local Family History Center or your local public library.
No marriage record for your ancestor?	Search for Gretna Greens-- locations away from the home county where marriage laws were less restrictive. Search other records with marriage information.

STEP TWO: Obtain the Record

If you did not find your ancestor in the databases above, follow the instructions below:

PART A: You don't know the exact date or place of marriage

• If you know the county of marriage, you can request a search for a fee from the county clerk.
• If you don't know the date or county of marriage, you can also try searching for marriage information in other records.

PART B: You know the exact date and place of marriage from your records

• Order a copy of a marriage record for a fee from the county clerk.

OR

• View a copy of a marriage record on microfilm at a Family Search Center:

Some images of county marriage records may be available on microfilm at your local Family Search Center. If you know the approximate date and county where the marriage took place, use the Family History Library Catalog (FHLC) to see what is available.

• Search the FHLC by county.
• Select the topic Vital Records. Look for records authored by the county clerk.
• For a small fee, order the microfilm to view at a local FamilySearch Center.

Return to the Top: Choose another marriage year

Marriages 1949 to Present

Online marriage indexes are incomplete for the years 1949 to the present.

STEP ONE: Find Marriage Information in Index

Marriage Indexes
Database Name-Index Only	Link or links to access database		# of records
FamilySearch, Marriages, 1785-1979	On FamilySearch; free; INCOMPLETE for all counties and years		1,532,533
RootsWeb, Marriages, 1973-2000	On RootsWeb; free		1,213,864
Ancestry, Marriages, 1973-1999	Free using Ancestryinstitution at FamilySearch Centers	$, Use your own Ancestry subscription	2,342,097
Univ. of KY, Marriages, 1973-1993	On University of Kentucky website; free; date is given in a code: MM/DD/YY		Undisclosed

STEP TWO: Obtain the Record

PART A: You don't know the exact date or place of marriage

• If you know the county of marriage, you can request a search for a fee from the county clerk or the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics.
• If you don't know the date or county of marriage, you can also try searching for marriage information in other records.

PART B: You know the exact date and place of marriage from your records

• A copy of a marriage record may be ordered for a fee from the county clerk.

OR

• A copy of a marriage record may be ordered for a fee from the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics.

To Order Marriage Certificates
From County where Marriage occurred		Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics
Pros	Cons	Pros	Cons
May be less expensive and faster than ordering from the state	County websites can be more difficult to use	Expedited service on VitalChek	May be more expensive than ordering from the county

Return to the Top: Choose another marriage year

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