How to Get a Marriage License in Columbus (Franklin County, OH)

Who issues the license

In Ohio, marriage licenses are issued by the county probate court, not by a city. Columbus is the county seat of Franklin County, but when you search for a "Columbus marriage license," the office you need is the Franklin County probate court. There is no separate city office to visit.

That matters because a license is tied to the county that issues it. Knowing which court is yours before you start saves you a wasted trip.

Which county you apply in

Where you apply depends on where you live:

•If you are Ohio residents, you apply at the probate court in a county where one of you lives. Only one of you needs to live there.

•If you live out of state, you apply in the county where the ceremony will take place.

So Franklin County is your court if one of you lives here. It is also your court if you live out of state and plan to marry in Franklin County. If you are Ohio residents and the county you live in is a different one, apply there instead.

What the license costs

Each county sets its own fee, so the amount can differ from one county to the next. In Franklin County (Columbus), the fee is $65. If a friend or relative got a license in another county, don't assume they paid the same amount.

The court may have rules about how it accepts payment, and we can't tell you what they are. Ask before you go, so you don't get to the counter and find out your card or check isn't accepted.

No waiting period, but a deadline

Ohio has no waiting period for a marriage license. If you get the license today, you can marry today.

The license is valid for 60 days from the date it is issued. That gives you two things to plan around:

•Don't apply so early that your ceremony falls outside the 60-day window.

•If your date is firm, work backward from it and pick up the license inside that window.

If you want a ceremony on the same day you apply, you can do that. If you have a date months away, wait to apply until you are within 60 days of it.

Confirm these details before you go

We have not verified the office's street address, phone number, hours, appointment policy, or accepted payment methods, and we won't guess at them. Contact the Franklin County probate court directly and get current answers. Before you leave the house, it helps to know:

1.Where to go. Get the exact address and which entrance or counter handles marriage licenses.

2.When it's open. Ask about hours, and whether any days or times are closed to the public.

3.Whether you need an appointment, or whether you can walk in.

4.How you can pay. Ask which payment methods are accepted for the $65 fee, and whether the fee is still $65 on the day you go.

5.What each of you should bring. Ask what identification or paperwork the court requires, and whether you both need to be there in person.

Write the answers down and keep them with you. Court procedures can change, and the people who staff the counter are the best source for what applies on your day.

A short checklist

•Work out which county's probate court you should apply to, using the residency rules above.

•Contact that court and confirm the address, hours, appointment policy, and payment methods.

•Ask what each of you needs to bring.

•Set aside the $65 fee if you are applying in Franklin County.

•Hold the ceremony within 60 days of the day the license is issued.

Once you have those answers, getting the license is a short errand. The main thing to get right is the court you apply to and the 60-day window after you pick it up.

Franklin County marriage licenses, by the numbers

426 marriage licenses were filed in Franklin County in the last 30 days and 4,563 in the last 12 months; the newest filing we hold is dated 2026-09-30. Month-by-month counts and the public record are on the Franklin County marriage license page.

State rules checked against [Franklin County Probate Court — Marriage License Requirements](https://probate.franklincountyohio.gov/Marriage-License-Requirements). Fees and procedures change — the county probate court has the final word. General information, not legal advice.