Ohio Free Marriage Records

By Ben Kingsley


The Freedom of Information Act has mandated the local government of Ohio to open the access of public records to the local residents. One of the many documents that the residents can request is the Ohio marriage license public records. With this, the residents can easily obtain a copy of such file whenever they find it necessary.

Residents of Ohio use the marriage certificate for a number of reasons. It is one of the primary sources of information when conducting research on the family history. The information that can be obtained in the file is used to update the family tree. Another use of this document is for government transactions. There are requests in the government that would call for a copy of such files. Requests that involve the couple's finances like insurance would require such files to proceed. A rather unique use of this document is when one wants to check on the marital status of an individual. Those who plan to get married would do this to make sure they are going to marry a person who is really single.

Early records of marriage in Ohio only have the basic information of the marriage. This includes the names of the couple as well as the information as to when and where the marriage took place. With the changes in the demands of the people, the information included on the marriage certificate has also been updated and now includes additional details about the marriage. The maiden name of the bride can now be seen on the public file. The birth details of the couple and their information about their jobs are also indicated on the file. Additional information includes the names of the couple's parents and the witnesses.

In order to obtain a copy of a marriage certificate in the state of Ohio, one has to be the bride or the groom. The immediate families of the couple can also get a copy of the said file. Others would have to secure a special permit to proceed. A processing fee ranging from $.05 up to $5 has to be paid. This would vary on the type of request made. The request will not be processed without the basic information of the marriage. The one who request for the document is required to provide their contact details for verification only.

The Historical Society of Ohio is where the state manages the public records including the marriage certificates. Only records from 1949 are available in the state of Ohio. One can also request for a copy of a marriage certificate at the office of the probate court in the county where the couple registered their marriage. Sending a mail request is also possible but results of the search can be delivered only after a few days.

Marriage license search in the state of Ohio can be done through the Internet. The government of the state uses the development of the Internet to deliver information to its local residents. This means the records can be obtained faster and hassle free. This has eliminated the need to go to any office just to file the request since it can be done even at home and the results are obtained in just seconds.




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