Getting a Marriage License in Lorain County
Lorain County Probate Court issues every marriage license in the county. It is the sole agency with that power. No other office, city, or township can hand you a license. Applications run by appointment only. You call 440-329-5295 to set a time. Walk-ins are not allowed, so plan ahead. Both people who want to marry must come in together for the appointment.
The license fee is $57, paid in cash. Of that fee, $17 goes to a special fund that helps shelters for victims of domestic violence. Once issued, a Lorain County marriage license stays valid for 60 days. Miss that window and it expires. A couple that lets a license lapse must apply again and pay another $57. Blood tests are no longer required, a rule that tripped up couples for decades.
Residency matters. One or both applicants must live in Lorain County to get a license here. There is an exception. Out-of-state couples may apply in Lorain County when the ceremony itself will take place in the county. Each person also needs a Social Security number on file, and both must show valid ID.
Marriage License Requirements
The Probate Court lists what to bring before you sit down for the appointment. Good prep means one trip, not two. The official Lorain County marriage license requirements page spells out the ID, residency, and prior-divorce rules in full.
That page is the one to read first, since it controls what the clerk will ask for at the counter. The main rules are short and worth knowing up front.
- ID. Each person brings a valid government photo ID, such as a driver's license, military ID, state ID, passport, or visa.
- Social Security number. Both applicants must give an SSN.
- Residency. At least one applicant lives in Lorain County, or the ceremony is held in the county.
- Prior divorce. Bring the county, state, case number, date final, and a copy of the most recent decree.
Age rules add a layer. Juvenile Court consent is needed if both people are 17, or if one is 17 and the other is no more than four years older. A license cannot issue earlier than 14 calendar days after the Juvenile Court entry is filed. When either applicant is 17, the judge requires a statement that the couple got satisfactory marriage counseling, plus a filed verification form. These steps protect minors and slow the process, so build in extra time if they apply.
How to Apply for a Marriage License
The full application form sits on the Probate Court site. The Lorain County marriage license application page shows the fields you will fill in before the visit.
Reviewing the form ahead of time speeds the appointment. The steps below walk through a standard application from first call to issued license.
- Call 440-329-5295 to book an appointment. Walk-ins cannot apply.
- Gather IDs, Social Security numbers, and any prior divorce decree.
- Both applicants appear together at the Probate Court at the set time.
- Fill out the application and sign in front of court staff.
- Pay the $57 cash fee, which includes the $17 shelter fund share.
- Receive the license and marry within 60 days before it expires.
Note: a license issued in Lorain County does not have to be used here, but it expires 60 days out no matter where the wedding takes place.
Marriage License Application Fields
The application asks for detail about both people. It uses Groom/Bride and Applicant 1/2 labels. Some fields apply only when a prior marriage or minor children are involved. The table maps each field, whether it is required, and a short note.
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Full legal name | Yes | Each applicant; Groom/Bride or Applicant 1/2 labels. |
| Social Security number | Yes | Required for each person. |
| Date of birth | Yes | Each applicant. |
| Age | Yes | Each applicant; triggers juvenile rules if 17. |
| Address | Yes | Each applicant. |
| Birthplace | Yes | Each applicant. |
| Occupation | Yes | Each applicant. |
| Father's full name | Yes | Each applicant. |
| Mother's full maiden name | Yes | Each applicant. |
| Previously married | Yes | Checkbox for each applicant. |
| Former spouse's name | If applies | Only if previously married. |
| Divorce date, decree number, state and county | If applies | Bring a copy of the most recent decree. |
| Minor children by this marriage | If applies | Names listed when relevant. |
| Officiant name, title, address, phone | Expected | Person expected to perform the ceremony. |
| Expected date of marriage | Expected | Planned ceremony date. |
Lorain County Marriage and Divorce Fees
Marriage fees are set and short. The license is $57 cash. A certified copy of a marriage license is $1 each. Divorce filing costs run through the Domestic Relations Division of the Court of Common Pleas, and the Clerk of Courts collects those deposits. Current divorce filing deposits were not confirmed in the official source used here, so check with the Clerk before you file.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Marriage license | $57 cash |
| Certified marriage license copy | $1.00 each |
| Divorce or dissolution filing deposit | Confirm with the Clerk of Courts |
| Certified divorce decree copy | $1.00 per page (Clerk certified rate) |
The $1 certified copy rate matches the Clerk of Courts schedule for certified pages. For uncertified copies the Clerk charges $0.10 a page.
How to Look Up Lorain County Marriage Records
Marriage records sit with Probate Court. The court runs a free online search that includes the Marriage License case type, listed under code ML. You can search by last name, first name, case type, or case number. The database holds probate-related records since 1990, and the court keeps paper files back to 1824. That deep reach helps with genealogy and old family records.
To find a record you mostly need a name. A case number helps when you have one. The online search is updated every Saturday, so a very recent license may not show right away. For an official copy, request a certified marriage license copy from Probate Court. The form asks for the names of both people at the time of marriage, the date of marriage, and a phone number.
How to Find Lorain County Divorce Records
Divorce and dissolution cases are not probate matters. They belong to the Domestic Relations Division and run as Court of Common Pleas cases. To search them, use the Clerk of Courts eServices portal and pick Domestic Relations records. You search by party name or case number, the same as other civil and criminal files. The court dockets page explains how the portal indexes names.
A divorce file can hold the complaint or petition, service papers, motions, hearing notices, parenting and support orders, and the final decree. Some content is shielded. Financial affidavits, child information, Social Security numbers, and domestic violence safety details may be redacted or sealed. So the public docket shows the case path, but not every private page. For an official decree, ask the Clerk of Courts, not Probate. More on requests sits on the public records page.
Getting Certified Copies
A certified copy carries the court seal and proves the record is real. Banks, the Social Security office, and immigration may demand a certified document, not a printout. For a marriage license, Probate Court charges $1 per certified copy. Pay by cash, money order, or personal check made out to Lorain County Probate Court. No third-party checks. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for a mailed return, and the court will not send a copy without payment in hand.
For a certified divorce decree, go to the Clerk of Courts or the Domestic Relations file, not Probate. The Clerk certifies pages at $1 each. Clerk filing info sits on the Clerk of Courts page.
Marriage Records and Ohio Vital Records
Ohio handles marriage and divorce records at the county level, not through a single statewide certificate office. The Ohio Department of Health keeps birth and death records, but marriage and divorce filings stay with the county that issued the license or heard the case. For Lorain County, that means Probate Court for marriage and the Clerk of Courts for divorce.
Where each record lives:
Marriage license and certified marriage copy: Lorain County Probate Court, 225 Court Street, Room 611, Elyria, 440-329-5175.
Divorce and dissolution case files and certified decrees: Lorain County Clerk of Courts, eServices Domestic Relations search, 440-329-5624.