Ohio Updated Marriage Records

By Ben Kingsley


The marriage of a couple should be documented and it is done in the form of a certificate. Marriage certificates are usually grouped together and kept in records. In Ohio, these documents are considered open documents. This means that OH marriage records are available for the residents to access anytime.

There are several reasons why the people of Ohio request for a copy of a marriage certificate. One of the primary uses of this document is for genealogy research. It is used as reference when updating the family tree because it has information that is vital in the process of genealogy. Government transactions would also call for a copy of a marriage certificate. It is used as proof of one's marital status and identification. Without it requests may be delayed if not, denied. It is also used when conducting a background check especially on the marital status of a person. It can help individuals to know their partners and verify whether they are with a married person or not.

Marriage records focuses on the details about the marriage itself. One would know who got married since the names of the couple are documented on the file along with the important details of the event such as the place and the date when it occurred. Important names such as the names of the couple's parents and the witnesses can also be found on the record.

When requesting for a copy of a marriage certificate in Ohio, one should know the process and requirements before doing so. This can help prevent delays thus hastening the retrieval process. Marriage records in Ohio have been archived since 1949. Unlike other states where the office of the Vital Records Section issues copies of marriage certificates, in Ohio only the state's Historical Society keeps some of the marriage records. In cases where the document you are seeking is not available there, it can be obtained at the probate court of the county where it was registered. Processing fees may vary per county, from $.05 per page to $5 per request. One has to indicate all needed information on the application form such as the names of the couple, date and place where the marriage took place.

Instead of going to any office, one can also do the search by writing a mail request addressed to the office of the county clerk where the marriage took place. When doing a mail request, all of the needed documents and requirements have to be enclosed. This helps avoid further delay in the retrieval process.

Marital records can now be obtained online. With this, the problem faced by many when obtaining marital records can be avoided. One good thing about this is that the search can be done at your convenience which means that you can do the search even early in the morning or late at night. It is also fast since the results of the search are displayed in just seconds. Several websites are offering such services and people can choose to pay for the service or do a free search.




About the Author: