Obtaining Your Marriage License - Summit County
So many of our brides ask about the process of obtaining all of the paperwork needed for their marriage in Summit County that we thought it would be best to layout the steps for you. Please note, every situation is different and parts of this process may vary slightly from couple to couple.
At least one applicant must be a resident of Summit County. If both parties reside outside of the State of Ohio, then the marriage ceremony must take place in Summit County, Ohio.
STEP 1: Complete the Marriage License Application
How: https://summitohioprobate.com/Forms/NonAttorneyPDFs/Marriage_Application.pdf
STEP 2: Obtain Your Marriage License
How: Up to 60 days before your wedding day
Where: Summit County Probate Court
How: In person, between 8:00 am and 3:45 pm Monday through Friday
Cost: $50 cash, in-state check or credit card (3% fee added)
What to Bring: Both parties and photo ID for each individual, the marriage license application (printed)
Tips & Tricks: Each applicant must provide their Social Security number (kept confidential), current address, age, birth date, place of birth, and birth names of each father and mother. If the birth name of the parent is unknown, you must bring your birth certificate to the Court. Applicants must have a valid government-issued photo ID (Driver’s License, State ID, Passport, Military ID, or Green Card).
STEP 3: Get Married!
When: Within 60 days of obtaining your marriage license
Where: Anywhere within the state (as long as one person resides in Summit County), if you both live out of the state you must get married in the county in which you filed for the license.
How: An ordained or licensed minister of any religious society or congregation within Ohio licensed to perform marriages, an authorized judge of a county court, a judge of a municipal court, the mayor of a municipal corporation within their own county, the superintendent of the state school for the deaf, or any religious society, in conformity with the rules and regulations of its church are permitted to perform a marriage ceremony. Civil marriage ceremonies may be scheduled by calling the Akron Municipal Court at (330) 375-2059.
Cost: Officiants charge anywhere from $100-$1000; Courthouse is about $20
What to Bring: Your government issued ID, marriage license packet
Tips & Tricks: By law there is a five day waiting period. Typically, our Court waives that waiting period and issues the license at the time of application, however, there may be circumstances under which the Court may hold a hearing on the application.
Legal Proof of Marriage and Certified Copies:
Probate Court retains a record (marriage abstract) for every marriage license issued in Summit County. If legal proof of your marriage is needed, a certified copy of the abstract may be obtained in the Probate Court Records Room.
Certified copies are $2.00 each and can be paid for with cash, in-state personal check, cashier’s check, or a certified check made payable to Summit County Probate Court.
Credit cards are accepted. A 3% charge will be added if using a credit card as payment.
Copies may be requested in person, or by mailing a Records Request Form to: Summit County Probate Court, ATTN: Records Room, 209 S. High Street, Akron, OH 44308.
If requesting a certified copy by mail, include a self-addressed stamped envelope, $2.00 cash or money order (no out of state checks), and a letter of request. The letter of request must include: applicant’s name prior to marriage, spouses name, date of marriage and a current phone number to contact. If you hold a “non-public marriage license”, please contact the Court at 330.643.2352 for further instructions.
Information on changing your name with Social Security may be obtained by contacting:
Social Security Administration 2nd Floor Federal Building 2 South Main Street Akron, OH 44308 1.800.772.1213 www.ssa.gov