Ohio Code § 3101.05

Ohio Code § 3101.05. Reproduced from the official Ohio Revised Code, with a citation summary, verification link, and related provisions.

§ 3101.05.

(A) The parties to a marriage shall make an application for a marriage license.  Each of the persons seeking a marriage license shall personally appear in the probate

court within the county where either resides, or, if neither is a resident of this

state, where the marriage is expected to be solemnized.  If neither party is a resident of this state, the marriage may be solemnized only

in the county where the license is obtained.  Each party shall make application and shall state upon oath, the party's name, age,

residence, place of birth, occupation, father's name, and mother's maiden name, if

known, and the name of the person who is expected to solemnize the marriage.  If either party has been previously married, the application shall include the names

of the parties to any previous marriage and of any minor children, and if divorced

the jurisdiction, date, and case number of the decree.  If either applicant is the age of seventeen years, the judge shall require the applicants

to state that they received marriage counseling satisfactory to the court.  Except as otherwise provided in this division, the application also shall include

each party's social security number.  In lieu of requiring each party's social security number on the application, the

court may obtain each party's social security number, retain the social security numbers

in a separate record, and allow a number other than the social security number to

be used on the application for reference purposes.  If a court allows the use of a number other than the social security number to be

used on the application for reference purposes, the record containing the social security

number is not a public record, except that, in any of the circumstances set forth

in divisions (C)(1) to (5) of section 3101.051 of the Revised Code, the record containing

the social security number shall be made available for inspection under section 149.43 of the Revised Code . Immediately upon receipt of an application for a marriage license, the court shall

place the parties' record in a book kept for that purpose.  If the probate judge is satisfied that there is no legal impediment and if one or

both of the parties are present, the probate judge shall grant the marriage license. If the judge is satisfied from the affidavit of a reputable physician, clinical nurse

specialist, or certified nurse practitioner in active practice and residing in the

county where the probate court is located, that one of the parties is unable to appear

in court, by reason of illness or other physical disability, a marriage license may

be granted upon application and oath of the other party to the contemplated marriage;

 but in that case the person who is unable to appear in court, at the time of making

application for a marriage license, shall make and file in that court, an affidavit

setting forth the information required of applicants for a marriage license. A probate judge may grant a marriage license under this section at any time after

the application is made. A marriage license issued shall not display the social security number of either party

to the marriage. Each person seeking a marriage license shall present documentary proof of age in the

form of any one of the following: (1) A copy of a birth record; (2) A birth certificate issued by the department of health, a local registrar of vital

statistics, or other public office charged with similar duties by the laws of another

state, territory, or country; (3) A baptismal record showing the person's date of birth; (4) A passport; (5) A license or permit to operate a motor vehicle as defined under section 4501.01 of the Revised Code ; (6) Any government- or school-issued identification card showing the person's date of

birth; (7) An immigration record showing the person's date of birth; (8) A naturalization record showing the person's date of birth; (9) A court record or any other document or record issued by a governmental entity showing

the person's date of birth. (B) An applicant for a marriage license who knowingly makes a false statement in an application

or affidavit prescribed by this section is guilty of falsification under section 2921.13 of the Revised Code . (C) No licensing officer shall issue a marriage license if the officer has not received

the application, affidavit, or other statements prescribed by this section or if the

officer has reason to believe that any of the statements in a marriage license application

or in an affidavit prescribed by this section are false. (D) Any fine collected for violation of this section shall be paid to the use of the

county together with the costs of prosecution.

Source: official Ohio text · Last verified 2026-08-27

At a glance

  • Citation: Ohio Revised Code § 3101.05
  • Jurisdiction: Ohio
  • Code: Ohio Revised Code
  • Text: transcribed from the official source (verify below)

Verify the text

Statute text is transcribed from the official Ohio Revised Code. Confirm it against the primary source before relying on it:

Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed Ohio attorney.

Common questions

What is the source of Ohio Revised Code § 3101.05?

The text above is transcribed from the Ohio Revised Code, the codified statutes of Ohio. The official publisher link appears under "Verify the text" on this page.

What subject does Ohio Revised Code § 3101.05 address?

It addresses the rule set out in the section text. Read the section together with the surrounding provisions listed under "Nearby provisions" for the full picture.

Is Ohio Revised Code § 3101.05 still in force?

Statutes are amended, repealed, and renumbered every session. Confirm the current version at the official Ohio source before relying on this text.

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