Free Summit County Marriage Records (Access Marital Records)

Run a free Summit County marriage records search to reveal details about marital unions within the county. These records are formal documents maintained by regional or national offices, vouching that a marriage took place. The role of these documents is to act as valid evidence confirming the matrimonial bond.

These records include names of both parties involved in the union, their parents, birthplaces, jobs, and addresses. Specific offices share details of marital records in Summit County, Ohio, and this resource lays out clear procedures for those interested in retrieving such records.

How To Search Summit County Marriage Records for Free

Conducting Summit County marital records search can be done by visiting the County’s Probate Court website. Here, you can find marriage records post-1980 through the Case Records Search.¹

For searching, you will need to enter the first and last name of the individual in the respective sections and then select the ‘Marriage License’ option from the drop-down menu of ‘Case Type’ and press the search button.

After this, a list of marriage licenses under the name of the individual will appear, bearing their case number, case type, filing date, party type, and case status.

Upon clicking on the individual’s case number, more details about the individual’s marriage will pop up.

To view the image of the certified abstract of the marriage license, head over to the ‘Dockets’ section and press the image option available. If you require a physical copy, then you can get it either by walking into the Summit County Probate Court or mailing the Records Request Form at the following:²

Summit County Probate Court
ATTN: Records Room 
209 South High Street
Akron, Ohio 44308

Office hours: Weekdays (8 AM – 4 PM)

It’s important to note that certified copies cost $2 each and payment options are flexible – credit cards are also acceptable, but with an added 3% charge. Cash payments and checks, too, are accepted, but remember, they must be from within the state.

If you are proceeding with the mail-in request, then include a stamped envelope directed towards yourself and, of course, your letter of request. The letter of request should mention four things: the name of the individual before marriage, the spouse’s name, the wedding date, and the current contact number.

For more instructions you can contact the court directly at the following:

Summit County Probate Court
209 S. High St.,
Akron, OH, 44308-1616

Phone: (330)-643-2350
Office hours: Weekdays (8 AM – 4 PM)

The marriage records in Summit County are maintained at the county level and thus cannot be found at the city level. However, if you are looking for archival marriage records then these could be found through the probate court, the procedure of finding these records is discussed in the following section.

How To Look Up Archived Marriage Records in Summit County Ohio

Archived marriage records in Summit County, Ohio, can also be searched through the Probate Court.³ The court maintains these historical records to assist both genealogists and ordinary citizens in conducting research.

If the Summit County marital records search dates between 1840 and 1980, you will be required to send an email to [email protected]. Include the last names of both parties and the year of the union in your request. Alternatively, a request can also be made by contacting the Probate Court at 330-643-2352.

For cases post-1980, though, you will need to turn to the Case Records Search (discussed in the previous section) and follow the steps highlighted above.

In case you desire a physical copy or certified version of any record, fill out the Records Request Form.⁴

Don’t forget to complete payment as required. An amount of $2.00 per page for certified marriage copies and $0.10 per page for plain copies.

The payment can be made through check, money order, or credit/debit card. The form can be mailed to the following address:

Summit County Probate Court 
ATTN: Records Room
209 South High St.
Akron, Ohio 44308

Office hours: Weekdays (8 AM – 4 PM)

To find older matrimony records in Ohio, you will need to know the exact location of the marriage. This is required because there are no statewide indexes for these records. Marital information predating 1980 can be found in sources like old newspapers, churches, historical societies, and libraries.

It’s important to note that the state does not ratify any common-law marriages initiated after October 10, 1991, as per the Ohio Rev. Code §3105.12 (B) (1). Yet it will accept those certified in other states that allow common-law marriages.

In terms of domestic partnerships, legislation varies across different counties and cities within Ohio. The state law itself does not recognize couples living together without a cohabitation agreement. If such an agreement doesn’t exist between an unmarried couple and their relationship ends, they have no legal recourse to claim rights or benefits.

How Do You Look Up Ohio Marriage Records Outside of Summit County?

Oftentimes people may find out that a marriage took place in another county or somewhere else within the Ohio state. If this happens, conducting a Summit County marital records search won’t prove beneficial. In such scenarios, it’s wise to get in contact with the state offices that deal with records about the whole state.

However, in the case of Ohio, there is no such state-level entity that keeps marriage records, although these can be found through independent private organizations operating at the state level.

Without an official index for marriages across the state, it’s crucial to know where exactly the matrimony took place to locate its record. The marriage record can then be found by contacting the Probate Court of the specific county.⁵

How To Request a Summit County Marriage License

To get a marriage license in Summit County, Ohio, you must go to the Probate Court. This is where all marriage licenses are issued.

If you want to apply for a marriage license, you should be at least 18 years old. If one or both people applying are under 18, then they must get in contact with the Juvenile Court.⁶

Marriage licenses last for 60 days. If you do not marry within this time limit, your license becomes invalid.

To obtain the license, first access the eMarriage License Application Portal, then fill out the Marriage Application Form completely and then check for its accuracy.^{7, 8}

Once done with filling out the application, you will be required to pay the associated fees, which equals $64.00, plus a processing fee of 5%. After this, two emails will be sent out, one confirming your application and another containing a receipt of payment.

Remember that once submitted, there’s no refunding of application fees even if you fail to come pick up your license. The license can be picked up within 30 days of being issued.

Both individuals need to be present when collecting the license. Each individual needs to bring their social security number in addition to proof of address and age details, including date and place of birth, along with parents’ names from birth records.

If you are unable to provide parent names, simply provide your original birth certificate alongside other proofs like government-issued IDs such as driving license or passport, among others. If you require further instructions, you can always contact the Probate Court at the following:

Summit County Probate Court
209 S. High St.,
Akron, OH, 44308-1616

Phone: (330)-643-2350
Email: [email protected]
Office hours: Weekdays (8 AM – 4 PM)

Once you get the license, you’ll be able to get married, and your marriage becomes part of the public records maintained by the county; if you ever feel the need to access these records, then make sure to perform a Summit County marriage records search request using the steps highlighted above.