Created and reviewed for accuracy by researchers at the Universal Life Church

Ohio Outline

Welcome to our guide for officiating weddings in Ohio! Ministers ordained through the Universal Life Church love performing weddings in the Buckeye State. In fact, our members have officiated thousands of legal marriage ceremonies in Ohio over the years. The process here is slightly different than in other states, so make sure you follow the detailed instructions below to learn what is required to officiate and how to ensure the ceremony will be legally recognized.

OH Wedding Officiant Quick Facts
  • ULC Ordination Accepted: Yes
  • Minister Registration Required: Yes
  • Minister's Residency: Irrelevant
  • Minister's Minimum Age: 18
  •  
  • Marriage License Waiting Period: 0 Days
  • Marriage License Valid For: 60 Days
  • Marriage License Return Within: 30 Days
Regional Information

Local OH Wedding Guides

For more specific information about performing a wedding in certain parts of Ohio, choose a location above. If your area isn't listed, don't worry - just continue scrolling to review the helpful general information on this page.

1 How to Become an Ordained Minister in Ohio

The first step also happens to be the easiest one! Becoming an ordained minister in the Universal Life Church takes only minutes, it’s free to join, and – best of all – ULC ordinations are good for life. Join our global family of ministers who enjoy the power to perform legal wedding ceremonies! To sign up, just follow the button found below:

2 Performing a Marriage in Ohio

This part is important: Ohio ministers must submit marriage applications at the state level, to the Marriage Licensing office at the Secretary of State. So, your next step would be to contact them or visit their office to learn what documentation they'll need. The address for the Marriage Licensing Office is located at:

Minister Licensing
Ohio Secretary of State
22 North Fourth Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215

The phone number to reach the office is (614) 466-8770.



Select a clerk or recorder

Select your Clerk or Recorder to quickly generate the contact information for your local marriage authority.

3 Ohio Officiant Requirements

Once you’ve contacted the marriage licensing office to get more information, you should head over to the Church Supplies section to order any necessary documents or materials. The state of Ohio has stricter minister registration rules than almost every other state in the country. In Ohio, every ordained minister needs to register with the Secretary of State before she or he will be permitted to legally perform a wedding.

Please note that only the official documents included in the Classic Wedding Package will satisfy these requirements. That’s why we urge our ministers to order that package, as well as a Letter of Good Standing to be sure that their ordinations will be accepted by the Ohio authorities. Shipping times can vary, so please order documents well in advance of the wedding (at least 3 weeks prior is our recommendation) just to be safe.

4 How to Officiate an Ohio Wedding

Ohio's Top Wedding Spot

Ohio's Top Wedding Spot

A lakeside ceremony at a Lake Erie winery

Don’t worry, we’re almost done with the legal stuff! The last thing to be aware of, as the officiant, is rules governing marriage licenses. A few tips:

  • Double check that the wedding couple has an Ohio marriage license before the ceremony.

  • In Ohio, marriage licenses expire 60 days after they are issued, so it needs to be used before that date. There is no waiting period assessed.

  • Officials need the signed and completed marriage license to be returned to them within 30 days of the ceremony.

Whew, okay we made it. With all those items checked off the list, you can now focus your energies on the wedding itself! Performing a marriage ceremony is a tremendous honor, and the ULC wants to ensure its ministers feel supported with the resources and tools they need to make sure everything goes smoothly. On that note, please explore the Wedding Training Center here on our website for pointers and assistance. If you’ve already got the basics down, consider books like this in-depth wedding ceremony guide, available in our online catalog.

5 Important Ohio Wedding Tips

Wedding officiants in the Buckeye State should bear in mind a few things when preparing to perform a ceremony. There are countless beautiful places to get married in Ohio, both in the larger cities such as Columbus and in the countryside. Lakeside weddings on Lake Erie and barn weddings are popular for large or small gatherings. If the ceremony will be at an outdoor wedding venue, know that the summer months can get a bit humid and warm so you may want to consider a short-sleeve clergy shirt to remain comfortable. Due to this, most couples prefer to set a date in late spring or early fall.

How much should an officiant charge for weddings in Ohio? That depends on a number of factors, including the officiant's experience level, need to travel, how involved they will be in the process, and how well they know the couple. Obviously, performing a ceremony for close friends or family may alter the equation, and some officiants choose to simply gift their ceremony services to the couple as it is an honor to be asked to preside over the event. However, if an officiant is being asked to perform a ceremony they would not otherwise be attending, most will want some reimbursement to the tune of at least $150 or more, depending on how much effort and travel is involved.


Ohio Marriage Code

Ohio Flag

Ohio Marriage Code

Marriage in Ohio is governed by Title 31 of the Ohio General Code. Ministers ordained online by the Universal Life Church have successfully performed thousands of weddings in the state. Below, you will find that we have reproduced the relevant excerpts of this code.

3101.08 Who may solemnize marriages. An ordained or licensed minister of any religious society or congregation within this state who is licensed to solemnize marriages, a judge of a county court in accordance with section 1907.18 of the Revised Code, a judge of a municipal court in accordance with section 1901.14 of the Revised Code [...] View the Ohio Statutes on the official state site.

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Adams County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Adams County website »

Allen County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Allen County website »

Ashland County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Ashland County website »

Ashtabula County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Ashtabula County website »

Athens County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Athens County website »

Auglaize County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio
43215

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Auglaize County website »

Belmont County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Belmont County website »

Brown County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Brown County website »

Butler County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Butler County website »

Carroll County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Carroll County website »

Champaign County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Champaign County website »

Clark County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Clark County website »

Clermont County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Clermont County website »

Clinton County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Clinton County website »

Columbiana County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Columbiana County website »

Coshocton County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Coshocton County website »

Crawford County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Crawford County website »

Cuyahoga County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Cuyahoga County Marriage Laws »

Darke County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Darke County website »

Defiance County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Defiance County website »

Delaware County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Delaware County website »

Erie County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Erie County website »

Fairfield County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Fairfield County website »

Fayette County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Fayette County website »

Franklin County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Franklin County Marriage Laws »

Fulton County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Fulton County website »

Gallia County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Gallia County website »

Geauga County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Geauga County website »

Greene County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Greene County website »

Guernsey County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Guernsey County website »

Hamilton County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Hamilton County website »

Hancock County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Hancock County website »

Hardin County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Hardin County website »

Harrison County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Harrison County website »

Henry County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Henry County website »

Highland County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Highland County website »

Hocking County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Hocking County website »

Holmes County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Holmes County website »

Huron County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Huron County website »

Jackson County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Jackson County website »

Jefferson County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Jefferson County website »

Knox County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Knox County website »

Lake County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Lake County website »

Lawrence County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Lawrence County website »

Licking County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Licking County website »

Logan County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Logan County website »

Lorain County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Lorain County website »

Lucas County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Lucas County website »

Madison County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Madison County website »

Mahoning County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Mahoning County website »

Marion County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Marion County website »

Medina County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Medina County website »

Meigs County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Meigs County website »

Mercer County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Mercer County website »

Miami County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Miami County website »

Monroe County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Monroe County website »

Montgomery County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Montgomery County website »

Morgan County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Morgan County website »

Morrow County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Morrow County website »

Muskingum County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Muskingum County website »

Noble County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Noble County website »

Ottawa County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Ottawa County website »

Paulding County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Paulding County website »

Perry County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Perry County website »

Pickaway County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Pickaway County website »

Pike County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Pike County website »

Portage County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Portage County website »

Preble County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Preble County website »

Putnam County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Putnam County website »

Richland County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Richland County website »

Ross County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Ross County website »

Sandusky County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Sandusky County website »

Scioto County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Scioto County website »

Seneca County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Seneca County website »

Shelby County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Shelby County website »

Stark County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Stark County website »

Summit County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Summit County website »

Trumbull County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Trumbull County website »

Tuscarawas County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Tuscarawas County website »

Union County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Union County website »

Van Wert County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Van Wert County website »

Vinton County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Vinton County website »

Warren County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Warren County website »

Washington County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Washington County website »

Wayne County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Wayne County website »

Williams County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Williams County website »

Wood County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Wood County website »

Wyandot County

180 E. Broad Street, Suite 103
Columbus, Ohio

Phone: (614) 466-8770
Wyandot County website »