Marriage records in Ross County, Ohio, are available through several channels. RossCourt.us allows you to quickly find public information about marriage records in the county. Additionally, official documents are maintained by the Ross County Probate Court, which issues marriage licenses and registers certificates in accordance with Ohio law. Copies can be obtained in person at the court premises, by mail, or through the Ohio Department of Health's online portal.
Ross Marriage Records Search
In Ohio, marriage licenses are issued and maintained by the Probate Court of the county where the couple applied. For Ross County, this function is performed by the Ross County Probate Court, located in the courthouse in Chillicothe. The collection includes marriage licenses, returned marriage certificates, and historical records dating back to the county's founding—Ross County was established on August 20, 1798 and is one of the oldest in Ohio.
Computerized court records in the county have been available since November 1989. Older records are typically stored in paper form and require manual searching in the archives.
To search public court records, you can also use the Ross County Clerk of Courts page, which features a Record Search function for Common Pleas Court cases.
Certified Marriage Record Copies and Fees in Ross
The cost of marriage record copies is set by the Probate Court in accordance with the Ohio Revised Code. Below are typical fees:
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Certified copy of marriage certificate | Contact the Probate Court for the current amount |
| Additional certified copy (in one order) | Contact the Probate Court |
| Search fee | May be charged separately |
Specific fee amounts change from time to time. Before ordering, call the Probate Court at (740) 702-3055 to confirm the current cost and acceptable forms of payment. Money orders and personal checks payable to Ross County Probate Court are usually accepted.
At the state level, certified copies are also issued by the Ohio Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics. Their standard fee for a certified copy of a marriage certificate is approximately $21.50 for regular processing.
Order Marriage Certificates Online or In Person in Ross
There are several ways to order a copy of a marriage certificate registered in Ross County.
Online
The Ohio Department of Health offers online ordering of certified vital records, including marriage certificates, through its portal or through the authorized provider VitalChek. To order, you will need:
- Full names of both spouses
- Date of marriage
- County where the license was issued
- Payment by credit or debit card
Processing time for online orders is typically 2–4 weeks with standard delivery.
In Person
Visit the Ross County Probate Court during business hours. Bring a valid photo ID. Certified copies are generally issued the same day.
By Mail
Send a written request to the Probate Court. Include in your letter:
- Full names of both spouses (including maiden name)
- Approximate date of marriage
- Purpose of the request
- Your name, address, and contact phone number
- A copy of a photo ID
- Payment in the form of a money order or check payable to Ross County Probate Court
- A self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE)
Send the request to:
Processing of mail requests usually takes one to three weeks, depending on the office's workload. For records related to family law court cases, standardized forms are available on the Ohio Supreme Court website.
If you need assistance with public record searches or want to verify the availability of a document before ordering, start with RossCourt.us—it's a convenient way to navigate the available data for Ross County. For inquiries about other public documents, review the public records request procedure through the Clerk of Courts.