If you've been married before, the process of getting a new marriage license is slightly more involved — but not complicated, as long as you bring the right documentation. Here's exactly what to expect and what to prepare.
What They'll Ask You
At both Kentucky county clerks and Ohio Probate Courts, the application will ask whether either applicant has been previously married. If yes, you'll be asked:
- How many times you've been married
- How each prior marriage ended (divorce, death, or annulment)
- The date the most recent prior marriage ended
- In some cases: the state or county where the divorce was finalized
Kentucky clerks often record this verbally — they enter what you tell them. Ohio Probate Courts are more likely to ask for supporting documentation upfront. Either way, bringing your paperwork eliminates ambiguity and prevents a second trip.
If You're Divorced
Bring the Final Decree of Dissolution of Marriage (or Final Divorce Decree). This is the court-signed document that finalizes your divorce — not the initial divorce petition, not the separation agreement, not a case number.
If you can't find your final divorce decree: contact the county court clerk where your divorce was filed. They can provide a certified copy, typically for $5–$15. In Kentucky, this is the circuit court clerk. In Ohio, the domestic relations court. Allow a few days if you need to mail-order a copy.
If Your Previous Spouse Died
Bring the death certificate for your previous spouse. Both states accept this as proof that the prior marriage legally ended. If you don't have the original, you can obtain a certified copy from the vital records office of the state where your spouse died — in Kentucky, that's the Cabinet for Health and Family Services; in Ohio, it's the Ohio Department of Health.
If Your Prior Marriage Was Annulled
Bring the annulment order or decree — the court document declaring the marriage void or voidable. This is treated similarly to a divorce decree. The date of the annulment is what matters, not the filing date.
Multiple Prior Marriages
If you've been married more than once, the clerk typically focuses on how your most recent marriage ended. Be prepared to provide that information clearly. Some applications ask for all prior marriages; others ask for just the most recent one. Bring all relevant final decrees to be safe.
Kentucky vs. Ohio: Who's Stricter?
Ohio Probate Courts tend to be more thorough about prior marriage documentation. If you're applying at Hamilton County Probate Court in Cincinnati, bring your final decree — they may ask to see it. Kentucky county clerks are more likely to record the information you provide verbally, but having the document with you is still strongly recommended.
What If You Can't Prove How Your Prior Marriage Ended?
This is rare but it happens — particularly with very old marriages or situations where records were lost. In this case, contact the county court where the divorce was filed directly. If the marriage ended by death and you can't locate the death certificate, contact the vital records office of the state where your spouse died. Don't try to work around this — providing inaccurate information on a marriage license application is a legal problem, not just an administrative one.