Vital Records Division

Apply for Marriage License

• General Requirements
  • State Law: The State of Michigan through MCL 551.101, 104, 106 requires all parties intending to be married to obtain a marriage license from the county clerk of the county in which either applicant resides.
  • In-State Residents: must apply for license in the county in which they live. The marriage may then occur in any county in the state.
  • Out-of-State Residents: must apply for license in the county in which they will be married.
  • Educational Materials: The County Clerk is required to provide applicants with educational materials on the transmission and prevention of venereal disease and HIV infection.
  • Age & Date of Birth: Each applicant must be at least 18 years old at the time of application.
• Documentation Required to Obtain License

  Please make sure you bring the following documentation with you when you come in to pick up your marriage license. Paper copies of documentation are REQUIRED. Documents will not be accepted on mobile devices.

  • Birth Certificates: Each applicant must provide a certified birth certificate or a paper copy of a certified birth certificate, an official foreign birth certificate with an English translation, or a permanent resident alien card or naturalization certificate. Note: For foreign language birth certificates a certified translation is required.
  • Government Issued Pictured Identification: For both applicants such as a driver’s license or state identification card. A passport can be used for pictured identification if an additional piece of documentation is included to show residency. Paper copies of these documents are acceptable.
    
  • Judgment of Divorce or Death Certificate: If previous marriage was terminated by divorce or death, a paper copy of one of these certified documents is required.
  • Social Security Cards: For both applicants. If you are exempt from having a social security number due to other legal reasons (citizen of another country here with a passport, work or student visa or in the process of becoming a citizen of this country) or exempt because of religious convictions pursuant to MCL 551.102{sec. 2(3)}, you must provide applicable documentation and must sign an affidavit to that affect. If you are ineligible to obtain a social security card, you must sign an affidavit to that affect in lieu of having the social security information.
• How to Apply

  Apply for a Marriage License Online
  *Please remember: There is a required 3-day waiting period to obtain a license after submitting an application. You cannot apply before 33 days of your wedding date.

• Fees

  Payment due at time of pick-up of Marriage License. Fees can be paid with cash, money order, or credit card (Visa or MasterCard).

  • Michigan Residents: $20
  • Out-of-State Residents: $30
• Time Constraint Requirements
  • Waiting Period: there is a required 3-day waiting period to obtain a license after submitting an application. To be granted a waiver for the 3-day waiting period the couple must present one of the following at time of application:
    • Notarized statement from the Clergy as to when he or she will solemnize the marriage.
    • Professional Wedding Invitation (Note: computer generated invitations will NOT be accepted.)
    • Newspaper Announcement
    • Military Deployment papers
  • Application Expiration: marriage must take place within 33 days from date of application.
• Translation Agencies

  Michigan Department of State certified translators: Translator's Resource List