What you need to legally marry in Kentucky: a $60 fee, no waiting period, 2 witnesses and a license that is valid 30 days. You apply at the County Clerk.
The eight things the County Clerk will ask about or check. County rules can add small extras, so confirm with your local office before you go.
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A marriage license in Kentucky costs $60. You pay it at the County Clerk when you apply. Extra certified copies of the marriage certificate, which you will want for a name change, a passport or insurance updates, often cost more.
That puts Kentucky inside the roughly $30 to $100 range most states charge. Accepted payment methods differ from office to office, so check before the visit.
Both partners need a valid government photo ID. If either of you was married before, bring the final divorce decree or the former spouse's death certificate. Kentucky does not require proof of residency.
In most counties both of you go in person, and some offices ask you to fill in the form online or book an appointment first. Check which offices can issue your license before you drive anywhere.
Fill in the application and pay the $60 fee. Have both Social Security numbers ready (non-citizens can usually give a passport or visa number), plus your parents' full names and your places of birth.
Kentucky has no waiting period, so you can marry as soon as the license is in your hands. Most couples still apply a few days ahead.
The license is valid for 30 days from the date of issue. The ceremony has to happen and the license has to be signed inside this window. An authorized officiant leads the ceremony, see who qualifies below.
After the ceremony the officiant and any required witnesses sign the license. It goes back to the County Clerk, often filed by the officiant, within the time Kentucky law allows. The county then records it and issues your marriage certificate.
A short walkthrough of the documents and the clerk visit. Fees and offices differ by state, so match the details to the Kentucky facts above.
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At 18 or older you can marry without anyone's permission.
Only a 17-year-old can marry, and only with a court order that grants permission and removes the disabilities of minority, on a petition that includes a parent's consent. The other party can be no more than four years older, and no one under 17 can marry.
Source: Ky. Rev. Stat. 402.020, 402.205 and 402.210 (2018 Ky. Acts ch. 36, effective July 14, 2018)
Bring the final divorce decree or the former spouse's death certificate to the first visit. Ask the County Clerk whether it needs a certified copy.
Kentucky has no residency requirement, so couples from other states can apply at the County Clerk with valid ID. The license only works for a ceremony inside Kentucky.
Same-sex marriage is legal in Kentucky, as in every state, since Obergefell v. Hodges (2015). The requirements are the same for every couple.
Foreign nationals can marry in Kentucky with a valid passport as photo ID. Marrying does not change immigration status by itself, and documents in another language may need certified translations.
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Ordained or authorized ministers, priests, and clergy. Judges, justices, and county judges/executives. Religious societies may designate officiants according to their customs.
Officiant rules in every stateKentucky raised the minimum marriage age to 17 in 2018, but marriage at 17 requires a district or family court petition, not simple parental consent, with conditions including a limited age gap between the parties and no history of domestic violence (KRS 402.205). No blood test or waiting period is required, but two witnesses must be present at the ceremony (KRS 402.050). The license fee is $60, following a fee increase effective June 27, 2025 (2024 SB 114).
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Fees, waiting period, validity, ID, witnesses and residency for Kentucky.
A Kentucky marriage license costs $60. You pay it at the County Clerk. Certified copies of the marriage certificate, which you need for a name change, can cost extra. Payment methods differ by office, so call ahead to check whether it takes cash, card or check.
No. Kentucky has no waiting period, so you can apply for and use your marriage license on the same day. Many couples still apply a few days ahead to avoid last-minute stress.
A Kentucky marriage license is valid for 30 days from the date of issue. The ceremony has to happen inside this window, or you reapply and pay the fee again.
Each partner needs a valid government photo ID, such as a US passport, a driver's license or state ID card, a US military ID, a permanent resident card or a foreign passport. Bring it to the County Clerk, and check the office's own list before you go.
Yes. Kentucky's rule: 2 witnesses. Witnesses usually need to be adults who can sign the license. Most couples ask the maid of honor and the best man.
No. Kentucky does not require residency. Out-of-state couples can apply at the County Clerk with the required ID, and the license works for a ceremony anywhere in Kentucky.
