What you need to legally marry in Maryland: a $30 to $85 fee, 48 hours waiting period, no witnesses and a license that is valid 6 months. You apply at the Circuit Court Clerk.
The eight things the Circuit Court Clerk will ask about or check. County rules can add small extras, so confirm with your local office before you go.
Put one QR code on the tables. Guests scan it and upload their photos and videos to one shared album, no app or account.
Live gallery
Maya & Leo's Wedding
Reception, example
A marriage license in Maryland costs $30 to $85, varies by county (Baltimore City charges $85). You pay it at the Circuit Court 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 Maryland 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. Maryland 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 $30 to $85, varies by county (Baltimore City charges $85) 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.
Maryland's waiting period: 48 hours. Apply at least a week before the ceremony so the wait never squeezes your date.
The license is valid for 6 months from the date of issue. Maryland allows self-uniting marriage, so an officiant is optional. See who can officiate below.
The signed license goes back to the Circuit Court Clerk within the time Maryland law allows. Because Maryland allows self-uniting marriage, the couple usually files it instead of an officiant. The county then records your marriage.
A short walkthrough of the documents and the clerk visit. Fees and offices differ by state, so match the details to the Maryland facts above.
Forever Newlywed on YouTube
First dance
You guys!!
Guests scan one QR code and upload from their phone browser, no app or account. Start free with 20 guest uploads, one-time plans from $44.
From Mom
Scan to join the album
No app, no account
UPLOADING
THE ALBUM
Example album
647 photos · 95 guests
SCAN TO TRY
pix.wedding/
your-wedding
At 18 or older you can marry without anyone's permission.
Only a 17-year-old can marry, with consent from each living parent or guardian (or proof of pregnancy or birth) plus a circuit court authorization order. The order must be presented at least 15 days after it is issued, and no one under 17 can marry.
Bring the final divorce decree or the former spouse's death certificate to the first visit. Ask the Circuit Court Clerk whether it needs a certified copy.
Maryland has no residency requirement, so couples from other states can apply at the Circuit Court Clerk with valid ID. The license only works for a ceremony inside Maryland.
Same-sex marriage is legal in Maryland, as in every state, since Obergefell v. Hodges (2015). The requirements are the same for every couple.
Foreign nationals can marry in Maryland with a valid passport as photo ID. Marrying does not change immigration status by itself, and documents in another language may need certified translations.
Maryland allows self-uniting marriage, so the two of you can solemnize the marriage without an officiant. The officiant card below has the details.
Start with 20 guest uploads free, no card. Paid plans run from $44 to $84 once, with unlimited guests.
For collecting every original
Most couples pick this
One-time payment, no subscription
For big guest lists
One payment. Yours to keep. No subscription. No renewals. No surprise charges.
Secure checkout. Polar, Apple Pay, Google Pay.
Money-back guarantee: if your guests never upload a single photo, you get 100% back. See how it works
Ordained ministers, priests, rabbis, and authorized clergy. Judges of any court, clerk of the circuit court, or deputy clerk designated by the court.
Officiant rules in every stateA Maryland license takes effect at 6 a.m. on the second calendar day after it is issued (Md. Family Law §2-405); a circuit court judge in the county of application may authorize an earlier time for good cause only if one party is a Maryland resident or a member of the armed services. The license is valid for 6 months and only in the county that issued it, so apply in the ceremony county. Since October 1, 2022, only one party must appear to apply, and each party must provide a government-issued document proving age. Maryland allows a narrow self-uniting exception for Quaker (Society of Friends) ceremonies, where two overseers attest to the marriage in place of a standard officiant signature (Md. Family Law Code § 2-409).
Everything you need to make your wedding day stress-free and unforgettable.
Plan your reception seating visually.
Track RSVPs and dietary needs.
Turn your total into a category-by-category plan.
Plan your entire wedding day.
Count down the days to your big day.
Month-by-month planning checklist.
15+ games with rules, supplies, and timing.
Pick one by budget, guest count and keepsake.
Fees, waiting period, validity, ID, witnesses and residency for Maryland.
A Maryland marriage license costs $30 to $85, varies by county (Baltimore City charges $85). You pay it at the Circuit Court 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.
Yes. Maryland's waiting period: 48 hours. Plan to apply at least one to two weeks before your ceremony.
A Maryland marriage license is valid for 6 months 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 Circuit Court Clerk, and check the office's own list before you go.
No. Maryland does not legally require witnesses for the ceremony, though many couples have them anyway.
No. Maryland does not require residency. Out-of-state couples can apply at the Circuit Court Clerk with the required ID, and the license works for a ceremony anywhere in Maryland.
