What you need to legally marry in Michigan: a $20 fee, 3 days waiting period, 2 witnesses and a license that is valid 33 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 Michigan costs $20 (resident) to $30 (non-resident). 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 Michigan 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. Michigan 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 $20 (resident) to $30 (non-resident) 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.
Michigan's waiting period: 3 days. Apply at least a week before the ceremony so the wait never squeezes your date.
The license is valid for 33 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 Michigan 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 Michigan facts above.
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At 18 or older you can marry without anyone's permission.
No one under 18 can marry in Michigan, even with parental consent or court approval. The ban has been in place since 2023.
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.
Michigan 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 Michigan.
Same-sex marriage is legal in Michigan, as in every state, since Obergefell v. Hodges (2015). The requirements are the same for every couple.
Foreign nationals can marry in Michigan 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 ministers, priests, rabbis, and other clergy. Judges of any court, district court magistrates, and mayors. County clerks can also perform civil ceremonies in Michigan.
Officiant rules in every stateMichigan has one of the lowest license fees in the country: $20 for residents and $30 for non-residents. The 3-day waiting period can be waived by a judge, and the license is valid for only 33 days, so plan your timing carefully. Michigan eliminated the under-18 marriage exception entirely effective October 9, 2023.
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Fees, waiting period, validity, ID, witnesses and residency for Michigan.
A Michigan marriage license costs $20 (resident) to $30 (non-resident). 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.
Yes. Michigan's waiting period: 3 days. Plan to apply at least one to two weeks before your ceremony.
A Michigan marriage license is valid for 33 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. Michigan'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. Michigan 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 Michigan.
