What you need to legally marry in Missouri: a $45 to $51 fee, no waiting period, 2 witnesses and a license that is valid 30 days. You apply at the Recorder of Deeds.
The eight things the Recorder of Deeds 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 Missouri costs $45 to $51, varies by county. You pay it at the Recorder of Deeds 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 Missouri 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. Missouri 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 $45 to $51, varies by county 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.
Missouri 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 Recorder of Deeds, often filed by the officiant, within the time Missouri 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 Missouri facts above.
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At 18 or older you can marry without anyone's permission.
No one under 18 can marry in Missouri, even with parental consent or court approval. The ban took effect August 28, 2025.
Bring the final divorce decree or the former spouse's death certificate to the first visit. Ask the Recorder of Deeds whether it needs a certified copy.
Missouri has no residency requirement, so couples from other states can apply at the Recorder of Deeds with valid ID. The license only works for a ceremony inside Missouri.
Same-sex marriage is legal in Missouri, as in every state, since Obergefell v. Hodges (2015). The requirements are the same for every couple.
Foreign nationals can marry in Missouri 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 religious leaders. Judges of any court, associate circuit judges, and magistrates. Religious societies can appoint their own officiants.
Officiant rules in every stateMissouri Senate Bill 43 (2025) banned marriage under 18 with no exceptions, effective August 28, 2025, repealing the prior 16-17 parental-consent pathway (RSMo 451.090). The license is void if unused within 30 days of issuance (RSMo 451.040), and the officiant must have two witnesses sign the license before returning it to the recorder within 15 days of the ceremony (RSMo 193.185); a recorder or officiant who misses that 15-day return window faces a misdemeanor penalty under RSMo 451.130. Fees run $45 to $51 depending on county.
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Fees, waiting period, validity, ID, witnesses and residency for Missouri.
A Missouri marriage license costs $45 to $51, varies by county. You pay it at the Recorder of Deeds. 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. Missouri 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 Missouri 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 Recorder of Deeds, and check the office's own list before you go.
Yes. Missouri'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. Missouri does not require residency. Out-of-state couples can apply at the Recorder of Deeds with the required ID, and the license works for a ceremony anywhere in Missouri.
