What you need to legally marry in North Dakota: a $65 fee, no waiting period, 2 witnesses and a license that is valid 60 days. You apply at the County Recorder or District Court Clerk.
The eight things the County Recorder or District Court 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 North Dakota costs $65. You pay it at the County Recorder or District 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 North Dakota 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. North Dakota 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 $65 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.
North Dakota 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 60 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 Recorder or District Court Clerk, often filed by the officiant, within the time North Dakota 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 North Dakota facts above.
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At 18 or older you can marry without anyone's permission.
Applicants who are 16 or 17 can marry with consent from their parents or guardian. No one under 16 can marry in North Dakota.
Source: N.D. Cent. Code 14-03-02
Bring the final divorce decree or the former spouse's death certificate to the first visit. Ask the County Recorder or District Court Clerk whether it needs a certified copy.
North Dakota has no residency requirement, so couples from other states can apply at the County Recorder or District Court Clerk with valid ID. The license only works for a ceremony inside North Dakota.
Same-sex marriage is legal in North Dakota, as in every state, since Obergefell v. Hodges (2015). The requirements are the same for every couple.
Foreign nationals can marry in North Dakota 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, and other religious leaders. Judges of any court, magistrates, and justices of the peace. Municipal judges and recorders can also officiate weddings.
Officiant rules in every stateNorth Dakota requires two witnesses at the ceremony. Both applicants must appear in person to apply for the license. There is no waiting period or residency requirement.
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Fees, waiting period, validity, ID, witnesses and residency for North Dakota.
A North Dakota marriage license costs $65. You pay it at the County Recorder or District 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.
No. North Dakota 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 North Dakota marriage license is valid for 60 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 Recorder or District Court Clerk, and check the office's own list before you go.
Yes. North Dakota'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. North Dakota does not require residency. Out-of-state couples can apply at the County Recorder or District Court Clerk with the required ID, and the license works for a ceremony anywhere in North Dakota.
