How to Fill out an Arizona Marriage License with Examples & FAQs

Asked to officiate a wedding in Arizona? Want to get married in Arizona? Whether you're a new wedding officiant or soon-to-be newlyweds, here’s everything you need to know about the marriage license process, including cost, waiting period, and – most importantly – how to fill out an Arizona marriage license correctly the first time!

Wedding bells are ringing, so let’s take a look!

Handling the Arizona Marriage License

1. How to Fill out an Arizona Marriage License (for the Officiant)

In Arizona, wedding officiants must sign and complete the Certificate of Marriage after the wedding – then return it within 10 days to the same office where it was originally issued.

Arizona Wedding Officiant Responsibilities:

Before the wedding ceremony: 

• Confirm the couple has their marriage license with them at the ceremony. The ‘Certificate of Marriage’ / ‘Record of Marriage’ is printed at the bottom of the license. 
• Confirm the license is valid: the couple’s names match those printed on the Marriage License, and the license has not expired.

Immediately after the wedding ceremony: 

• Use black ink to fill in the Certificate of Marriage / Record of Marriage (bottom portion of the license), making sure that all fields are completed.
• Obtain signatures from the couple and two adult witnesses who were present at the wedding.

Within 10 days after the marriage ceremony: 

• Return the entire document (Marriage License and completed Certificate of Marriage) to the same clerk’s office where it was issued. This is the county office where the couple applied for their license, and might not be in the same county where the wedding took place.
• The marriage license and certificate can be returned by mail or in person.

If this is your first time performing a wedding in Arizona, this might feel like an intimidating set of responsibilities, but we’re here to help and we know you’ll do a great job! To help you sign the official document with confidence, we’ll cover each part in detail below.

Signing the Marriage License: Tips from various court clerks to help you get started:

• You will fill out a standard marriage license and covenant marriage license in the same way; there are no special steps for wedding officiants when completing a covenant marriage license in Arizona. 
• Use black ink only; print legibly (no cursive writing except for signatures)
• Do not cross-out or white-out any mistakes on the official document. If you make a mistake, contact the county office to ask about next steps to correct your error.
• Sign your name in the space marked “Signature of Person Performing Ceremony.”
• Obtain signatures from two adult witnesses in the spaces marked “Signature of First Witness” and “Signature of Second Witness.” Witnesses must be present at the wedding ceremony to sign the certificate of marriage.
• Ask the couple to sign in the blank spaces marked with their names: “Signature of [APPLICANT NAME]”
• If the form asks for the Officiant’s Address, use your personal home address.
• If the form asks for the Officiant’s Title, write “Minister” if you are ordained with American Marriage Ministries.

2. Arizona Marriage License Example

Most Arizona marriage license offices will give the couple a set of instructions on how to fill out the marriage license. Follow these instructions carefully, and reach out to the clerk with any specific questions you have. Below is an example of what your license might look like, based on a Maricopa County marriage license.

3. What to Do if You Make a Mistake on an Arizona Marriage License?

If you make a mistake while filling out the marriage license – such as a misspelled name or incorrect date – the couple may need to purchase a replacement license to fill in with the accurate information. Do not cross-out answers or use white-out, correctional fluid or tape on the form, as this may invalidate it. Contact the issuing office directly to ask about next steps.

How to amend an Arizona marriage license

To correct a minor error on your marriage license in Arizona after it's been filed, start by reading the information provided by the Arizona Judicial Branch: Marriage License Corrections, or contact the Superior Court Clerk in the county where your license was registered. 

In general, you will need to submit an “Application to Correct Marriage License” and “Civil Cover Sheet” form, along with other documents/forms as instructed by the clerk.

4. Who Can Officiate a Wedding in Arizona?

You’ll be happy to know that friends and relatives are allowed to officiate a wedding in Arizona with online minister ordination with American Marriage Ministries (and other reputable online churches). Just complete the minister application online by clicking the link below: 

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Once you’ve become an ordained minister with a reputable church, you are authorized to perform weddings throughout the State of Arizona. No further registration is needed, however we do recommend that first-time officiants keep a copy of their ministry credentials in their records for future use.

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In addition to online-ordained ministers, the following people can solemnize marriage in Arizona: Justice of the Peace, various judges and justices, and other duly licensed and ordained clergy / religious leaders (ARS § 25-124).

How long to become an officiant for a wedding in Arizona?

Arizona does not require ministers to register with a local office before performing weddings. This means that once you’ve been ordained by a reputable online church like AMM, you can perform a marriage ceremony right away. 

Visit AMM’s Officiant Training pages for help preparing for the ceremony.

5. How to Obtain a Marriage License in Arizona

All couples must apply for a marriage license to get married in Arizona; and marriage licenses are issued by the Clerk of the Superior Court in each county. You can apply for your marriage license in any county, and your license can be used anywhere in the state.

Choose the best option to apply for a marriage license in Arizona:

Apply in person (Standard and Covenant Marriage License, Underage applicants):

• Marriage license applications can be completed in person in most counties in Arizona by visiting the Clerk of the Superior Court office, often located inside the main courthouse.
• Depending on the county, other offices may also issue marriage licenses – for example, couples applying to marry in Coconino County can also visit the Page Justice Court and Williams Justice Court locations, in addition to the main office inside the Coconino County Courthouse. Check your county website for a list of all offices issuing marriage licenses in your area.
• Both applicants must appear together at the clerk’s office to complete the application form, and be able to provide the necessary identification and documentation (ARS § 25-121). 
• Applicants who are 16 or 17 years old must meet the requirements for minors. 
• If you’re applying for a covenant marriage license, you will be asked to complete additional paperwork, including a marriage license affidavit and the "Declaration of Intent to Enter Into a Covenant Marriage" form. (Learn more about applying for Covenant Marriages in Arizona from the Maricopa County Clerk of Court.)

Apply by mail (Standard Marriage License only):

• At the time of writing, Mohave County is the only county we're aware of that allows couples to apply for a marriage license entirely by mail. Couples with qualifying circumstances and incarcerated individuals may be able to apply by mail in Pima County as well. 
• Once your marriage license is issued by mail, it can be used for a wedding ceremony anywhere in the state, as long as it is returned to the issuing office before the filing deadline (10 days).
• Start by downloading and completing the Mohave County Marriage Application Form.
• It may take 6 weeks or more to receive your marriage license when applying by mail. 
• You cannot apply by mail if either applicant is under 18, or if you want to purchase a covenant marriage license.

Apply online (Standard Marriage License only):

• To use the online marriage license application service, at least one applicant must be an Arizona resident, and both applicants must have valid ID and social security number. Online marriage license services are offered very few counties, but you can apply for your license in any county, for a wedding anywhere in the state.
• Start by visiting the Maricopa County Online Marriage License Program and complete the application. This form will ask for personal details like your full name and address, email, SSN, date of birth; it will also prompt you to submit a photo of your identification. 
• You do not need to visit the office in person to complete the process; once your application is approved, your marriage license will be mailed to you.

Requirements: What do you need to get a marriage license in Arizona?

Regardless of how you apply for your license, you must provide the required information and/or documentation with your application:

• Date of birth and proof of identity: Bring your certified birth certificate, foreign or U.S. passport, driver's license, or military I.D.
• Social Security Number (if you have one)
• Payment: Call ahead to see types of payment accepted by your office (some offices only accept a specific form of payment, i.e. cash, credit, etc.)
• Eligible minors (age 16 or 17): Provide a certified copy of an Emancipation Order, OR a notarized Clerk's Office parental consent form along with additional requirements and forms; the younger applicant's prospective spouse cannot be more than 3 years older than the younger applicant.
• For Covenant marriage license: Provide a notarized statement from the clergy or marriage counselor who provided your premarital counseling.
• For military service members: It’s recommended that an Affidavit of Record of Marriage be purchased with the marriage license.  Per Coconino Co., “the military has advised that their records division will only process the Affidavit of Record of Marriage.”

6. How much is a marriage license in Arizona?

Marriage license prices may vary by county, and sometimes increase to keep up with state budget costs. At the time of writing, the marriage license fee in Arizona was $98.

Additional fees may be included for postage (if applying by mail), or when ordering pre-paid certified copies of your Arizona marriage record. For the most-current Arizona marriage license cost, click the link below and contact your local clerk’s office:

• How Much Does a Marriage License Cost?

7. How Long Does it Take to Get a Marriage License in Arizona?

The amount of time you spend in the clerk’s office will vary depending on where you apply – but most offices require an appointment for in-person visits to help avoid delays. There is no marriage waiting period in Arizona, which means that you can use your license on the same day it’s issued. 

Exceptions: If you apply for your marriage license online, your license will be mailed to you after your application is approved. (Please factor in this time when planning your wedding). If applying for a license by mail in Mohave County, it may take up to 6 weeks to reach you.

How Long Does it Take to Get Married in Arizona?

As mentioned above, same-day weddings and elopements are allowed in Arizona! Click the links below to learn more and start planning your wedding today.

8. How long is a marriage license good for in Arizona?

Your Arizona marriage license is good for one year after it’s issued by the clerk; this is called the marriage license “expiration period.” The expiration date / issue date will be printed on your marriage license.

This means you have one year to use your marriage license before it expires; if you don’t get married in this timeframe, you will need to apply again. To see the more details about Arizona’s marriage license expiration period, waiting period, and return deadline, click the link below:

• Officiant Training: Marriage License Waiting Period, Expiration, and Return
• See all AZ marriage license laws

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• How Hot is TOO Hot for an Outdoor Wedding?
• What is a Covenant Marriage? (And Why Would Couples Choose One?)

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