How to Fill out a Maryland Marriage License with Samples & FAQs

Asked to officiate a Maryland wedding? Getting married in Maryland? 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 a marriage license in MD correctly the first time!

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

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How to Fill Out a Maryland Marriage License: Samples & FAQs

1. How to Fill Out a Maryland Marriage License (for the Officiant / Officiator)

It’s the couple’s responsibility to purchase a marriage license before the wedding day, and the wedding officiant’s responsibility to complete and return the marriage license after the wedding ceremony.

Here are a few pointers from the Calvert County and Prince George’s Clerk of the Circuit Court Offices to help you get started:

• Use black ink to complete the officiant’s portion of the marriage certificates. Please print legibly – do not use cursive to fill in the certificate except when signing your name.
• Make sure the marriage license is valid: Before performing the ceremony, please check the effective date and expiration date printed at the bottom of the certificate. The license may not be used before the effective date, which is 6:00 am on the second calendar date after issuance, or after the expiration date, which is six months after the effective date. (Maryland’s waiting period is 2 days, and licenses are good for 6 months.)
• The couple must be married in the county where their license was purchased. Not sure which county the venue is in? This helpful USPS tool can help.
• If you are an ordained minister with American Marriage Ministries, please write “Minister” and “American Marriage Ministries” if the certificate asks for your Title and Office.  
• Please write your home address and phone number if the certificate asks for this information.
• In the spaces marked, please write the date of the ceremony, and the city or town where the ceremony was performed.
• All copies of the marriage certificate must be completed: The top copy is given to the couple (this is their original), the middle copy must be returned to the issuing county within 5 days of the wedding ceremony, and the bottom copy is for your records. Depending on where the license is issued, the top copy may be blue, the county copy may be green, and the officiant copy may be white. If you are unsure which copy is which, please call the county office.

2. Sample Maryland Marriage License & Instructions for Officiants

Below is an example of what your Maryland marriage license may look like on the wedding day, as well as sample instructions for the officiant performing the wedding (provided by the circuit court clerk).

The exact layout and design of your license may vary depending on which county issues it. However, each MD marriage license will ask you for some or all of these details:

• Date of the marriage ceremony 
• City or Town where the ceremony happened
• Wedding Officiant’s signature, title, and office 
• Wedding Officiant’s mailing address, including street and city

Make sure that all copies of the license are completed and returned correctly: the top copy is for the couple’s records, the middle copy should be returned to the county office, and the bottom copy should be kept in your records as the officiant who performed the ceremony. Note: If your license copies are marked differently, then return each copy to the place marked instead.

As mentioned above, the couple’s marriage license will look similar to this one, but may not be an exact match. Read the license carefully, and add the corresponding details in the spaces as marked.

Sample Marriage License: Montgomery County, Maryland

Sample Officiant Instructions (Provided on the Prince George's County Marriage License Site: To Clergy)

3. What if You Make a Mistake on a MD Marriage License?

If you make a mistake while filling out the marriage license – such as a misspelled name or incorrect date – contact the court clerk’s office directly to ask what steps should be taken to correct the error. Do not use white-out or corrective tape. Depending on the type of error, the couple may need to purchase a replacement license to fill out again with accurate information.

Since each county has its own processing for correcting license errors, we recommend you contact the court clerk’s office directly with your questions. This will be the simplest way to handle any issues that come up.

How to correct an error on a Maryland marriage license after it’s filed

To correct a Maryland marriage record, contact the court clerk office in the county where you were married. You must submit your request in writing, along with documentation showing the corrected information (such as your birth certificate, etc.). You may also be asked to complete a request form provided by the court clerk. Below are examples of this request form to help you gather the information you’ll need: 

• Calvert County Circuit Court: Request for Marriage License Correction form
• Clerk of the Circuit Court Cecil County: Request for Correction of Marriage License

4. Can I Officiate a Wedding in Maryland?

Yes! Ministers who are ordained online through a reputable and recognized church, including American Marriage Ministries (AMM), can officiate weddings in Maryland and sign the marriage license. Click the link below to get ordained in Maryland with AMM today!

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If your wedding officiant is ordained with any church other than American Marriage Ministries, it’s important to verify their credentials before they perform your ceremony to make sure they are legally recognized in the State of Maryland:

• How to Tell if Your Officiant Can Perform a Legal Wedding
• Cómo Saber si su Oficiante Puede Realizar una Boda Legal

5. How to Get a Marriage License in Maryland

All couples must obtain a marriage license before the wedding date to get married in Maryland, and licenses are issued by each individual county’s Clerk of the Circuit Court office.

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Where to Apply for a Marriage License in Maryland

You must apply for a license in the same county where your marriage ceremony will take place, regardless of where you live.

Not sure which county your wedding venue is in? Here’s how to find out where you register for a marriage license in Maryland: How to Find Out What County a Wedding Venue is In -- Marriage License Tips

Find a specific county’s circuit court location and access their website using this directory: List of Maryland Circuit Court Websites

Out-of-State Marriage Applicants

Maryland has a unique marriage license process for out-of-state applicants, which allows couples to complete the application in their home state before traveling to Maryland for the ceremony.

If both you and your partner live elsewhere, you’ll use the MD Non-Resident Marriage License Application - Affidavit form to apply. You do not have to visit a Maryland office in person to obtain this form. Complete the form in the presence of a marriage license official in your home state. They’ll sign their name and confirm the document is accurate. Then, submit the completed form to the court clerk in the same Maryland county where you wish to marry, and you’re all set!

Contact a circuit court clerk in Maryland to request a non-resident application and start the process.

Maryland Marriage License Requirements

Each Maryland County (and Baltimore City) has its own marriage application process. In general:

• All residents must show valid photo ID, such as a passport, driver’s license, state ID card, or military ID. 
• Each applicant must provide the following information on the application: full names and ages, current street address, country or state of birth, social security number, marital status, whether the parties are related by blood or marriage, and the county, state, and date of any previous divorce or death of spouse (if applicable). 
• For resident marriage license applicants, some counties require both applicants to visit the office together to apply; others require only one applicant to appear. (Contact your local court clerk for details.)
• For non-resident marriage license applications, both applicants must appear before the clerk to apply.
• Both applicants must be 18 years old to apply, or meet the requirements for minors.
• You must bring payment for the license when you apply. Each county sets its own fees, ranging from $25 to $85, and offices can be very selective about the types of payment they’ll accept – so plan ahead! For example: some offices only accept cash, and will not accept bills larger than a fifty-dollar bill; some offices require all non-resident applicants to pay with either a money order or certified check; and so on.

6. How Much is a Marriage License in MD?

Marriage license prices may vary slightly by county, and sometimes increase to keep up with state budget costs. For the most current Maryland marriage license cost, click the link below, or 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 Maryland? (Waiting Period)

There is a strict 48-hour marriage waiting period in Maryland, which means you cannot get married on the same day you apply for the license. The license becomes effective at 6 a.m. on the second day after the license is issued (48-hours after you apply). For example, if you apply on a Monday, you can use your license after 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday.

• Can You Get Married on the Same Day You Get a Marriage License?

8. How Long is a Marriage License Good For in MD?

This is called the marriage license “expiration period” – or the number of days or months you have to use your license after it becomes effective, and before it expires. To see the current Maryland marriage license expiration period, click the link below:

• Marriage License Waiting Period, Expiration, and Return
• See all MD marriage license laws

9. How Do I Get a Copy of my Maryland Marriage Certificate?

There are a few ways to order a certified copy of your Maryland marriage certificate:

• In person (by appointment only) by visiting the Division of Vital Records (DVR) of the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) in Baltimore. This office only provides marriage records filed after 2007. 
• In person by visiting the Clerk of the Circuit Court office in the county where you were married. 
• Online through MD VitalChek
• By mail by completing a state application form, providing photocopies of required identification and your payment (check or money order only, made payable to the Division of Vital Records), and a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the Division of Vital Records in Baltimore. See more details and the mailing address to use here.

If you need a replacement copy of a marriage license before the wedding (to replace a lost or damaged marriage license), contact the issuing office directly for next steps.

10. Answers to Less Common Questions

Still have questions about your Maryland marriage license? We’ve answered a few less common questions below. If you don’t see your question answered here, we encourage you to reach out to your local circuit court clerk office. They’ll be happy to help you!

Are marriage licenses public record in Maryland?

Yes, your marriage license becomes public record after being returned to the Clerk of the Circuit Court. Some personal details remain private (such as your social security number), but the date of your marriage and other details will be publicly available.

Learn more: Are Marriage Licenses Public Records? (And Where Can You Marry in Secret?)

Are witness signatures required on a Maryland marriage license?

No, Maryland doesn’t require witnesses to sign the marriage license. This means that you can marry in the presence of just your wedding officiant if you wish, with no other guests present. Some couples call this a ‘just us’ elopement, and some like the idea of getting married in secret.

If you want your wedding witnesses to sign a decorative keepsake after the ceremony, we offer a beautiful selection of commemorative marriage certificates in the AMM Store. (¡Algunos diseños también están disponibles en español!) See AMM Marriage Certificates here.

Where can I find really old Maryland marriage records? (Family marriage records)

Some couples enjoy looking at copies of their grandparents’ or parents’ marriage records as part of their own marriage celebrations, as a way to honor lost loved ones or create a sense of tradition. Many of these older documents – dating all the way back to the late 1890s! – can be found at Maryland State Archives: Marriage Records. 

Explore Maryland Wedding Ideas & Inspiration from American Marriage Ministries

• How Much Does it Cost to Get Ordained Online in Maryland to Officiate a Wedding?
• How to Get Married in Maryland - Planning a wedding in The Free State
• State-by-state marriage waiting periods should be part of your wedding plan
• What to Wear (and Not Wear) as a Wedding Officiant