How long before the wedding should we get the license?

Inside the license's validity window and outside any waiting period. Most licenses last 30 to 90 days; a few last 10 to 20 days or a year. Waiting periods run from none to three days. For most couples that means applying two to four weeks before the wedding.

Marriage license

How much a marriage license costs, and where to get it, in every state

Q: Do we both need to be there to apply?

Almost always yes, in person with government photo ID. A few states let one partner apply with a notarized affidavit from the other, and several now take the application online with one in-person visit to be issued.

The fee, the waiting period, how long it lasts, how many witnesses, and which office issues it. Pick your state for the county offices, and to plan the application around your wedding date.

State	Fee	Wait	Lasts	Witnesses	Issued by
Alabama	About $70 to $85	No waiting period	Valid 30 days	None	County probate court (recording)
Alaska	About $60	3-day wait	Valid 3 months	2	Bureau of Vital Statistics
Arizona	About $83	No waiting period	Valid 1 year	2	Clerk of the Superior Court
Arkansas	About $60	No waiting period	Valid 60 days	None	County clerk
California	About $35 to $120	No waiting period	Valid 3 months	1	County clerk-recorder
Colorado	About $30	No waiting period	Valid 35 days	None	County clerk and recorder
Connecticut	About $50	No waiting period	Valid 65 days	None	Town or city clerk where the ceremony happens
Delaware	About $50 to $100	24-hour wait	Valid 30 days	2	Clerk of the Peace
Florida	About $86	3-day wait	Valid 60 days	None	Clerk of the circuit court
Georgia	About $56 to $76	No waiting period	Does not expire	None	County probate court
Hawaii	About $65	No waiting period	Valid 30 days	None	Department of Health, through a licensed agent
Idaho	About $30	No waiting period	Does not expire	None	County recorder
Illinois	About $60	24-hour wait	Valid 60 days	None	County clerk
Indiana	About $25 to $65	No waiting period	Valid 60 days	None	Clerk of the circuit court
Iowa	About $35	3-day wait	Valid 6 months	1	County recorder
Kansas	About $86	3-day wait	Valid 6 months	2	Clerk of the district court
Kentucky	About $50	No waiting period	Valid 30 days	2	County clerk
Louisiana	About $28 to $36	24-hour wait	Valid 30 days	2	Clerk of court (Orleans Parish: Vital Records)
Maine	About $40	No waiting period	Valid 3 months	2	Town or city clerk
Maryland	About $35 to $85	2-day wait	Valid 6 months	None	Clerk of the circuit court
Massachusetts	About $25 to $50	3-day wait	Valid 60 days	None	City or town clerk
Michigan	About $20 to $30	3-day wait	Valid 33 days	2	County clerk
Minnesota	About $115	No waiting period	Valid 6 months	2	County (local registrar)
Mississippi	About $20 to $35	No waiting period	Does not expire	None	Circuit clerk
Missouri	About $51	No waiting period	Valid 30 days	None	Recorder of deeds
Montana	About $53	No waiting period	Valid 6 months	2	Clerk of the district court
Nebraska	About $25	No waiting period	Valid 1 year	2	County clerk
Nevada	About $102	No waiting period	Valid 1 year	1	County clerk (Clark County Marriage License Bureau in Las Vegas)
New Hampshire	About $50	No waiting period	Valid 3 months	None	Town or city clerk
New Jersey	About $28	3-day wait	Valid 30 days	1	Local registrar of the municipality
New Mexico	About $25	No waiting period	Does not expire	2	County clerk
New York	About $35 to $40	24-hour wait	Valid 60 days	1	City or town clerk (Office of the City Clerk in NYC)
North Carolina	About $60	No waiting period	Valid 60 days	2	Register of deeds
North Dakota	About $65	No waiting period	Valid 60 days	2	County recorder
Ohio	About $40 to $75	No waiting period	Valid 60 days	None	County probate court
Oklahoma	About $50	No waiting period	Valid 10 days	None	Court clerk
Oregon	About $60	3-day wait	Valid 60 days	2	County clerk
Pennsylvania	About $40 to $90	3-day wait	Valid 60 days	None	Register of Wills / Clerk of Orphans' Court
Rhode Island	About $24	No waiting period	Valid 3 months	2	City or town clerk
South Carolina	About $30 to $100	24-hour wait	Does not expire	None	County probate court
South Dakota	About $40	No waiting period	Valid 20 days	None	Register of deeds
Tennessee	About $100	No waiting period	Valid 30 days	None	County clerk
Texas	About $71 to $85	3-day wait	Valid 3 months	None	County clerk
Utah	About $30 to $50	No waiting period	Valid 32 days	2	County clerk
Vermont	About $80	No waiting period	Valid 60 days	None	Town clerk
Virginia	About $30	No waiting period	Valid 60 days	None	Clerk of the circuit court
Washington	About $62 to $72	3-day wait	Valid 60 days	2	County auditor
Washington, DC	About $45	No waiting period	Does not expire	None	Marriage Bureau, DC Superior Court
West Virginia	About $36 to $61	No waiting period	Valid 60 days	None	County clerk
Wisconsin	About $75 to $125	3-day wait	Valid 30 days	2	County clerk
Wyoming	About $30	No waiting period	Valid 1 year	2	County clerk

Fees are the typical in-person fee as published by the issuing offices for 2025 to 2026. They change by a few dollars and differ by county. Confirm with the office before you go.

What every couple asks about the license

How much does a marriage license cost?

Between about $24 and $125 depending on the state and county. Most fall between $30 and $90. Several states cut the fee by $40 to $75 if you complete a short premarital course, and Texas waives its waiting period for the same course.

Where do you get a marriage license?

From a local government office, usually the county clerk, clerk of court, register of deeds or probate court, and in New England the town or city clerk. In most states any county's office works and the license is valid statewide. In some, you must apply where you live or where the ceremony is; your state's page says which.

How long before the wedding should we get it?

Inside the validity window and outside any waiting period. Most licenses last 30 to 90 days; a few last 10 to 20 days, and some a year. Waiting periods run from none to three days. For most couples that means applying two to four weeks before. Each state page works out your window from your date.

Do we need witnesses?

About half the states require one or two witnesses over 18 to sign at the ceremony. The other half need only the officiant. Colorado and Pennsylvania even let you marry without an officiant.

Do we both need to be there to apply?

Almost always yes, in person with government photo ID, and in a few states a certified birth certificate. Some states let one partner apply with a notarized affidavit from the other. Many now take the application online, with one in-person visit to be issued.

Planning the rest of the day? The planning guides cover the timeline, the ceremony order and what to put on your website, and every couple on Lazo gets a free wedding website.