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The Marriage License
Here's what you need to know to make
the marriage legal in Michigan.
In order to get married, you need to apply
and receive a marriage license. The rules for
acquiring your marriage license varies from
state to state, so you should check with your
city's marriage bureau at your clerk of
court's office to find out what your local
rules are.
You'll typically need to apply for your marriage
license at least one month before your wedding
ceremony. You'll traditionally need to send
in your birth certificates, tax information,
and other official documents. You don't, however,
want to apply for your marriage license too
early. In some states, the licenses do expire,
if you don't get married within a few months.
Below you will
find some specific Marriage requirements
for Michigan.
ID Requirement: Picture
ID such as a driver's license.
You should know your Social Security numbers.
Residency Requirement: You
do not have to be a resident of Michigan, but
the fee is $10 more for non-residents. Residents
need to apply for their marriage license in
the county in which one of them lives. Non-residents
need to apply for their marriage license in
the county where they plan on getting married.
Application Requirement: Applicants
intending to marry must obtain a marriage license
from the county clerk in the county in which
one of the parties lives (or, if both parties
are non-residents, in the county where the
marriage is to be performed), and deliver it
to the person who is to solemnize the marriage,
before the marriage can be performed. Both
applicants are not required to appear in person
at the time of applying. However,
he or she will be required to complete all information about both applicants:
• A photocopy
of the front and back of the other person's
driver's license.
• Full names;
• addresses, dates and places of birth;
• Bride's name after marriage
Identification requirements vary in each county.
A valid drivers license or certified copy of
birth certificate may be requested.
Waiting Period: 3
days. The county clerk can waive the 3 day
waiting period for "good and sufficient cause
shown."
Fees: $20
for residents, and $30 for non-residents. $15.00
of it is allocated for family counseling services.
Wayne County is authorized to charge more.
A probate court may waive the marriage license
fee in cases of undue hardship.
Blood Tests: No
tests
Under 18: If
you are 16 or 17 years old, you can get married
with parental consent. Your parents must
appear with their own identification and
if a custodial parent, proof of their custody.
If you are 15 or younger, you will need both
parental consent and the approval of the
probate court.
Marriage of a Minor: The
legal marriage of a minor "shall release such
minor from parental control."
Common Law Marriage: No.
However, the State does recognize common law
marriages that are valid in other states, or unless parties entered into the relationship prior
to January 1, 1957. .
Solemnization Authority: Marriages
may be solemnized by any of the following:
• Federal, probate, district, and municipal
judges, and district court magistrates, in their court area;
• Mayors, in their city;
• Wayne County clerks;
• Ministers of the gospel, anywhere in the state, "if
the minister is ordained or authorized to solemnize marriages according to
the usages of the denomination, and is a pastor of a church in this state,
or continues to preach the gospel in this state";
• Non-resident ministers of the gospel, anywhere in the state,
if the minister is authorized to solemnize marriages by his or her state's laws.
Solemnization Form: No
particular form or oath is required. The parties
merely solemnly declare that they take each
other as husband and wife before at least two
witnesses and the person officiating. A special
law allows "the people called Friends or Quakers" and "people
of any other particular denomination, having,
as such, any peculiar mode of solemnizing marriages" to
solemnize their marriages in their own manner.
Solemnization Fee: Mayors
and Wayne County clerks are specifically authorized
to collect a fee (set by their city, or county
commissioners) for solemnizing marriages. The
money is to be turned in to the government.
There are no specific provisions concerning
fees charged by others.
Certificate: After
the wedding ceremony the person who solemnizes
the marriage fills in (typed or legibly printed)
the certificate with the time and place of
the marriage and the names and residences of
the two witnesses, and signs it. The part marked "duplicate" is
given to the newlyweds, and the original must
be mailed to the county clerk that issued it
within 10 days. The clerk records the information
in a registration book, and mails it on to
the the state registrar. The person who performs
the marriage must also keep a record ''in a
book used expressly for that purpose. The license,
when fully filled out, thus serves a "double
purpose" and becomes the certificate.
Officiants: A
minister of the gospel who is ordained or authorized
by his or her church to perform marriages and
who is a pastor of a church in this state,
or continues to preach the gospel in this state
may perform marriages. Ministers must complete
a marriage certificate and give one to the
couple. Another marriage certificate must be
returned to the county clerk who issued the
license within 10 days after the marriage.
Valid: License
is valid for 33 days.
The license can only be used within the State
of Michigan.
Second
Marriage: You
need to know the date (mm/dd/yy) and
how the last marriage ended. If it was
within the last 6 months, you will need
to bring proof of the divorce that can
be left with the Clerk.
Same
Sex Marriages: No.
In November, 2004, voters passed a constitutional
amendment banning same sex marriage.
Michigan
County Clerk's Office
Alcona County Clerk
Harrisville, MI
989.724.6807
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Alger
County Clerk
Munising, MI
906.387.2076
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Allegan
County Clerk
Allegan, MI
616.673.0450
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Alpena County Clerk
Alpena, MI
517.356.0115
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Antrim
County Clerk
Bellaire, MI
231.533.6353
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Arenac
County Clerk
Standish, MI
989.846.4626
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Baraga County Clerk
L'Anse, MI
906.524.6183
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Barry
County Clerk
Hastings, MI
616.945.1285
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Bay
County Clerk
Bay City, MI
989.895.4280
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Benzie
County Clerk
Beulah, MI
231.882.9671
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Berrien
County Clerk
St. Joseph, MI
616.983.7111
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Branch
County Clerk
Coldwater, MI
517.279.4306
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Calhoun
County Clerk
Marshall, MI
616.781.0730
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Cass
County Clerk
Cassopolis, MI
616.445.8621
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Charlevoix
County Clerk
Charlevoix, MI
231.547.7200
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Cheboygan
County Clerk
Cheboygan, MI
231.627.8808
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Chippewa
County Clerk
Sault Ste. Marie, MI
906.635.6300
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Clare
County Clerk
Harrison, MI
989.539.7131
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Clinton
County Clerk
St. Johns, MI
989.224.5140
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Crawford
County Clerk
Grayling, MI
989.344.3200
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Delta
County Clerk
Escanaba, MI
906.789.5105
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Dickinson
County Clerk
Iron Mountain, MI
906.774.0988
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Eaton
County Clerk
Charlotte, MI
517.543.7500
|
Emmet
County Clerk
Petoskey, MI
231.348.1744
|
Genesee
County Clerk
Flint, MI
810.257.3282
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Gladwin
County Clerk
Gladwin, MI
517.426.7351
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Gogebic
County Clerk
Bessemer, MI
906.663.4518
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Grand
Traverse County Clerk
Traverse City, MI
231.922.4760
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Gratiot
County Clerk
Ithaca, MI
517.875.5215
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Hillsdale
County Clerk
Hillsdale, MI
517.437.3391
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Houghton
County Clerk
Houghton, MI
906.482.1150
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Huron
County Clerk
Bad Axe, MI
989.269.9942
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Ingham
County Clerk
Mason, MI
517.676.7201
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Ionia
County Clerk
Ionia, MI
616.527.5322
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Iosco
County Clerk
Tawas City, MI
989.362.3497
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Isabella
County Clerk
Mt. Pleasant, MI
517.772.0911
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Jackson
County Clerk
Jackson, MI
517.788.4265
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Durham
Town Clerk
Durham, CT
860.349.3452
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Kalamazoo
County Clerk
Kalamazoo, MI
616.383.8840
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Kalkaska
County Clerk
Kalkaska, MI
231.258.3300
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Kent
County Clerk
Grand Rapids, MI
616.336.3550
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Keweenaw
County Clerk
Eagle River, MI
906.337.2229
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Lake
County Clerk
Baldwin, MI
231.745.4641
|
Lapeer
County Clerk
Lapeer, MI
810.667.0356
|
Leelanau
County Clerk
Suttons Bay, MI
231.256.9824
|
Lenawee
County Clerk
Adrian, MI
517.264.4606
|
Livingston
County Clerk
Howell, MI
517.546.0500
|
Luce
County Clerk
Newberry, MI
906.293.5521
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Mackinac
County Clerk
St. Ignace, MI
906.643.7300
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Macomb
County Clerk
Mt. Clemens, MI
586.469.5120
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Manistee
County Clerk
Manistee, MI
231.723.3331
|
Marquette
County Clerk
Marquette, MI
906.225.8330
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Mason
County Clerk
Ludington, MI
231.843.8202
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Mecosta
County Clerk
Big Rapids, MI
231.592.0783
|
Menominee
County Clerk
Menominee, MI
906.863.9968
|
Midland
County Clerk
Midland, MI
517.832.6739
|
Missaukee
County Clerk
Lake City, MI
231.839.4967
|
Monroe
County Clerk
Monroe, MI
734.240.7020
|
Montcalm
County Clerk
Stanton, MI
989.831.7339
|
Montmorency
County Clerk
Atlanta, MI
517.785.8022
|
Muskegon
County Clerk
Muskegon, MI
231.724.6221
|
Newaygo
County Clerk
White Cloud, MI
231.689.7235
|
Oakland
County Clerk
Pontiac, MI
248.858.0572
|
Oceana
County Clerk
Hart, MI
231.873.4328
|
Ogemaw
County Clerk
West Branch, MI
517.345.0215
|
Ontonagon
County Clerk
Ontonagon, MI
906.884.4255
|
Osceola
County Clerk
Reed City, MI
231.832.6104
|
Oscoda
County Clerk
Mio, MI
989.826.1110
|
Otsego
County Clerk
Gaylord, MI
517.732.6484
|
Ottawa
County Clerk
Grand Haven, MI
616.846.8310
|
Presque
Isle County Clerk
Rogers City, MI
800.334.5698
|
Roscommon
County Clerk
Roscommon, MI
989.275.5923
|
Saginaw
County Clerk
Saginaw, MI
989.790.5251
|
St.
Clair County Clerk
Port Huron, MI
810.985.2200
|
St.
Joseph County Clerk
Centreville, MI
616.467.5602
|
Sanilac
County Clerk
Sandusky, MI
810.648.3212
|
Schoolcraft
County Clerk
Manistique, MI
906.341.3618
|
Shiawassee
County Clerk
Corunna, MI
517.743.2242
|
Tuscola
County Clerk
Caro, MI
517.672.3780
|
Van
Buren County Clerk
Paw Paw, MI
616.657.8218
|
Washtenaw
County Clerk
Ann Arbor, MI
734.994.2501
|
Wayne County Clerk
Detroit, MI
313.224.6262
|
Wexford
County Clerk
Cadillac, MI
231.779.9450
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