Marriage licenses in Delaware are handled locally, and the details that matter — the fee, the wait, how long the license lasts — are set by a mix of state law and local practice. This page collects the statewide rules from Delaware’s own official sources, then links every county guide we have verified so far.
The statewide rules
- Who issues the license: Clerk of the Peace (also known as the Marriage Bureau) of a county
- License fee: Fee charged by each county Clerk of the Peace; totals vary by residency — see notes
- Waiting period: License must be obtained at least 24 hours before the ceremony (13 Del.C. Sec. 107(a)); the Clerk of the Peace may shorten the wait for good cause
- License validity: 30 days from issuance; the Clerk of the Peace may extend validity to no more than 180 days for good cause
- Witnesses: Two reputable witnesses, both at least 18 years old, who sign the certificate (Sec. 106(a)(4))
- Residency / where to apply: The ceremony must take place in Delaware and the license must be delivered to the officiant before the ceremony
- Who can officiate: Clergy registered with the Clerk of the Peace; current/former judges of the DE Supreme, Superior, Family, Chancery, Common Pleas and Justice of the Peace courts; federal judges/magistrates with jurisdiction over Delaware; current/former Clerks of the Peace within their county; mayors/chief executives of incorporated municipalities (Sec. 106(a)(2))
- Courthouse ceremonies: Yes — a Clerk of the Peace (or deputy) who issued a license is required to perform a solemnization if the applicants request it (Sec. 106(f)); Justice of the Peace court judges also officiate
Delaware counties in this directory
We have published 3 verified county guides for Delaware so far. License fees on the verified county pages currently run from $50 to $70. 3 of them publish a separate ceremony fee. Browse them all: Browse all Delaware county guides — and use the search on the homepage to jump straight to your county.
Source for the statewide rules: https://delcode.delaware.gov/title13/c001/sc01/index.html (checked 2026-11-09). County figures are checked separately against each county’s own official page and carry their own verified dates. Always confirm with your county clerk before you go — this is not a government site.