Marriage licenses in Maryland 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 Maryland’s own official sources, then links every county guide we have verified so far.
The statewide rules
- Who issues the license: Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county (or Baltimore City) where the marriage will take place
- License fee: Per-county fees fixed in state statute (Md. Family Law Sec. 2-404); amounts vary by county
- Waiting period: License is issued the same day but is not effective until 6:00 a.m. on the second calendar day after issuance
- License validity: 6 months
- Witnesses: None required
- Minimum age: 18 generally; a 17-year-old may marry only with consent of each living parent/guardian or a medical pregnancy/birth certificate AND a court order under Family Law Title 5 Subtitle 2A; marriage under 17 is prohibited
- Residency / where to apply: License must be obtained in the county where the ceremony will take place; nonresidents unable to appear may use a Non-Resident Application through the clerk of their home jurisdiction
- Who can officiate: Clerks and deputy clerks of the Circuit Court and judges perform civil ceremonies; ministers and other religious officials may also officiate under Md. Family Law Sec. 2-406
- Courthouse ceremonies: Yes — civil ceremonies are performed at the Circuit Court by appointment; the ceremony fee is $25 on the clerk pages opened
Maryland counties in this directory
We have published 18 verified county guides for Maryland so far. License fees on the verified county pages currently run from $30 to $75. 16 of them publish a separate ceremony fee. Browse them all: Browse all Maryland county guides — and use the search on the homepage to jump straight to your county.
Source for the statewide rules: https://www.mdcourts.gov/clerks/dorchester/marriagelicense (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.