Marriage licenses in Michigan are handled locally, and the details that matter — the fee, the wait, how long the license lasts — are set by state law. This page collects the statewide rules from Michigan’s own official sources, then links every county guide we have verified so far.
The statewide rules
- Who issues the license: County Clerk (MCL 551.101)
- License fee (statewide): 20 (resident) / 30 (nonresident)
- Waiting period: 3 days including the application date (MCL 551.103a); the county clerk may waive for good and sufficient cause for an extra fee set by the county board
- License validity: Void unless solemnized within 33 days after application (MCL 551.103a)
- Witnesses: At least 2 witnesses besides the officiant; each witness must be 18 or older (MCL 551.9)
- Minimum age: 18 – no exceptions since 2023 PA 121
- Residency / where to apply: Residents apply in the county where either party resides; non-residents apply in the county where the ceremony will take place
- Who can officiate: Per MCL 551.7: district court judges, district court magistrates, municipal judges, probate judges, federal judges, mayors, county clerks (in their own county), and ordained ministers/clerics/religious practitioners
- Courthouse ceremonies: Yes – county clerks are authorized officiants under MCL 551.7(1)(g); clerk ceremony fees vary by county
Michigan counties in this directory
We have published 36 verified county guides for Michigan so far. License fees on the verified county pages currently run from $20 to $30. 10 of them publish a separate ceremony fee. Browse them all: Browse all Michigan county guides — and use the search on the homepage to jump straight to your county.
Source for the statewide rules: https://zeus-milenia.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2025-2026/billintroduced/House/pdf/2025-HIB-4710.pdf (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.