Marriage licenses in Missouri 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 Missouri’s own official sources, then links every county guide we have verified so far.
The statewide rules
- Who issues the license: Recorder of Deeds (RSMo 451.040)
- License fee: Not uniform – the fee is collected by the county recorder of deeds and amounts vary by county (commonly about $45-60)
- Waiting period: None – the recorder issues the license on receipt of a complete application (RSMo 451.040.3); Missouri’s former 3-day waiting period has been eliminated
- License validity: Void after 30 days from the date of issuance (RSMo 451.040.3)
- Witnesses: Not stated in RSMo 451.040 or 451.100
- Minimum age: 18 – no exceptions; 2025 legislation (HB 737 / SB 43) prohibits issuing a license to anyone under 18, effective August 28, 2025
- Residency / where to apply: No residency requirement for in-person applications at any county recorder of deeds (online applications, where offered, require at least one applicant to be a resident of that county per RSMo 451.040.7)
- Who can officiate: Per RSMo 451.100: any clergyman, active or retired, in good standing with any church or synagogue in Missouri; any judge (including a municipal judge) without compensation; and a religious society/institution/organization according to its customs when either party is a member
- Courthouse ceremonies: Yes – judges may solemnize marriages (without compensation); recorders of deeds issue licenses but do not officiate
Missouri counties in this directory
We have published 22 verified county guides for Missouri so far. License fees on the verified county pages currently run from $46 to $62. 0 of them publish a separate ceremony fee. Browse them all: Browse all Missouri county guides — and use the search on the homepage to jump straight to your county.
Source for the statewide rules: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=451.040&bid=57670 (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.