Marriage licenses in Montana 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 Montana’s own official sources, then links every county guide we have verified so far.
The statewide rules
- Who issues the license: Clerk of the District Court of any county (MCA sec. 40-1-201)
- License fee (statewide): $53
- Waiting period: None – the license is effective upon issuance (MCA sec. 40-1-212)
- License validity: 180 days (MCA sec. 40-1-212)
- Witnesses: Not required for a solemnized ceremony (MCA sec. 40-1-301 sets no witness requirement); a declaration of marriage without solemnization requires 2 witnesses (MCA sec. 40-1-311)
- Minimum age: 18, or 16-17 with judicial approval under MCA sec. 40-1-213 (MCA sec. 40-1-202)
- Residency / where to apply: License from the clerk of the district court of any county; the license authorizes a marriage ceremony in any county of the state (MCA sec. 40-1-201(2)); at least one party must appear before the clerk (MCA sec. 40-1-202)
- Who can officiate: A judge of a court of record, a public official whose powers include solemnization of marriages, a mayor, city judge or justice of the peace, a notary public authorized under MCA sec. 1-5-630, a tribal judge, or in accordance with any mode of solemnization recognized by a religious denomination, Indian nation or tribe, or native group (MCA sec. 40-1-301)
- Courthouse ceremonies: Yes – judges, city judges and justices of the peace solemnize; clerks of district court also accept declarations of marriage without solemnization
Montana counties in this directory
We have published 5 verified county guides for Montana so far. License fees on the verified county pages currently run from $53 to $53. 0 of them publish a separate ceremony fee. Browse them all: Browse all Montana county guides — and use the search on the homepage to jump straight to your county.
Source for the statewide rules: https://flatheadcounty.gov/department-directory/clerk_of_court/filing_fees (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.