Marriage licenses in New Mexico 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 New Mexico’s own official sources, then links every county guide we have verified so far.
The statewide rules
- Who issues the license: County Clerk (NMSA sec. 40-1-10)
- License fee (statewide): $55
- Waiting period: None
- License validity: 1 year (the statutory license form directs the marriage to take place within one year from the date the license was issued, NMSA sec. 40-1-18)
- Residency / where to apply: Both parties must personally appear before the issuing county clerk (NMSA sec. 40-1-10(B)); ceremony must be conducted in New Mexico and the license filed for recording in the issuing county; no residency requirement stated in the opened sources
- Who can officiate: Ordained clergy or civil magistrates/judicial officers (NMSA sec. 40-1-2)
- Courthouse ceremonies: Yes – judicial officers/civil magistrates solemnize marriages and by statute charge no fee to solemnize the civil contract of marriage (NMSA sec. 40-1-2)
New Mexico counties in this directory
We have published 11 verified county guides for New Mexico so far. License fees on the verified county pages currently run from $25 to $55. 0 of them publish a separate ceremony fee. Browse them all: Browse all New Mexico county guides — and use the search on the homepage to jump straight to your county.
Source for the statewide rules: https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/25%20Regular/Amendments_In_Context/SB0290.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.