Marriage License Cost in 2026: How Much Is a Marriage License by State?
All 50 states covered. From $18 in Indiana to $115 in Minnesota, plus every discount, hidden fee, and payment method you need to know before you go.
Open Free Wedding ChecklistMarriage License Price at a Glance
Marriage License Fees: All 50 States (2026)
Fees shown are the standard base fee. Exact amounts can vary slightly by county within a state. Always confirm with your specific county clerk before arriving.
Note: Fees are approximate and verified for 2026. County-level variation applies. Always confirm directly with your county clerk.
Cheapest vs. Most Expensive States
If you have flexibility in where you get married, the difference in license fees alone can be significant. Here is a quick comparison of both ends of the spectrum.
Most Affordable States
Higher-Cost States
Premarital Education Discounts: Save Up to $73
Many states actively incentivize premarital counseling by reducing the license fee for couples who complete an approved course. The savings can easily outweigh the cost of the course itself.
Texas
Complete 8-hour course, submit certificate to clerk
Tennessee
Approved premarital education certificate required
Florida
Must complete 4+ hour approved course
Georgia
One of the biggest percentage discounts in the US
Minnesota
Largest absolute dollar savings in the country
Oklahoma
Premarital counseling certificate must be from certified provider
Military Discounts and Fee Waivers
Active-duty military members and veterans may qualify for reduced or waived marriage license fees in several states. Requirements and discount amounts vary, and not all counties honor state-level military provisions equally.
Which States Offer Military Discounts
Virginia, North Carolina, Texas, Florida, and several other states have provisions for active-duty military discounts. The discount ranges from 50% off to a full fee waiver depending on rank and duty status.
What Documentation Is Required
You will typically need to show your military ID (CAC card), deployment orders if applicable, and in some cases a letter from your commanding officer. Reserve and National Guard members may have different eligibility rules than active duty.
Always Ask in Advance
Military discounts are not always advertised prominently on county websites. Call the clerk's office specifically and ask "Do you offer a military discount on marriage license fees?" before your appointment so you can bring the right documentation.
Accepted Payment Methods
Being turned away because you brought the wrong payment type is an avoidable frustration. Here is what each method looks like in practice at county clerk offices.
Cash
Accepted at virtually every county clerk office in the US. Bring exact change or expect no change back in some rural offices. Always a safe backup.
Personal Check
Accepted at most offices. Make it payable to "[County Name] County Clerk." Confirm the exact payee name on the county website before writing the check.
Debit or Credit Card
Increasingly accepted, especially in urban counties. A 2-3% convenience fee is often tacked on. Major metropolitan counties usually support card payments; rural ones may not.
Money Order
Some offices accept money orders if you do not have a personal checkbook. Less commonly required now but useful if you want a paper trail and do not have checks.
Hidden Costs Most Couples Miss
The license fee is only part of your total document spend. Here are the extra charges that catch couples off guard after the wedding.
Certified Copies of the Certificate
$5-$25 eachYou need certified copies (not the license itself) for every institution you contact for a name change. Order at least 3-4 at the time the certificate is issued. Ordering later means waiting 2-4 weeks for mail delivery.
Online Pre-Filing Convenience Fee
$5-$15Counties that offer online pre-filing (like LA County and some Florida counties) sometimes charge a small convenience fee to use the online form. It can still be worth it for the time saved at the office.
Expedited Processing
$10-$30If you need the certificate returned faster (e.g., for an immediate name change on travel documents), some counties offer expedited processing. Not universally available, and fees vary.
Replacement License Fee
Same as originalIf you lose the license before your ceremony, you must apply (and pay) again. There is no replacement discount. Guard your license carefully in the weeks between applying and your wedding day.
Credit Card Convenience Fee
2-3% surchargeOffices that accept cards often pass processing fees on to you. On a $100 license, this adds $2-$3. Trivial individually, but worth knowing so the total at the counter does not surprise you.
Non-Resident Surcharge
$10-$40 in some statesA handful of states charge out-of-state applicants a higher fee. Always confirm the exact amount when you call your county clerk, particularly if you live in a different state than your wedding venue.
Are Marriage License Fees Refundable?
In Almost All Cases: No
Marriage license fees are generally non-refundable once paid, even if you cancel the wedding, the license expires unused, or you applied in the wrong county. The fee covers the administrative processing cost, which is incurred at the time of application regardless of whether a ceremony ever takes place.
A small number of counties may issue a partial credit toward a new application if the original was denied due to a clerk error, but this is not a standard practice. If your wedding plans change significantly, contact the county clerk immediately to understand your options.
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Why Marriage License Fees Vary So Much by State
Marriage license fees are set at the state or county level, which is why you can pay $18 in one state and $115 in another for the exact same legal document. The fee is essentially a government administrative charge that funds the county clerk's vital records department. States with larger bureaucracies, more complex filing systems, or older legacy databases tend to charge more.
County-level variation within a state can be surprising. In Texas, for example, the base fee is $82, but couples who complete a premarital education course receive a $60 waiver, effectively dropping their cost to $22. In California, fees vary by county from around $35 to $100+, with Los Angeles County charging considerably more than rural counties.
- •Fees are set by state law or county ordinance, not a federal standard
- •Urban counties with higher operating costs tend to charge more
- •Premarital education discounts can save $20-$70 in 15+ states
- •Military waivers are available in several states, often covering the full fee
How Much to Budget for All Marriage-Related Documents
The marriage license is just the beginning of your document costs. Once you are officially married, you will need certified copies of the marriage certificate for every name change or record update you make. Planning ahead saves you from having to order and wait for additional copies later.
- •Marriage license fee: $20-$115
- •Certified copy of marriage certificate: $5-$25 per copy (order 3-4)
- •Passport name change: $130 (renewal fee, not marriage-specific)
- •Driver's license update: $0-$30 depending on state
- •Social Security name change: free
- •Total realistic document budget: $100-$250 all-in
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Marriage License Cost FAQs
Everything you need to know about our free tools and how they help your wedding day.
The national average cost of a US marriage license in 2026 is approximately $50-$60. Costs range from as low as $20 in states like Colorado, Arkansas, and Indiana to as high as $115 in Minnesota. Most couples in a mid-tier state pay $40-$70 for the license itself, plus an additional $10-$25 per certified copy of the marriage certificate they need afterward.
The cheapest marriage licenses as of 2026 are in Colorado ($30), Arkansas ($35), Indiana ($18-$30 depending on county), Mississippi ($25), Massachusetts ($30), and Utah ($35). South Dakota is also among the lowest at around $30. Fees can vary within a state from county to county, so it is worth checking the specific county where you plan to marry.
Yes, several states offer meaningful discounts. Tennessee reduces the fee from $95 to $60 for couples who complete an approved premarital education course. Florida drops the fee from $93.50 to $61 with a course certificate. Georgia reduces from $56 to $16. Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Maryland also offer substantial discounts. Military couples may qualify for fee waivers in some states. Ask your county clerk specifically about any available discounts before paying.
Most county clerks accept cash and personal checks. Credit and debit card acceptance has expanded significantly since 2022, but roughly 30-40% of rural county offices still only accept cash or check. Some offices that do accept cards add a convenience fee of 2-3%. Always check your specific county clerk's website before arriving, because being turned away for the wrong payment method causes real scheduling problems.
Yes, there are several costs couples overlook. Certified copies of the marriage certificate cost $5-$25 each and you will need 2-4 for name changes. Expedited processing (where offered) costs $10-$30. Some jurisdictions charge a separate "filing fee" on top of the license fee. If you lose the license before the ceremony, replacing it costs the same as the original. Online pre-filing convenience fees of $5-$15 are charged by some counties.
In a small number of states and counties, yes. Some jurisdictions charge non-residents a higher fee or add a surcharge. Indiana is an example where non-resident fees can be higher. In most states the fee is the same regardless of residency. However, proving residency in states with tiered pricing can sometimes save you $10-$40, so it is worth asking when you call to confirm your appointment.