A marriage license costs about $50 to $60 on average in the US, with fees running anywhere from $20 in the cheapest states to $115 in the most expensive, depending on where you apply. From planning over 200 weddings on the East Coast, I’ve watched couples get blindsided by this one because the number changes not just state to state, but county to county within the same state. The license itself is rarely the expensive part of getting married, but the rules around it (waiting periods, residency, certified copies) trip people up far more than the dollar amount. Here’s exactly what to expect, broken down the way I walk my couples through it.
Quick answer
A US marriage license typically costs $50 to $60 on average, with fees ranging from about $20 (Colorado, Indiana, Michigan) to $115 (Minnesota). The fee is set by your state or county, not federally, so the exact cost depends on where you apply, your residency, and whether you complete a premarital course.
The short answer: $20 to $115, depending on where you marry
There’s no single national price for a marriage license. Fees are set by state law or county ordinance, which is why two couples marrying in the same week can pay wildly different amounts. Most couples in a mid-tier state land in the $40 to $70 range for the license itself.
What is that fee actually for? It covers the labor of processing your application: the clerk’s time, the recordkeeping, verifying your IDs and eligibility, and producing the physical license. It is a government administrative fee, not a tax on getting married. Urban counties with higher operating costs tend to charge more than rural ones, which is the single biggest reason California can run $60 in one county and $91 in Los Angeles.
One thing I always flag: the license fee is almost never the full story. Certified copies, optional ceremony services, and reapplication if your license expires all sit on top of that base number, and they’re the line items couples forget to budget for.
What you’re actually paying for
When you hand over your payment at the clerk’s office, you’re usually paying for one thing: the license application and processing. But there are a few related costs that often get bundled into how people think about “the cost of a marriage license.” Here’s how it breaks down.
What goes into the cost
| Cost component | Typical cost | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| License application fee | $20–$115 | The main charge. Set by state or county. This is the number most “marriage license cost” searches are asking about. |
| Certified copies | $10–$25 each | You’ll need at least one for name changes and joint accounts. Many couples order 2–3. |
| Civil ceremony (optional) | $25–$75 | If a clerk or judge performs your ceremony. Separate from the license. LA County charges $35, for example. |
| Premarital course discount | −$20 to −$70 | A credit, not a charge. Offered in 15+ states (Texas, Florida, Minnesota and others) and often waives the waiting period too. |
Figures are typical ranges as of June 2026. Confirm exact amounts with your local county clerk.
Marriage license cost by state
Below is a representative snapshot of what a license runs in a range of states. I’ve pulled the headline numbers from The Knot’s state-by-state guide and confirmed several at the county-clerk level, since that’s where the real number lives. Treat these as starting points, not gospel: within a single state, an urban county clerk can charge $30 more than a rural one, and some counties tack on small recording or preservation fees.
| State | Typical license fee | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $72–$83 | Maricopa County (Phoenix) is at the top of the range. |
| California | $60–$110 | LA County: $91 public license, $85 confidential. Varies sharply by county. |
| Colorado | $30 | Flat statewide. No witnesses required, self-solemnization allowed. |
| Florida | $86 | Drops to about $61 with a registered premarital course; 3-day wait for residents. |
| Georgia | $50–$60 | Premarital counseling can reduce the fee in many counties. |
| Illinois | $60 | Cook County (Chicago): $60. Valid 60 days, in-county only. |
| Indiana | $18–$30 | In-state residents. Out-of-state couples pay much more ($60+). |
| Massachusetts | $30–$50 | Set by town/city; 3-day waiting period statewide. |
| Michigan | $20–$30 | Lower for residents; higher for out-of-state applicants. |
| Minnesota | $115 | Highest in the country, but drops to about $40 with premarital education. |
| Nevada | $102 | Las Vegas is a destination favorite; no waiting period. |
| New York | $40 | NYC and most counties; 24-hour waiting period. |
| North Carolina | $60 | Flat statewide; valid 60 days. |
| Ohio | $36–$76 | Set by county probate court; wide range. |
| Texas | $71–$82 | Drops to about $22 with Twogether in Texas; free for active military. |
If your state isn’t here, the takeaway is the same: look up your specific county clerk, because that office sets the final number and the payment rules. A surprising number of clerks are still cash-only.
What makes the price go up or down
Four factors move the number more than anything else. Understanding them is how my couples avoid paying $40 more than they had to.
Residency
Several states charge out-of-state couples a steep premium. Indiana is the clearest example: residents pay as little as $18, while out-of-state applicants can pay far more. If you’re planning a destination wedding in a state you don’t live in, check the non-resident fee before you assume the published number applies to you.
Premarital education courses
This is the biggest lever, and most couples don’t know it exists. In 15+ states, completing a state-approved premarital course knocks a chunk off the fee. In Texas, the Twogether in Texas program drops the license from roughly $82 to about $22 and waives the 72-hour waiting period. In Minnesota, the $115 fee falls to about $40. Florida cuts its $86 fee to roughly $61. The course usually costs $20 to $30, so on the higher-fee states you come out ahead.
Military status
Active-duty service members get a break in several states. In much of Texas, the license fee is waived entirely with a valid military ID, and many counties give active and retired military free certified copies. If either partner serves, ask the clerk directly.
County within your state
Even with a statewide framework, the county is where the final price is set in a lot of places. California is the headline case: a license is around $60 in some counties and $91 in Los Angeles. Ohio and Texas show the same county-to-county spread.
Madison’s note
“I had a couple marrying in Texas who almost paid the full $82 out of habit. They took the online premarital course for under $30, walked in with the certificate, paid $22, and skipped the 72-hour wait entirely. On the higher-fee states, that course pays for itself twice over.”
The costs people forget to budget for
The license fee is the headline, but it’s rarely the last check you write. These are the add-ons I make sure my couples plan for.
Certified copies of your marriage certificate. The license is what lets you marry; the certificate is the proof afterward. You’ll need a certified copy for every name change and joint account, and they run $10 to $25 each. I tell couples to order two or three at the time of recording rather than reordering later and waiting on the mail. (If the license-versus-certificate distinction is fuzzy, I break it down in my guide to the difference between a marriage license and a marriage certificate.)
Reapplication if your license expires. Most licenses are valid for 30 to 90 days. If your ceremony slips past that window, the license is dead and you pay the full fee again. I’ve seen this happen with weather-delayed outdoor weddings, so if your date is even slightly uncertain, time your application carefully.
Name-change paperwork down the line. The license fee is small next to the documents you’ll update afterward. It’s worth folding into your broader wedding budget from the start so nothing feels like a surprise.
Did you know
The cheapest marriage licenses in the country are in Colorado, Indiana, Massachusetts and Mississippi, where the base fee can be as low as $20–$30. The most expensive is Minnesota at $115 before the premarital-education discount. Sources: The Knot; county clerk fee schedules, 2026.
How to keep marriage license costs down
None of this will make or break a wedding budget, but a few small moves add up, especially in the higher-fee states.
- Take the premarital course where it’s offered. In Texas, Minnesota and Florida it’s the single biggest saving, and it usually waives the waiting period too.
- Apply in your home county if fees vary in-state. In California and Ohio, a neighboring county can be meaningfully cheaper.
- Don’t over-order certified copies. Two or three covers most name changes and accounts. You can always order more later.
- Time your application to your real ceremony date. Apply too early and a short validity window can force a costly reapplication.
- Use the military waiver if it applies. Several states waive the fee outright for active duty.
- Confirm the payment method first. Plenty of clerks are cash-only, and a wasted trip costs you time, which is its own expense.
Where the numbers come from
The state-level ranges in this article come from The Knot’s state-by-state marriage license guide, which surveys published fees nationwide. Wherever I could, I confirmed the county-level number against the office that actually sets it: the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk for California, the Cook County Clerk for Illinois, the Maricopa County Clerk of Superior Court for Arizona, and the Pasco County Clerk for Florida. County clerks are always the final authority, and they update fees regularly, so confirm before you go.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a marriage license on average?
The national average is about $50 to $60. Fees range from roughly $20 in the cheapest states to $115 in Minnesota. The exact cost is set by your state or county, so the price you pay depends on where you apply.
Why are marriage licenses so expensive in some states?
The fee covers the clerk’s labor: processing, recordkeeping and producing the license. Urban counties with higher operating costs tend to charge more, which is why Los Angeles runs $91 while a rural California county might charge $60. Some states also add recording or preservation fees.
Can you reduce the cost of a marriage license?
Yes. In 15+ states, completing a state-approved premarital course cuts the fee by $20 to $70 and often waives the waiting period. Texas drops from about $82 to $22, and Minnesota from $115 to about $40. Active-duty military also qualify for a waiver in several states.
Does a marriage license cost more for out-of-state couples?
In some states, yes. Indiana charges residents as little as $18 but bills out-of-state applicants significantly more. If you’re marrying in a state where you don’t live, check the non-resident fee before you budget.
How much does a certified copy of a marriage certificate cost?
Usually $10 to $25 per copy, with additional copies often cheaper. You’ll need at least one for name changes and joint accounts, so ordering two or three at the time of recording saves a reorder later.
The bottom line
A marriage license costs $50 to $60 on average, somewhere between $20 and $115 depending on your state, county, residency and whether you take a premarital course. Look up your specific county clerk for the real number, budget a little extra for certified copies, and if you’re in a high-fee state, the premarital course is almost always worth it. Once the paperwork is sorted, the license is a tiny line item next to everything else, which is exactly why it’s worth getting right early. If you’re mapping out the full picture, my wedding planning checklist folds the license into the right month, and my breakdown of how much a wedding costs puts that fee in context against the rest of your budget.
Written by Madison Cole, Certified Wedding Planner. Madison has planned more than 200 weddings across the East Coast, from intimate Charleston ceremonies to destination weekends, and writes One Stop Wedding Planner to give couples the same playbook she hands her clients.
