How to Get Married in Maryland (2026)
Reviewed by DocDraft Legal Team · Maryland · Last updated 2026-05-18
A Maryland marriage is governed by Maryland statute, not a generic national process. Between license issuance and the ceremony itself, the rule is: The license becomes effective at 6 a.m. on the second calendar day after the license is issued. License validity in Maryland: 6 months. Common-law-marriage status: No state-level statute. Maryland does not permit the creation of common law marriages within its borders. State law requires a license and a ceremony. Below are the Maryland license requirements, supporting documents, and the officiant rules that control whether the ceremony is legally complete.
Key Considerations
License timing in Maryland has two pieces. The waiting period sets when the ceremony can lawfully happen: The license becomes effective at 6 a.m. on the second calendar day after the license is issued. The validity window sets when the license stops being usable: 6 months. See the state agency website. Ceremonies are scheduled inside the intersection of those two rules.
Two structural Maryland rules determine whether the marriage is legally complete: the common-law-recognition rule and the officiant rule. On common-law: No state-level statute. Maryland does not permit the creation of common law marriages within its borders. State law requires a license and a ceremony. On officiants: A marriage ceremony may be performed in this State by: (i) any official of a religious order or body authorized by the rules and customs of that order or body to perform a marriage ceremony; (ii) any clerk; (iii) any deputy clerk designated by the county administrative judge of the circuit court for the county; or (iv) a judge. A ceremony that satisfies neither path is not a marriage in Maryland.
A Maryland marriage starts with a license, and a license starts with two threshold questions: cost and age eligibility. The cost question runs to the issuing clerk: $35.00. See the state agency website. The age question is set by the state marriage code: An individual 17 years old may not marry unless: (1)(i) the individual has the consent of each living parent, guardian, or legal custodian. or (ii) if the individual does not have the consent. either party. gives the clerk a certificate from a licensed physician. stating that the woman to be married. is pregnant or has given birth to a child; and (2) the individual presents a certified copy of an order granting authorization to marry. Both are settled before any application is signed.
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Relevant Documents
Maryland couples typically present this stack at the clerk's office: the completed marriage-license application, valid government photo identification, and (where applicable) the premarital-course completion certificate. Determined by the county governing body. Applicants in Maryland pay the marriage-license fee directly to the issuing office (county clerk, town clerk, or probate office, as the state's structure provides) when the application is submitted.
Beneficiary Designation Forms
Documents that specify who receives assets from retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and other financial accounts upon your death.
Durable Power of Attorney
Authorizes someone to make financial and legal decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated, ensuring your affairs can be managed without court intervention.
Healthcare Power of Attorney
Designates someone to make medical decisions for you if you're unable to do so, ensuring your healthcare preferences are respected.
Prenuptial Agreement
A contract entered into before marriage that establishes rights to property and financial support in case of divorce or death. This document can protect pre-marital assets and outline financial responsibilities during marriage.
Updated Will
A legal document that specifies how your assets should be distributed after death. Marriage typically invalidates previous wills in many jurisdictions, making it important to create a new one that includes your spouse.
Relevant Laws
Maryland Marriage License Requirements
In Maryland, couples must obtain a marriage license before getting married. Both parties must appear in person at a circuit court clerk's office, provide identification, and pay a fee (typically $35-85 depending on the county). There is a 48-hour waiting period after receiving the license before the ceremony can take place, and the license is valid for 6 months.
Maryland Marriage Age Requirements
In Maryland, individuals must be at least 18 years old to marry without parental consent. Those who are 17 may marry with parental/guardian consent or proof of pregnancy/childbirth. Maryland recently changed its laws to eliminate marriage for those under 17 in any circumstance, protecting minors from forced marriages.
Maryland Marriage Ceremony Requirements
Maryland law recognizes both religious and civil ceremonies. The ceremony must be performed by an authorized officiant, which includes judges, clerks of the circuit court, or religious officials. The marriage must have at least two witnesses present, and the officiant must complete and return the marriage certificate to the clerk's office within 5 days after the ceremony.
Maryland Name Change After Marriage
Maryland allows individuals to change their name after marriage by using their marriage certificate as legal documentation. This can be used to update identification documents like driver's licenses and Social Security cards. There is no requirement to change one's name, and either spouse may adopt the other's surname or hyphenate names.
Maryland Marital Property Laws
Maryland is an equitable distribution state, meaning that in the event of divorce, marital property (assets acquired during the marriage) will be divided fairly but not necessarily equally. Understanding these laws is important as they affect property rights once married. Couples may create prenuptial agreements to determine property division outside of these default rules.
Regional Variances
County Marriage License Requirements in Maryland
Baltimore City requires couples to apply for a marriage license at the Circuit Court Clerk's Office. The fee is $85, and there is a 48-hour waiting period after issuance before the ceremony can take place. The license is valid for 6 months. Both parties must appear in person unless one is non-resident or in military service.
Montgomery County charges $55 for a marriage license. Applications can be submitted online, but at least one party must appear in person to complete the process. The license is valid for 6 months after the 48-hour waiting period. The county offers a civil ceremony option at the courthouse for an additional $30.
Prince George's County requires both parties to appear in person at the Clerk of the Circuit Court. The fee is $70, and the license becomes valid after a 48-hour waiting period. The county requires proof of age (government-issued ID) and may require proof of divorce if applicable.
Anne Arundel County charges $55 for marriage licenses. Applications can be started online, but must be completed in person. The county enforces the standard 48-hour waiting period, and licenses are valid for 6 months. Civil ceremonies can be performed by a judge for an additional fee.
Howard County issues marriage licenses for $50. Both applicants must appear in person with valid ID. The license is valid for 6 months after the mandatory 48-hour waiting period. The county offers a simplified process for military personnel who may be deployed.
Self-Uniting Marriage Regulations
Baltimore County recognizes self-uniting marriages (sometimes called Quaker marriages) where couples can marry without an officiant. However, the couple must still obtain a marriage license and have two witnesses sign the license, which must then be returned to the Clerk's office within 5 days of the ceremony.
Frederick County allows self-uniting marriages but requires additional documentation affirming religious affiliation if the self-uniting marriage is based on religious beliefs. The standard marriage license fee and waiting period still apply.
Same-Sex Marriage Provisions
While same-sex marriage is legal throughout Maryland since 2013, some counties have specific resources for same-sex couples. All counties must treat same-sex and opposite-sex couples equally in the marriage license process, but some rural counties may have less experience with same-sex marriages.
Suggested Compliance Checklist
File the marriage-license application with the Maryland issuing clerk (county clerk, town clerk, or probate office.
Before the ceremony days after starting$35.00. Each applicant should bring valid photo identification and any prior-marriage termination documents the clerk requests.
Have identification and prior-marriage paperwork ready when filing the application
Before the ceremony days after startingStandard documents include a current driver's license or passport for each applicant, plus a certified divorce decree, annulment order, or spouse's death certificate for anyone previously married.
If a premarital-course discount applies, complete an approved course before applying
Before the ceremony days after startingDetermined by the county governing body. Bring the original certificate of completion to the application appointment so the clerk can apply the discount or waiver at filing.
Account for the post-license waiting period when picking a ceremony date
Before applying days after startingThe license becomes effective at 6 a.m. on the second calendar day after the license is issued. The waiting period (where the state imposes one) runs from the license issuance date, so the application timing has to be worked backward from the planned ceremony date.
Track the license validity window
Before the ceremony days after starting6 months. The wedding has to occur inside that window; if it does not, the license lapses and a fresh license (with a new fee and another application) is required.
Complete the ceremony with an officiant who falls inside the Maryland authorized-officiant list
At the ceremony days after startingA marriage ceremony may be performed in this State by: (i) any official of a religious order or body authorized by the rules and customs of that order or body to perform a marriage ceremony; (ii) any clerk; (iii) any deputy clerk designated by the county administrative judge of the circuit court for the county; or (iv) a judge. An out-of-state officiant performing the ceremony inside Maryland should be confirmed against the Maryland list, since reciprocity is not automatic.
Make sure the officiant files the executed license back with the issuing office promptly after the ceremony
After the ceremony days after startingRecording converts the license into a recorded marriage on the state's vital-records system and is what makes a certified marriage certificate available.
| Task | Description | Document | Days after starting |
|---|---|---|---|
| File the marriage-license application with the Maryland issuing clerk (county clerk, town clerk, or probate office. | $35.00. Each applicant should bring valid photo identification and any prior-marriage termination documents the clerk requests. | - | Before the ceremony |
| Have identification and prior-marriage paperwork ready when filing the application | Standard documents include a current driver's license or passport for each applicant, plus a certified divorce decree, annulment order, or spouse's death certificate for anyone previously married. | - | Before the ceremony |
| If a premarital-course discount applies, complete an approved course before applying | Determined by the county governing body. Bring the original certificate of completion to the application appointment so the clerk can apply the discount or waiver at filing. | - | Before the ceremony |
| Account for the post-license waiting period when picking a ceremony date | The license becomes effective at 6 a.m. on the second calendar day after the license is issued. The waiting period (where the state imposes one) runs from the license issuance date, so the application timing has to be worked backward from the planned ceremony date. | - | Before applying |
| Track the license validity window | 6 months. The wedding has to occur inside that window; if it does not, the license lapses and a fresh license (with a new fee and another application) is required. | - | Before the ceremony |
| Complete the ceremony with an officiant who falls inside the Maryland authorized-officiant list | A marriage ceremony may be performed in this State by: (i) any official of a religious order or body authorized by the rules and customs of that order or body to perform a marriage ceremony; (ii) any clerk; (iii) any deputy clerk designated by the county administrative judge of the circuit court for the county; or (iv) a judge. An out-of-state officiant performing the ceremony inside Maryland should be confirmed against the Maryland list, since reciprocity is not automatic. | - | At the ceremony |
| Make sure the officiant files the executed license back with the issuing office promptly after the ceremony | Recording converts the license into a recorded marriage on the state's vital-records system and is what makes a certified marriage certificate available. | - | After the ceremony |
Frequently Asked Questions
No state-level statute. Maryland does not permit the creation of common law marriages within its borders. State law requires a license and a ceremony. Couples who established a common-law marriage in a recognizing state and then moved to Maryland should be aware that Maryland courts generally honor a marriage that was validly formed elsewhere under choice-of-law principles, even when the state itself would not let the couple form one inside its borders today.
The license becomes effective at 6 a.m. on the second calendar day after the license is issued. Couples planning a Maryland ceremony should calendar the earliest lawful date from license issuance and book the ceremony on or after that day; a ceremony performed before the period runs is not a lawful marriage.
$35.00. Applicants should plan to confirm the current dollar amount directly with the Maryland issuing clerk that will handle the application, since the published fee schedule can change and county add-ons (where allowed) shift the total.
Other Maryland guides
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