How to Get Married in Michigan (2026)
Reviewed by DocDraft Legal Team · Michigan · Last updated 2026-05-18
In Michigan, a wedding is not just a personal milestone but a series of state-law steps with their own deadlines. The post-license waiting period is set by statute: 3 days. License validity in Michigan: 33 days. Common-law-marriage status: Consent alone is not enough to effectuate a legal marriage on and after January 1, 1957. This guide lays out the Michigan-specific sequence and the documents and rules that govern it.
Key Considerations
Michigan marriage-license applicants face two upfront filters: how much the license costs and whether both applicants meet the age requirement. Fee side: $20.00.))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=mcl-551-103. Age side: An individual who is under 18 years of age.))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=mcl-551-51. The state marriage code, not local custom, controls each one.
Michigan treats marriage formation as a two-part question. Can the couple skip the license and the ceremony entirely under a common-law doctrine? Consent alone is not enough to effectuate a legal marriage on and after January 1, 1957.))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=mcl-551-2. If a ceremony is required, who may perform it? MCL 551.7.))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=mcl-551-7. The marriage code answers both.
Two clock-driven rules sit around every Michigan marriage license. The first is the post-issuance waiting period: 3 days.))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=mcl-551-103a. The second is the license validity window: 33 days.))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=mcl-551-103a. Together they bracket the legal window during which the ceremony is enforceable.
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Relevant Documents
Marriage-license filings in Michigan typically include the application form itself, the applicants' photo identification, and a premarital-course completion certificate where the state's discount program applies. No state-level statute. Governed by common law / municipal ordinance / case law as applicable. Michigan issuing clerks collect the marriage-license fee at the application appointment.
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
Michigan Marriage License Requirements
In Michigan, couples must obtain a marriage license from the county clerk's office before getting married. Both parties must appear in person, present valid identification, and pay a fee (typically $20-$30). There is a 3-day waiting period after applying before the license becomes valid, though this can be waived for an additional fee. The license is valid for 33 days after the waiting period.
Legal Age Requirements for Marriage
In Michigan, individuals must be at least 18 years old to marry without parental consent. Those who are 16-17 years old may marry with written consent from one parent or legal guardian. Individuals under 16 require both parental consent and approval from a probate judge.
Solemnization Requirements
Michigan law recognizes marriages performed by judges, district court magistrates, mayors, county clerks, ministers, priests, or other religious practitioners. The person performing the ceremony must complete the marriage certificate and return it to the county clerk within 10 days of the ceremony.
Name Change After Marriage
Michigan allows individuals to change their last 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 your name after marriage.
Prenuptial Agreements
Michigan recognizes prenuptial agreements that meet certain requirements. To be valid, the agreement must be in writing, signed by both parties, entered into voluntarily, and include full disclosure of assets. Michigan courts generally uphold these agreements unless they're found to be unconscionable or fraudulent.
Regional Variances
County Marriage License Requirements in Michigan
Wayne County requires both parties to apply in person at the County Clerk's Office. There is a 3-day waiting period after application before the license is issued. The fee is $20 for Michigan residents and $30 for out-of-state residents. The license is valid for 33 days from the date of issuance.
Oakland County requires appointments for marriage license applications. Both applicants must be present. The fee is $20 for county residents and $30 for non-residents. They offer a premarital counseling option that waives the 3-day waiting period if completed.
Kent County requires both parties to appear in person with valid ID. The fee is $20 for Michigan residents and $30 for non-residents. Applications can be started online but must be completed in person. The license becomes valid 3 days after application and remains valid for 33 days.
Washtenaw County requires appointments for marriage license applications. Both applicants must appear together with proper identification. The fee is $20 for Michigan residents and $30 for non-residents. They offer expedited service for an additional fee to waive the 3-day waiting period.
Ingham County (where Lansing is located) requires both parties to apply in person. The fee is $20 for Michigan residents and $30 for non-residents. They offer online pre-application to streamline the in-person process. The standard 3-day waiting period applies unless waived by a judge for good cause.
City-Specific Marriage Ceremony Options
Detroit offers civil ceremonies at City Hall by appointment only. The fee is typically $25-50 depending on the day of the week. Detroit also has specific historic venues that require special permits for wedding ceremonies, including Belle Isle and the Detroit Institute of Arts.
Grand Rapids offers civil ceremonies performed by district court judges or magistrates. Appointments are required and fees range from $10-25. The city has specific regulations for outdoor weddings in public parks, requiring permits at least 30 days in advance.
Ann Arbor offers civil ceremonies at City Hall on specific days of the week. The city has unique regulations for weddings in public spaces like the Arboretum or Nichols Arboretum, requiring special event permits that must be secured well in advance.
Traverse City has specific regulations for beach weddings along Grand Traverse Bay. Permits are required for any ceremony with more than 20 attendees, and certain beaches have blackout dates during peak tourist season (June-August).
Mackinac Island has unique wedding regulations due to its car-free status and historic preservation rules. Ceremonies at certain landmarks require special historic district commission approval, and transportation of wedding parties must be arranged via horse-drawn carriages or bicycles.
Suggested Compliance Checklist
Apply for the Michigan marriage license at the issuing clerk's office
Before the ceremony days after starting$20.00. Bring valid government-issued photo identification for each applicant and any documentation the clerk requires (proof of termination of any prior marriage, for example).
Bring the identification stack the clerk expects: current photo ID for each applicant and, for applicants who have been.
Before the ceremony days after startingThe clerk verifies these on the spot.
Account for the post-license waiting period when picking a ceremony date
Before the ceremony days after starting3 days. 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.
Verify how long the license is good for and align the ceremony date inside that window
Before applying days after starting33 days. A late ceremony is not a curable defect; the parties would have to start the application process over.
Consider completing a state-approved premarital preparation course if this state offers a discount or waiting-period.
Before the ceremony days after startingNo state-level statute. Governed by common law / municipal ordinance / case law as applicable. The certificate of completion must be presented to the clerk at the time of application, not later.
Complete the ceremony with an officiant who falls inside the Michigan authorized-officiant list
At the ceremony days after startingMCL 551.7. An out-of-state officiant performing the ceremony inside Michigan should be confirmed against the Michigan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apply for the Michigan marriage license at the issuing clerk's office | $20.00. Bring valid government-issued photo identification for each applicant and any documentation the clerk requires (proof of termination of any prior marriage, for example). | - | Before the ceremony |
| Bring the identification stack the clerk expects: current photo ID for each applicant and, for applicants who have been. | The clerk verifies these on the spot. | - | Before the ceremony |
| Account for the post-license waiting period when picking a ceremony date | 3 days. 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 the ceremony |
| Verify how long the license is good for and align the ceremony date inside that window | 33 days. A late ceremony is not a curable defect; the parties would have to start the application process over. | - | Before applying |
| Consider completing a state-approved premarital preparation course if this state offers a discount or waiting-period. | No state-level statute. Governed by common law / municipal ordinance / case law as applicable. The certificate of completion must be presented to the clerk at the time of application, not later. | - | Before the ceremony |
| Complete the ceremony with an officiant who falls inside the Michigan authorized-officiant list | MCL 551.7. An out-of-state officiant performing the ceremony inside Michigan should be confirmed against the Michigan 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
3 days. The waiting period (if any) starts running from the date the license is issued, not from the date the application is filed; the date that controls is the issuance date on the license itself.
$20.00. Verify the current charge with the specific Michigan clerk that will issue the license; some clerks publish the figure online and others quote it only at the counter.
Consent alone is not enough to effectuate a legal marriage on and after January 1, 1957. The practical test in Michigan is whether the state's marriage code permits a marriage to be formed without a license and a ceremony; in most states it does not, and a couple that wants the legal status of marriage should plan on the license-plus-ceremony track.
Other Michigan guides
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