How to Get Married in Mississippi (2026)
Reviewed by DocDraft Legal Team · Mississippi · Last updated 2026-05-18
Getting married in Mississippi means working through Mississippi-specific rules on the marriage license, the timing around it, and the ceremony itself. The post-license waiting period is set by statute: 0 days. Once issued, the license is good for: Indefinitely. The state's common-law-marriage rule: Recognized only if contracted prior to April 5, 1956. This guide walks the Mississippi marriage-license steps, the documents required, and the officiant rules that apply.
Key Considerations
Two formation rules complete the Mississippi marriage picture. Recognized only if contracted prior to April 5, 1956. officiant authority in most U.S. states extends to ordained or credentialed clergy of any recognized religion, sitting and (often) retired judges, and designated civil officials such as judges of probate, justices of the peace, or county clerks; some states also recognize self-uniting or Quaker ceremonies (consult the state code). The first tells you whether Mississippi will recognize a marriage that never went through a ceremony at all; the second tells you which ceremonies the state will recognize.
Two clock-driven rules sit around every Mississippi marriage license. The first is the post-issuance waiting period: 0 days. The second is the license validity window: Indefinitely. See the state agency website. Together they bracket the legal window during which the ceremony is enforceable.
The cost and minimum-age rules sit at the front of the Mississippi marriage-license process. On cost, $35.00. On age, Every male who is at least seventeen (17) years old and every female who is at least fifteen (15) years old shall be capable in law of contracting marriage. However, males and females under the age of twenty-one (21) years must furnish the circuit clerk satisfactory evidence of consent to the marriage by the parents or guardians of the parties. Couples planning a Mississippi ceremony should resolve both questions before booking a venue.
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Relevant Documents
For a Mississippi marriage, the core documents are the marriage-license application filed with the issuing clerk and, where a premarital-course incentive applies, the certificate of completion from a state-approved provider. States with a premarital-preparation incentive typically require the couple to bring the original certificate of completion to the license appointment to obtain the reduction or waiver on the spot. The marriage-license fee in Mississippi is collected by the issuing clerk at the time of application.
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
Marriage License Requirements
In Mississippi, both parties must appear in person at the county clerk's office to apply for a marriage license. You'll need to provide proof of age (must be 21+ to marry without parental consent), and there is no waiting period after receiving the license. The license is valid for 30 days after issuance.
Parental Consent for Minors
Mississippi law requires parental consent for individuals under 21 years of age who wish to marry. Those under 17 require consent from both parents, while those 17-20 need consent from one parent. This is relevant for couples where one or both parties are under 21.
Marriage Without Ceremony Option
Mississippi recognizes marriage by mutual consent and public declaration (sometimes called common law marriage) only if it occurred before April 5, 1956. For current marriages, a ceremony with an authorized officiant is required after obtaining a valid license.
Covenant Marriage Option
Mississippi does not have a covenant marriage option, unlike some neighboring states. All marriages in Mississippi are subject to the same legal requirements and dissolution procedures regardless of religious ceremony type.
Same-Sex Marriage Rights
Following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Obergefell v. Hodges (2015), same-sex marriage is legal in Mississippi. Same-sex couples have the same marriage rights and responsibilities as opposite-sex couples throughout the state.
Property Rights in Marriage
Mississippi is not a community property state but follows equitable distribution laws. This means that property acquired during marriage isn't automatically split 50/50 in case of divorce, but rather divided 'fairly' based on various factors determined by the court.
Regional Variances
Marriage License Requirements in Mississippi
In Mississippi, both parties must appear in person at the county clerk's office to apply for a marriage license. There is no waiting period after receiving the license, and the license is valid for 30 days. Mississippi does not require blood tests. The marriage license fee varies by county but is typically between $21-$35.
DeSoto County charges $22 for a marriage license. Both applicants must present valid photo identification, and at least one applicant must be a resident of DeSoto County if both are Mississippi residents.
Harrison County charges $25 for a marriage license. The county clerk's office requires both parties to present a certified copy of their birth certificate and a valid photo ID.
Hinds County charges $21 for a marriage license. The county requires both applicants to present a valid government-issued photo ID. The Hinds County Circuit Clerk's office in Jackson has specific hours for marriage license applications (8:00 AM - 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday).
Jackson County charges $30 for a marriage license. Both parties must present a valid photo ID and proof of social security number. The county clerk's office requires cash payment for marriage licenses.
Age Requirements for Marriage
In Mississippi, the minimum age to marry is 21 without parental consent. Individuals who are 17-20 years old can marry with parental consent. Males under 17 and females under 15 cannot marry, even with parental consent. For those between 15-16 (females) and 17-20 (males and females), both parental consent and judicial approval may be required.
Officiants and Ceremony Requirements
Mississippi recognizes marriages performed by ordained ministers, judges, mayors, and justices of the peace. The state does not recognize online ordinations from certain organizations, so couples should verify their officiant's credentials. Mississippi does not require witnesses for the ceremony, though many officiants prefer to have them.
In coastal counties like Harrison, Hancock, and Jackson, there are specific regulations for beach weddings. Permits may be required for ceremonies on public beaches, particularly if the wedding party exceeds 10 people or if you plan to set up chairs, arches, or other decorations.
Name Change Procedures
Mississippi allows individuals to change their name through marriage. The marriage certificate serves as proof of the name change. You'll need to update your name with the Social Security Administration first, then with the Mississippi Department of Public Safety for your driver's license, and other institutions as needed.
Suggested Compliance Checklist
Submit the Mississippi marriage-license application in person at the issuing clerk's office
Before the ceremony days after starting$35.00. Identification requirements typically include a current government-issued photo ID; some clerks also ask for a birth certificate or certified copy of any divorce decree.
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 starting0 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.
Track the license validity window
Before applying days after startingIndefinitely. 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.
If a premarital-course discount applies, complete an approved course before applying
Before the ceremony days after startingthis state has not been verified in this sourcing pass as having a statutory premarital-preparation-course discount; a small group of states (notably Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas) do offer fee or waiting-period reductions for approved-course completers (consult the state code). Bring the original certificate of completion to the application appointment so the clerk can apply the discount or waiver at filing.
Hold the ceremony with an authorized Mississippi officiant
At the ceremony days after startingofficiant authority in most U.S. states extends to ordained or credentialed clergy of any recognized religion, sitting and (often) retired judges, and designated civil officials such as judges of probate, justices of the peace, or county clerks; some states also recognize self-uniting or Quaker ceremonies (consult the state code). Make sure the officiant is qualified under the state's officiant list before the ceremony; a marriage performed by a person not authorized to solemnize is not a lawful Mississippi marriage.
Return the signed marriage license to the issuing office
After the ceremony days after startingThe officiant typically signs the license at the ceremony and returns it to the clerk within the statutory return window; the clerk then records the marriage and issues the certified marriage certificate.
| Task | Description | Document | Days after starting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Submit the Mississippi marriage-license application in person at the issuing clerk's office | $35.00. Identification requirements typically include a current government-issued photo ID; some clerks also ask for a birth certificate or certified copy of any divorce decree. | - | 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 | 0 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 |
| Track the license validity window | Indefinitely. 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 applying |
| If a premarital-course discount applies, complete an approved course before applying | this state has not been verified in this sourcing pass as having a statutory premarital-preparation-course discount; a small group of states (notably Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas) do offer fee or waiting-period reductions for approved-course completers (consult the state code). Bring the original certificate of completion to the application appointment so the clerk can apply the discount or waiver at filing. | - | Before the ceremony |
| Hold the ceremony with an authorized Mississippi officiant | officiant authority in most U.S. states extends to ordained or credentialed clergy of any recognized religion, sitting and (often) retired judges, and designated civil officials such as judges of probate, justices of the peace, or county clerks; some states also recognize self-uniting or Quaker ceremonies (consult the state code). Make sure the officiant is qualified under the state's officiant list before the ceremony; a marriage performed by a person not authorized to solemnize is not a lawful Mississippi marriage. | - | At the ceremony |
| Return the signed marriage license to the issuing office | The officiant typically signs the license at the ceremony and returns it to the clerk within the statutory return window; the clerk then records the marriage and issues the certified marriage certificate. | - | After the ceremony |
Frequently Asked Questions
Recognized only if contracted prior to April 5, 1956. Couples who established a common-law marriage in a recognizing state and then moved to Mississippi should be aware that Mississippi 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.
$35.00. Confirming the exact dollar amount with the specific Mississippi issuing office before the application appointment avoids surprises at the counter, especially in states where multiple clerks issue licenses at different fee levels.
0 days. Couples planning a Mississippi 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.
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