How to Get Married in Oregon (2026)
Reviewed by DocDraft Legal Team · Oregon · Last updated 2026-05-18
In Oregon, 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 Oregon: 60 days. Common-law-marriage status: No. This guide lays out the Oregon-specific sequence and the documents and rules that govern it.
Key Considerations
Oregon marriage-license applicants face two upfront filters: how much the license costs and whether both applicants meet the age requirement. Fee side: the marriage-license fee is set at the county-clerk level and varies by county; a representative figure typically falls in the $30 to $115 range depending on the issuing jurisdiction (consult the state code). Age side: 17. The state marriage code, not local custom, controls each one.
Beyond the license itself, two Oregon rules shape what counts as a legally completed marriage. The first is whether Oregon still permits common-law marriage at all: No. The second is the list of people who may lawfully perform the ceremony: ORS 106.120. Both are settled by statute.
Two clock-driven rules sit around every Oregon marriage license. The first is the post-issuance waiting period: 3 days. The second is the license validity window: 60 days. Together they bracket the legal window during which the ceremony is enforceable.
Need These Documents?
DocDraft can help you draft them with AI, with licensed attorney review included. Plans from $39.99/mo.
Relevant Documents
Documents commonly produced at a Oregon marriage-license appointment: the marriage-license application form, identification for each applicant, and (where relevant) the certificate of completion of an approved premarital preparation course. No state-level statute. Governed by common law / municipal ordinance / case law as applicable. Marriage-license fee collection in Oregon happens at the counter when the application is filed, and the clerk's office issues a receipt for the payment.
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
Oregon Marriage License Requirements
In Oregon, couples must obtain a marriage license before getting married. Both parties must appear in person at a county clerk's office, provide identification, and pay a fee (typically $50-$60). There is a 3-day waiting period after obtaining the license before the marriage ceremony can take place, though this can be waived for an additional fee. The license is valid for 60 days from issuance.
Oregon Marriage Age Requirements
In Oregon, the legal age to marry is 18. Individuals who are 17 years old may marry with written consent from a parent or legal guardian. Oregon law prohibits marriage for anyone under 17 years of age, which is a relatively recent change to protect minors from forced marriages.
Oregon Marriage Ceremony Requirements
Oregon law allows marriages to be solemnized by judges, religious officials, and certain other authorized individuals. The state also permits self-uniting marriages (sometimes called 'self-solemnization') where the couple can marry themselves without an officiant. After the ceremony, the person who solemnizes the marriage must complete the marriage certificate and return it to the county clerk within 10 days.
Oregon Name Change After Marriage
Oregon law permits either spouse to change their last name after marriage. The marriage certificate serves as legal documentation for this change. To complete the name change process, you'll need to update your Social Security card first, then your driver's license or ID card, and then other documents and accounts.
Oregon Domestic Partnership Laws
Oregon offers registered domestic partnerships that provide many of the same state-level rights as marriage for same-sex couples. While same-sex marriage is now legal throughout the US, some couples may still choose this option. It's important to note that domestic partnerships don't provide the same federal benefits as marriage.
Regional Variances
County-Specific Marriage License Requirements in Oregon
In Multnomah County (Portland), marriage licenses cost $60, are valid for 60 days, and can be obtained at the County Clerk's Office. They offer both in-person and online application options. There is no waiting period after receiving your license before you can get married, unlike some other states.
Washington County requires both parties to appear in person to apply for a marriage license. The fee is $60, and the license is valid for 60 days. The county does not offer online pre-application services that some other Oregon counties provide.
Lane County (Eugene) charges $60 for marriage licenses which are valid for 60 days. They offer appointment scheduling for marriage license applications, which some other counties don't provide. Both parties must appear in person with valid ID.
Clackamas County requires appointments for marriage license applications, which must be scheduled online in advance. The fee is $60 and both parties must appear together with valid identification. The license is valid for 60 days after issuance.
In Deschutes County (Bend), marriage licenses cost $60 and are valid for 60 days. They offer a marriage license pre-application process online to expedite the in-person visit. Both applicants must still appear in person to complete the process.
Officiant Requirements Across Oregon
Portland has a large number of secular officiants available through the Humanist Society and other non-religious organizations. The city also recognizes online-ordained ministers, which is consistent with state law but more explicitly accepted than in some rural counties.
In some rural Oregon counties, finding non-religious officiants may be more challenging. While the state law is the same, the practical availability of secular officiants is lower. Some couples from rural areas travel to larger cities for their ceremonies for this reason.
Coastal counties like Lincoln and Tillamook have specific regulations regarding beach weddings. Certain beaches require permits for ceremonies with more than 10 attendees, and some protected areas prohibit weddings entirely. Check with the specific beach management before planning a coastal ceremony.
Name Change Procedures
In the Portland metro area, the Multnomah County Circuit Court processes name changes as part of marriage more efficiently, typically within 2-3 weeks. They have dedicated staff for marriage-related name changes and offer more comprehensive guidance materials than many other counties.
Counties like Jackson and Josephine may have longer processing times for marriage-related name changes, sometimes taking 4-6 weeks. These counties have fewer staff dedicated to processing these changes compared to more populated areas.
Suggested Compliance Checklist
File the marriage-license application with the Oregon issuing clerk (county clerk, town clerk, or probate office.
Before the ceremony days after startingthe marriage-license fee is set at the county-clerk level and varies by county; a representative figure typically falls in the $30 to $115 range depending on the issuing jurisdiction (consult the state code). Each applicant should bring valid photo identification and any prior-marriage termination documents the clerk requests.
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.
Where the state recognizes a premarital-course incentive, plan the course before applying
Before the ceremony days after startingNo state-level statute. Governed by common law / municipal ordinance / case law as applicable. The clerk applies the fee reduction or waiting-period waiver based on the original course-completion certificate produced at filing.
Account for the post-license waiting period when picking a ceremony date
Before applying 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 the ceremony days after starting60 days. A late ceremony is not a curable defect; the parties would have to start the application process over.
Solemnize the marriage with an officiant the state recognizes
At the ceremony days after startingORS 106.120. Verifying the officiant's authority in advance is important because a defective solemnization is one of the few errors the marriage code does not always cure retroactively.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| File the marriage-license application with the Oregon issuing clerk (county clerk, town clerk, or probate office. | the marriage-license fee is set at the county-clerk level and varies by county; a representative figure typically falls in the $30 to $115 range depending on the issuing jurisdiction (consult the state code). Each applicant should bring valid photo identification and any prior-marriage termination documents the clerk requests. | - | 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 |
| Where the state recognizes a premarital-course incentive, plan the course before applying | No state-level statute. Governed by common law / municipal ordinance / case law as applicable. The clerk applies the fee reduction or waiting-period waiver based on the original course-completion certificate produced at filing. | - | 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 applying |
| Verify how long the license is good for and align the ceremony date inside that window | 60 days. A late ceremony is not a curable defect; the parties would have to start the application process over. | - | Before the ceremony |
| Solemnize the marriage with an officiant the state recognizes | ORS 106.120. Verifying the officiant's authority in advance is important because a defective solemnization is one of the few errors the marriage code does not always cure retroactively. | - | 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
No. The doctrine has been narrowed or abolished prospectively in most states over the past century. Couples planning a future marriage in Oregon should not assume common-law status without confirming the current rule against the state marriage code.
the marriage-license fee is set at the county-clerk level and varies by county; a representative figure typically falls in the $30 to $115 range depending on the issuing jurisdiction (consult the state code). The figure that controls is the one on the issuing clerk's current fee schedule, which the clerk applies at the counter. Couples should also ask the clerk about accepted payment methods, which sometimes exclude personal checks.
3 days. Where the rule applies, the earliest the ceremony can lawfully take place is the issuance date plus the statutory waiting period; the issuing clerk can confirm the earliest lawful ceremony date at the application appointment.
Other Oregon guides
Ready to Draft Your Document?
Get AI-powered legal documents with attorney review included. Plans start at $39.99/mo.