Maryland Marriage Records

In 1865, Maryland mandated the recording of marriages at the county level. In 1910, Maryland's General Assembly established the Bureau of Vital Statistics. By 1914, the state required county clerks across the state to report all marriages recorded within their jurisdiction to the Bureau. This standardized marriage record-keeping is the same across Maryland.

Maryland marriage records are official documents that legally confirm a couple's union. Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that Maryland has a marriage rate of 5.2 marriages per 1,000 residents, 15% lower than the national average, which is 6.2 marriages per 1,000 people.

Marriage records in Maryland comprise Marriage Licenses and Marriage Certificates, each serving a different stage of the marriage process:

• Maryland Licenses: A marriage license is a legal document issued by a county clerk authorizing a couple to marry. A marriage license obtained before the wedding ensures that both parties meet all legal requirements before tying the knot. Marriage licenses contain information about the couple, including their names, addresses, date of birth, license number, issue date, and expiry date.
• Maryland Certificates: Marriage certificates, issued after the wedding, confirm the legal union of two individuals. After the ceremony, the officiant completes the marriage certificate and returns it to the county clerk's office for filing. Once filled, it becomes the official legal record of the marriage. A marriage certificate includes information on the couple, the marriage location, the officiant's information, and a raised embossed seal of the issuing authority. Marriage certificates are required for various legal processes, such as name changes or accessing spousal benefits.

How To Look Up Marriage Records in Maryland?

You can obtain certified copies of marriage records from the following agencies in Maryland:

• The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) Division of Vital Records issues certified copies of marriage records from January 1, 2007, to the present.
• The County Clerk of the Circuit Court for marriage certificates before January 1, 2007, and marriage licenses

Access to certified copies of marriage records from the MDH Division of Vital Records requires record seekers to fill out the Application for Certified Copy of Maryland Marriage Record form. You may schedule an appointment for an in-person request for certified birth certificates or mail the completed application to:

To obtain marriage licenses and marriage records for weddings conducted before January 1, 2007, and marriage certificates, contact the County Clerk's Office in the county where the marriage took place. Generally, you will fill out an application form accessible on the county's website or at their county's location.

For historical marriage records, especially records before 1914, you can access the documents at the Maryland State Archives. You may also process marriage record requests online using a third-party platform approved by the Bureau of Vital Records.

All agencies issuing certified marriage records in Maryland require record seekers to include the following with their application:

• The full names of the couple
• The date the marriage occurred
• A copy of a valid government-issued photo ID
• The fees

Are Marriage Records Public in Maryland?

Maryland classifies its marriage records as public documents, open for viewing, copying, and inspection. However, public access to marriage records comes with restrictions. Maryland limits access to who may obtain certified copies of recent marriage records. These individuals include the record holder, immediate family members, and authorized representatives, such as legal guardians and attorneys.

While some states automatically release marriage records to the public after a certain number of years, in Maryland, marriage records remain public. You cannot simply obtain a certified copy unless you meet the eligibility criteria.

How Much Do Maryland Marriage Records Cost?

Birth certificates ordered from the MDH Division of Vital Records cost $12 if ordering the record by mail and $13 if obtaining the record online. The fee for certified birth records obtained from the county varies. Expect to pay around $5.50 to order certified copies and $0.50 for uncertified copies of birth records when you obtain the records from the county clerk's office.

Processing times vary by the agency and method of request. The MDH Division of Vital Records processes marriage record requests within 6 weeks if ordered by mail, 5 weeks for online requests, and the same day for persons who request the record in person.

The Division of Vital Records provides expedited services for online orders only for an additional fee of $20. Expedited requests for birth records ordered online are processed within 3 weeks.

Requesting marriage certificates at the county clerk's office takes 2-4 weeks, depending on the county. Some counties offer same-day service for in-person requests for marriage records.

Is It Possible to Make Your Marriage Records Confidential in Maryland?

No. Marriage records are considered public records. There is no provision for a confidential marriage option in Maryland. Once a marriage is solemnized in Maryland, the marriage record is filed with the court clerk and becomes part of the state's public record. This means that the details of your marriage become accessible to the public.

Similarly, Maryland does not offer mechanisms to seal or restrict access to marriage records. While the state provides procedures for sealing other types of records, such as divorce records, marriage records remain public by law.

How Do I Verify the Authenticity of Maryland Marriage Records?

Verifying the authenticity of your Maryland marriage records is essential for many reasons. Whether you are applying for a visa, updating your legal documents, tracing your family history, establishing rightful claims on inheritance, or determining tax benefits, knowing that your marriage record is genuine can protect you from potential issues in the future.

You can verify the authenticity of your marriage record in Maryland by contacting the agency that issued the certificate -usually the county clerk's office. You may also verify the authenticity of your Maryland marriage record at the State's Division of Vital Records office.

There are several features to look out for on an authenticated marriage record. A certified copy of your marriage certificate displays the official letterhead of the issuing agency along with a raised or embossed seal. The document should include the signature of an authorized official and the date the certificate was issued. Certified copies also include a reference number code that corresponds with the original records to prevent forging the document.

Can I Find Maryland Marriage Records Online for Free?

Although official state websites charge fees for certified copies, several non-governmental sources provide free access to a wide range of marriage records. FamilySearch.org is a popular free resource used for researching marriage records in Maryland. The web tool offers an extensive, searchable database of historical marriage records, indexes, and related genealogical documents.

Maryland State Archives provides searchable indexes for marriage records from various counties across Maryland. These indexes provide access to records dating back to 1770. The records are available for free online. You can view or download images of marriage licenses and certificates.

Several trusted independent websites, such as PublicRecords.us, aggregate public records from multiple sources. You can search marriage records by name and marriage date using this resource. The platform provides access to old and new marriage records, making it ideal for initial research.

What Is Required to Get a Maryland Marriage License?

To obtain a Maryland marriage license, you and your partner must meet specific requirements, provide essential documentation, and pay the applicable fees. They include:

• Both parties must be 18 years or older
• Minors aged 17 must provide parental consent, licensed physician consent, or a court order granting authorization to marry
• At least one party to the union must be present at the courthouse
• Provide a government-issued photo ID
• If one party was previously married, provide a death certificate or divorce decree
• The fees

Marriage license fees differ by county. Expect to pay between $55 - $75 to obtain the marriage license. The marriage license is not effective immediately after it is issued. There is a mandatory waiting period of 48 hours before it becomes effective. Once effective, the license remains valid for 6 months. If you do not get married within that period, the license expires.

Can You Amend Marriage Records in Maryland?

It is possible to amend errors on your marriage licenses and certificates in Maryland. Generally, you can correct the following errors on your marriage records:

• Clerical Errors: Typographical errors such as misspelled names, transposed digits in dates, or incorrect addresses
• Incorrect Personal Details: Errors in recording information, such as the date of birth or Social Security numbers
• Location and Venue Details: Mistakes related to the county or venue where the license was issued

While you may generally correct minor errors on your marriage records, significant errors that might affect or alter the information on the marriage record, such as altering the identity of the parties, require a sworn statement detailing the error and sometimes a court hearing to approve the change.

Amending Maryland Marriage License

If you discover errors on your marriage license before your wedding, you can correct the document by contacting the county clerk's office that issued the license. Most counties will provide a license correction form where you detail the errors and specify the correct information. Include any document that supports your claim, including a government-issued photo ID or a copy of your birth record.

Submit your completed correction request form along with your supporting documentation. Depending on the county, the amendment request may be submitted in person or by mail. The fees for amending vary per county.

Amending Maryland Marriage Certificate

To correct errors on your marriage certificate in Maryland, submit a petition to the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where the marriage was recorded. The petition should clearly state the error and include certified copies of documents that verify the correct information, such as a certified birth record or hospital record.

Once approved, the clerk will update the record and issue a corrected marriage certificate. The fee for amending errors on your marriage certificate differs per county, with some counties charging up to $165 to amend marriage records.