View Free Maryland Marriage Records (License Search)

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Free Maryland Marriage Record Search

Access anyone's marital information in Maryland, free of charge.

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Find free Maryland marriage records to learn more about an individual or explore your family history through genealogical research.

Individuals can tap into state and county agency records to explore current and historical marriage information. Under the state’s Public Information Act, certified and non-certified copies of marriage records are accessible to interested parties.

Discover how to search free marriage records through various Maryland agencies by checking out the guidance and databases offered throughout this streamlined resource.

Public Availability of Marriage Records & Certificates in Maryland

The Maryland Public Information Act gives citizens the right to access public information, including marriage records.¹

Finding the proper record custodian simplifies the search for marital records in Maryland. These records are a part of Maryland public record, and they’re available through state-based and county-based agencies.

Record seekers may begin their search at the Division of Vital Records, a part of the Maryland Department of Health. Additionally, each county has a Clerk of Circuit Court that issues marriage licenses and maintains records of all marriages in the state.

Citizens can request certified or non-certified copies of these records from the Clerk of Circuit Court office in the county where the marriage took place. However, these county agencies reserve certified copies of marriage licenses for certain individuals. Simply put, someone connected to the married couple has to make the certified marriage license request.

For example, individuals can submit a request for a marriage certificate if they’re on the certificate, they’re a representative of the married parties (which must be proven by a notarized letter), they’re an attorney representing one or both of the individuals named on the certificate, or they’re representing a court of law.

Record seekers can also explore historical marriage data through the Maryland State Archives. These records are available for marriages dating back to the mid-1600s up until 2013.

While every marriage license isn’t available using the Maryland State Archives online search, it’s a good place to start looking for historical data. Additionally, third-party providers can help citizens find marriage records, although they cannot use records found through such providers for official purposes.

Additional information on Maryland marriages is available through the U.S. Census Bureau, which provides a state-level overview of marriage data in the state. The 2022 Census Bureau marriage data reported that 47.3% of Maryland residents ages 15 and older were married, 9.9% were divorced, 5.4% were widowed, and 1.7% were separated.² The remaining 35.8% of Maryland residents were never married, as of 2022.

How To Search Free Maryland Marriage Records & Spousal Information

Individuals searching for marriage records throughout Maryland can contact several state and local agencies to obtain the information they need.

At the state level, citizens can contact the Maryland Department of Health’s Division of Vital Records for marriage certificates for nuptials performed on or after January 1, 2007.³ The office accepts marriage records requests in a few ways, including by mail, in person, and online using a third-party provider.

First, citizens can print the Application for a Certified Copy of Maryland Marriage Record, complete the form, and mail it to the address below. Along with the completed form, record seekers will need to submit a copy of their photo ID and a check or money order made payable to the Division of Vital Records. Certified copies cost $12 per certificate.

Division of Vital Records
Maryland Department of Health
P.O. Box 68760
Baltimore, MD 21215-0036

The Division of Vital Records is in Baltimore, so locals can also stop by the office to make the request in person and secure the marriage record promptly. However, they’ll need to book an appointment online before stopping by.

Division of Vital Records
Maryland Department of Health
201 West Preston Street
Baltimore, MD 21201-2399

Phone: (410)767-6500

Finally, citizens can enjoy the convenience of online ordering of Maryland marriage certificates; the Division of Vital Records partners with VitalChek, a third-party provider, to process these online requests.

After selecting Maryland and the city of marriage, record seekers can input additional information to complete their request, including the date of marriage, name of the married couple, and more.

Once this information has been input, they’ll find out whether VitalChek has the record available. If it does, they can order online, paying all Vital Statistics Administration fees, including $12 for the marriage certificate and an $11.75 internet fee.⁵ Expedited shipping is also available for an additional $18.50 surcharge.

Record seekers can check the status of their online marriage certificate request. Processing times for marriage certificates range from three to five weeks for online requests and six weeks for mailed requests.

Since the Division of Vital Records processes marriage certificates from 2007 and later, citizens will have to find other resources to access certificates from earlier dates. In addition to making requests through county agencies, they can explore the Maryland State Archives, which will be discussed in depth later in this article.

Checking for Free Maryland Marital Records on the County & City Levels

It’s always a good idea to begin a search for marriage records at the state level because it includes data from all counties. However, local record custodians can also be a helpful resource in the search for marriage records.

Checking for records at the county level can be convenient for locals, as some Maryland counties welcome walk-in appointments for records requests.

Additionally, county agencies may also be able to provide marriage records for unions that took place before January 1, 2007, the date when the Division of Vital Records data is available. As a result, checking with a county agency can aid in a search for marriage records in Maryland.

Throughout the state, the Clerk of Circuit Court in each Maryland county serves as the local custodian for marriage records.

In addition to issuing marriage licenses to soon-to-be-wed couples, these offices also provides copies of these certificates upon request, which can be useful during a records check. Check with the Clerk of Circuit Court in the county where the couple married to secure the record.⁶

Montgomery County, Maryland’s largest county, includes 19 municipalities in the greater Washington D.C. area, including Chevy Chase and Gaithersburg. Individuals looking for certified and non-certified marriage licenses for this county can request them from the Montgomery County Clerk of Circuit Court, which has records for all marriages from 1993 to present.

Citizens can request these copies by mail or in person. Complete the Request for a Copy of a Montgomery County Marriage Record form, and mail it to the address below, along with cash, money order, or cashier’s check payable to the Clerk of the Court.

Certified marriage records are $5.50, and non-certified copies are $.50 each.

Individuals may also make their request in person at the below address during business hours (Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).

Montgomery County License Department
50 Maryland Ave., North Tower, Rm. 1300
Rockville, MD 20850

Phone: (240)777-9460

For marriages before 1993, the Montgomery County Clerk of Circuit Court recommends citizens contact state agencies, including the Division of Vital Records and Maryland State Archives.

You can refer to the steps for obtaining Montgomery County marital records for further assistance.

Prince George’s County, home to College Park, Laurel, and other municipalities, also processes marriage records requests through the County Clerk of Circuit Court’s office. This office accepts mailed requests for copies of marriage records using the Certified Marriage License Request form.⁸ Citizens must complete the form in full to fulfill the request.

Certified copies are $5 each, payable by check or money order made out to the Clerk of Circuit Court. Once completed, citizens can mail the form and payment to the address below. It takes seven to 10 days for the office to process and mail any records.

Prince George’s County Clerk of Circuit Court
Attn: Marriage Licenses
14735 Main Street
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772

Phone: (301)952-3331

Like other Maryland counties, the Baltimore County Clerk of Circuit Court’s office fulfills marriage records requests.⁹

Citizens can request Baltimore County marriage certificates for nuptials performed within the county via email or mail. One option is to complete the digital Baltimore County Request for Certified Copy of Marriage License form, save a copy to the desktop, and email it to ccbaltcoclerklicensing@mdcourts.gov with the last four digits of a credit card number.

A representative from the office will call to process the payment. Certified copies cost $5, and non-certified copies cost $.50. Alternatively, citizens can complete and print the digital form and mail it to the below address, along with a check or money order made payable to the Clerk of Circuit Court.

For both emailed and mailed records requests, individuals also have the option of visiting the Clerk of Circuit Court in person to pay.

Baltimore County Clerk of Circuit Court
Baltimore County Courts Building
2nd Floor, 401 Bosley Avenue
Towson, MD 21204

Phone: (410)887-2607
Email: ccbaltcoclerklicensing@mdcourts.gov

Mailing Address:

Licensing Department
P.O. Box 6754
Towson, MD 21285-6754

In Maryland, the Clerk of Circuit Court is the local records custodian for marriage licenses. City agencies will refer record seekers to county agencies for this information.

In cases where the Clerk of Circuit Court cannot provide the requested record, citizens should explore Maryland marriage archives, which can help with genealogical research. Learn more about the Maryland State Archives marriage records below.

How To Find Free Archived Marriage Records in MD for Genealogy Research

Historical marriage data is available through the Maryland State Archives, and these records can help people research their lineage. These marriage archives encompass centuries of records, including data from the mid-1600s until 2013. They’re available in many formats, with some marriage indexes available online.

Citizens can search marriage indexes by county.¹⁰ Many of these older marriage record books are separated by males and females, with scanned, handwritten pages available for review.

While these historical marriage records are scanned and posted online through the state’s archives, they aren’t searchable by name, so it can take some time to review the marriage record books to find relevant information. However, staff at the Maryland State Archives are available to help in a genealogical marriage records search.

Citizens can request relevant records in a few ways. First, they can place an online order for a marriage record if they’re having trouble finding the information on their own.

Complete the Certified Marriage Record Order Form or the Uncertified Certificate Form.

Certified records are $25 each and delivered via mail, and uncertified records are $5 and delivered via email. For additional questions, searchers can contact the Maryland State Archives Help Desk at msa.helpdesk@maryland.gov or explore the FAQs that assist with marriage records searches.

Finally, individuals can visit the Maryland State Archives public search room, which is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.¹² The search room is also open on the first Saturday of the month from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Citizens are encouraged to submit an appointment request ahead of time to ensure they can use the room when they arrive.

Maryland State Archives
350 Rowe Boulevard
Annapolis, MD 21401

Phone: (410)260-6487
Email: msa.helpdesk@maryland.gov

While the Maryland State Archives can be a great place to start a search for historical marriage records, citizens may also be able to find information from other sources, such as:

• Marriage announcements in local newspaper archives
• Marriage registries at churches and other religious institutions
• Local libraries and historical societies, such as the Maryland Center for History & Culture
• Local genealogical societies

Note that the state of Maryland does not recognize common law marriages, so government agencies do not record these unions.

How To Request a Marriage License in Maryland

Couples marrying in Maryland need to obtain a marriage license in the county where they plan to wed.¹³

They should visit the Clerk of Circuit Court office to obtain their license prior to the wedding day. Whenever possible, the couple should appear together at the Clerk of Circuit Court office to apply for their license, although just one party can apply in most counties.

Some counties accept marriage license appointments, and others welcome walk-in requests. Specific requirements vary by county, but couples can expect to present photo identification and pay all required fees, which also vary by county. Maryland marriage licenses have a 48-hour waiting period between when the license is issued and when the couple can marry.

In cases where the couple is marrying in a Maryland county but does not live there, they can complete the Non-Resident Marriage License Application – Affidavit.¹⁴

This form requires the couple to stand before a “comparable official” in their state, such as a local clerk of court or register of deeds, to execute the form. Then, the form and all marriage license fees, which vary by Maryland county, should be mailed to the Clerk of Circuit Court office in the county in which the couple plans to marry.

Out-of-state couples marrying in Maryland can find full details on these requirements in the non-resident application.

With the information provided in this resource, citizens can access Maryland marriage records for personal research, genealogy purposes, and more.

If you’re also interested in information on statewide divorces, property ownership, crimes, arrests, and more, you can rely on the Maryland free public record lookup tutorial.