How do I get a marriage license?

Circuit Clerk (county level - each of Mississippi's 82 counties)

Step by Step

How to do it

Both parties appear in person at any Mississippi county Circuit Clerk's office; no appointment required in most counties
Present required documents and proof of age for both parties
Pay the fee; license issued immediately - NO waiting period; can marry same day
License does NOT expire once issued; unused licenses will not be refunded
Ceremony may be performed anywhere in Mississippi; no witnesses are required by state law
After the ceremony, the officiant signs the marriage license and the statistical record; both must be returned to the Circuit Clerk's office for recording with the State
After recording, the bride (or either party) may obtain a certified certificate of marriage from the clerk's office ($17); this certificate is used for name changes with DMV and Social Security Administration
AGE REQUIREMENTS:
- Age 21 or older: may marry without parental consent
- Ages 18-20: may marry with written parental or guardian consent (parent/guardian must appear or submit sworn statement); birth certificate or other legal documents verifying parentage required
- Age 17 (males) or 15 (females) with parental consent: may marry with parental consent and court approval (obtain court order from circuit, county, or chancery court first)
- Under 17 (males) or under 15 (females): may not marry
- Note: These age thresholds vary by gender in current Mississippi statute (Minn. Code 93-1-5)

Details

What you need to know

Required Docs

Valid proof of age and identity for both parties: driver's license, state ID, passport, birth certificate, baptismal record, military discharge papers, military ID, life insurance policy, school record, tribal ID, or other official document showing date of birth
If previously married: date last marriage ended and number of prior marriages; if divorced within last 6 months: certified copy of divorce decree; if widowed: some clerks request certified copy of death certificate

Fee

Varies by county - typically $21-$37 (DeSoto County: $37; Lafayette County: $37 cash only; Stone County area: $17 certified copy additional); cash often required; verify with your specific county Circuit Clerk

Waiting Period

NONE - Mississippi eliminated the 3-day waiting period effective July 1, 2012; license issued same day LICENSE VALIDITY: NO EXPIRATION - Mississippi marriage licenses do not expire once issued; however unused licenses are non-refundable WITNESSES: NOT required in Mississippi (unlike many states)

Online Option

No statewide online system; must appear in person at Circuit Clerk's office

Where to Go

Any Mississippi county Circuit Clerk's office (with the residency exception noted above)

County-specific variations apply

Mississippi's 82 Circuit Clerks each administer their own office with varying fees, hours, and payment methods. Some counties require exact cash change (Lafayette County: cash only, exact change). DeSoto County (Southaven/Hernando): $37, accepts cash or card (credit card processing fee applies). Fees range approximately $21-$37+ across the state. Call ahead to confirm current fee, payment methods, and hours.

Mississippi Notes

Important state-specific details

No waiting period - can marry same day.
No blood test required.
No witness requirement at ceremony.
License does not expire - unique among most states.
County fees vary; call ahead to confirm exact amount and payment method.
Certificate of marriage (certified copy): available from Circuit Clerk after recording for ~$17; used for legal name changes.
Marriage records from July 1916 onward held at county Circuit Clerk; statistical records at MSDH Vital Records (Jackson, MS) from January 1926.
Authorized officiants: clergy, mayors, local Board of Supervisors members, Mississippi Supreme Court justices, Court of Appeals justices, Circuit Court judges, Chancery Court judges, Justice Court judges, County Court judges.

Official Source

State office contact

State Office

Mississippi Secretary of State (general info) - sos.ms.gov; Mississippi State Department of Health Vital Records (for marriage record copies post-1926) - msdh.ms.gov/page/31,0,109.html | (601) 206-8200 | 222 Marketridge Drive, Ridgeland, MS 39157