Search Baltimore County Marriage License

Baltimore County marriage licenses are handled by the Clerk of Circuit Court in Towson, located on the second floor at 401 Bosley Avenue. This page covers the office address, hours, fees, payment methods, civil ceremony details, and how to search Baltimore County marriage records. Note that Baltimore County and Baltimore City are separate legal entities with different offices and fees. If you live or plan to marry in the city, you need a different license from the Baltimore City office.

How to Apply for a Baltimore County Marriage License

Applications are accepted at the License Division on the second floor of the Towson courthouse. Walk-ins are welcome Monday through Friday. No appointment is needed for the application. Processing takes about 15 minutes, and the license is issued the same day. Once issued, a 48-hour waiting period begins, effective at 6:00 a.m. on the second calendar day. The license is good for six months and must be used for a ceremony held in Baltimore County.

Only one party needs to appear in person. The absent party must provide a valid government-issued photo ID. A copy or photo on a phone is fine. Both Social Security numbers are required, but neither appears on the printed license. If either applicant was married before, you need the exact date and the county or state of each prior divorce. If a prior spouse died, the date of death is required.

The official Baltimore County marriage license page at mdcourts.gov has current requirements. Check it before visiting Towson. The Baltimore County Clerk's office main page has contact details and links to all clerk services.

There is no blood test requirement. No witnesses are needed. There is no Maryland residency requirement. Out-of-state couples and foreign nationals can apply at the Towson office just like anyone else.

Baltimore County Clerk of Circuit Court Information

The License Division is on the second floor of the courthouse in Towson. Hours for applications differ slightly from ceremony hours, so check before you go. The office is closed weekends and holidays.

Note: You can request certified copies by email at ccbaltcoclerk@mdcourts.gov. Include the names of both parties and the date of the marriage in your message.

What to Bring to the Baltimore County Clerk

Each applicant needs a government-issued photo ID. Driver's licenses, passports, military IDs, and certified birth certificates are all accepted. If one party is not present, their ID must still be provided as a copy or digital image. Foreign nationals should bring a passport. The ID must include a photo and date of birth.

Both Social Security numbers are required. Neither will appear on the license. You need full legal names, current addresses, states of birth, dates of birth, and marital status. If either party was previously married, you must know the exact date each prior marriage ended and the county and state where the divorce was granted. A divorce decree is helpful but may not always be required.

For non-residents or absent parties who cannot come in person, Form CC-FM-066 is available at mdcourts.gov. The absent party fills out and signs it. The applying party brings it to the Towson office during the application visit.

Baltimore County Marriage License Resources

The Maryland People's Law Library offers a plain-language guide to the marriage license process that applies across all Maryland counties, including Baltimore County. This guide answers common questions about what is required and how the process works.

The People's Law Library is a free resource. It is a good place to start if you have questions about the rules before heading to the Towson courthouse.

The Maryland Courts official marriage license information page provides statewide guidance on requirements, procedures, and laws that apply in Baltimore County.

This page from the state court system is updated as laws change and is a reliable source for understanding what the law requires in Baltimore County.

Civil Ceremonies in Baltimore County

The Baltimore County Circuit Court performs civil marriage ceremonies at the Towson courthouse. You must hold a valid license before scheduling. Call 410-887-2607 or email ccbaltcoclerklicensing@mdcourts.gov to book an appointment. You can also schedule through the Picktime online scheduling system. Walk-ins for ceremonies are not available.

The ceremony takes about 15 minutes. There is a maximum of seven people allowed in the room, including the couple. This is one of the smaller ceremony rooms in Maryland, so invite only your closest guests. Indoor and outdoor options may be available. Ask the clerk when you book. The fee is $25.00. Of that amount, $15 goes to the Baltimore County Historical Trust, which preserves historical resources in the county.

Ceremony hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. The office is closed on weekends and holidays. If you need an apostille to use your marriage certificate abroad, get a certified copy from the Clerk first, then submit it to the Maryland Secretary of State for the apostille. Additional federal authentication may be required for some countries.

Searching Baltimore County Marriage Records

The Circuit Court Clerk holds current and recent marriage records in Towson. For older records, the Maryland State Archives is the main source. The Maryland State Archives marriage records guide explains which collections exist for Baltimore County and how to access them. The Archives are at 350 Rowe Boulevard in Annapolis and are open Tuesday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and the first Saturday of each month.

The Maryland Judiciary Case Search covers court cases in Baltimore County. It does not include marriage license records. Use it for court case lookups and civil dockets, not for marriage license information. For marriage license records specifically, contact the Clerk's office at 410-887-2607 or by email.

The Division of Vital Records in Baltimore handles statewide records from January 1, 2007. Their office is at 6764 B Reisterstown Road, Baltimore, MD 21215, reachable at (410) 764-3038. For Baltimore County marriages before 2007, go through the Circuit Court Clerk in Towson or the State Archives for older records.

Maryland Marriage Laws for Baltimore County

Maryland Family Law Section 2-401 requires all couples to get a license before they marry. The 48-hour waiting period is set by state law. It runs from 6:00 a.m. on the second calendar day after the license is issued. The license is issued the same day you apply.

Baltimore County is separate from Baltimore City. They are two distinct jurisdictions in Maryland law. A license issued in Baltimore County is not valid for a ceremony in the city, and vice versa. This matters if you are not sure which jurisdiction you live in. Your street address and ZIP code will determine which office handles your application. Check with the clerk if there is any doubt about your location.

Same-sex marriage became legal in Maryland on January 1, 2013. There is no residency requirement for either party. No witnesses are required at the ceremony. Maryland does not have justices of the peace. After the ceremony, the officiant must return the signed marriage certificate to the Clerk's office within five days. That certificate is the official record of the marriage in Baltimore County.

Note: As of October 2022, Maryland law prohibits marriage for anyone under 17. Persons aged 17 need a court order to marry. Both parties must be 18 or older to marry without a court order.

Nearby Counties in Maryland

Maryland marriage licenses are county-specific. If you plan to marry in a nearby county, you must get a license from that county's Clerk of Circuit Court.