Calvert County Marriage Records and Licenses
Calvert County marriage licenses are issued by the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 175 Main Street in Prince Frederick. Walk-in applications are welcome on weekdays. This page covers what you need to bring, fees, office hours, civil ceremony options at the courthouse, and how to find Calvert County marriage records from the county's formation in 1774 to the present day.
Calvert County Overview
Applying for a Calvert County Marriage License
You apply at the Clerk of Circuit Court at 175 Main Street in Prince Frederick. Walk-ins are welcome Monday through Friday. No appointment is needed. The clerk processes your application the same day, usually in about 15 to 30 minutes. After the license is issued, the 48-hour waiting period starts, effective at 6:00 a.m. on the second calendar day. The license is valid for six months and is only good for a ceremony in Calvert County.
Only one party must appear in person to apply. The other party can be absent if they provide a copy or digital image of their valid government-issued photo ID. Both parties' Social Security numbers are required but do not appear on the printed license. If either applicant was previously married, you need the exact date and location of each prior divorce or, if a spouse died, the date of death.
The official Calvert County marriage license page at courts.state.md.us has current requirements. The Calvert County marriage license FAQ page answers common questions about the process and what to expect at the Prince Frederick courthouse.
There is no blood test required. No witnesses are needed. Maryland has no residency requirement. Out-of-state and foreign couples can apply in Calvert County. For non-residents who cannot appear in person, Form CC-FM-066 is available at mdcourts.gov.
Calvert County Clerk Office Hours and Contact
The Clerk's office at 175 Main Street serves all marriage license needs in Calvert County. This includes new applications, certified copy requests, and civil ceremony scheduling. The office is closed on weekends and state holidays.
Check the Calvert County Clerk of Circuit Court homepage for any updates to hours or procedures before you make the trip to Prince Frederick.
| Address | 175 Main Street, Prince Frederick, MD 20678 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 410-535-1600 ext. 2269 (or 301-855-1243 ext. 2269) |
| kathy.smith@mdcourts.gov | |
| Application Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Ceremony Hours | Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| License Fee | $55.00 |
| Civil Ceremony Fee | $25.00 |
| Certified Copy | $5.50 |
| Duplicate License | $10.00 |
| Payment | Cash, check (payable to Clerk of the Circuit Court), money order, credit card (Visa, Discover, MasterCard) |
Documents Required for a Calvert County Marriage License
Both applicants need valid government-issued photo identification. A driver's license, passport, military ID, or certified birth certificate all work. The ID must show your name and date of birth. If one party cannot appear in person, their ID still needs to be presented as a copy or digital image. Foreign nationals should bring their passport. The clerk will note the ID type and number when processing the application.
Social Security numbers are required for both parties on the application form. They are required by Maryland law but are not printed on the license. Full legal names, current home addresses, states of birth, dates of birth, and marital status are also required. If either party has been married before, bring the date and county or state of each prior divorce. If a prior spouse died, you need the date of death. Divorce decrees are helpful to have, though a sworn statement is sometimes accepted.
For mail-in certified copy requests, send the names of both parties, the date of the marriage, and a check or money order to: Clerk of the Circuit Court, 175 Main Street, Prince Frederick, MD 20678. Include a return address so the copy can be mailed back to you.
Note: Calvert County charges $55 for a marriage license. This is higher than the base rate in some other Maryland counties, so come prepared with that amount.
Calvert County Marriage License Pages Online
The official Calvert County Circuit Court marriage license page is the best place to check before your visit. It lists all current fees, required documents, and application steps for the Prince Frederick courthouse.
This page is the authoritative source for what you need to bring and how the process works in Calvert County.
The Calvert County marriage license FAQ page answers common questions about requirements, waiting periods, civil ceremonies, and record copies.
The FAQ covers edge cases like what to do if you were previously married and what happens if you miss your ceremony date before the license expires.
The Calvert County Clerk of Circuit Court homepage has links to all clerk services and contact information for the Prince Frederick office.
From this page you can access land records, court filings, and other services available through the Calvert County clerk system.
Civil Ceremonies in Calvert County
The Calvert County Circuit Court offers civil marriage ceremonies performed by a deputy clerk. You must have a valid license before scheduling. Call ext. 2269 at 410-535-1600 or 301-855-1243 to set up an appointment. Walk-ins for ceremonies are not available. Ceremonies happen Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The fee is $25.00.
Calvert County offers an outdoor ceremony option on the courthouse lawn in Prince Frederick, weather permitting. If you want an outdoor ceremony, mention that when you call to book. Indoor ceremonies take place inside the courthouse. There is no large guest capacity limit listed, but space inside is limited, so ask when you schedule. Photography is typically allowed; confirm with the clerk when booking.
The Division of Vital Records handles statewide marriage records from January 1, 2007. For older records, the Circuit Court Clerk or the Maryland State Archives are the right contacts. The Archives hold Calvert County records going back to the county's formation in 1774.
Searching Calvert County Marriage Records
Calvert County was formed in 1774, and records from that era are held at the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis. The Archives reading room is at 350 Rowe Boulevard and is open Tuesday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and on the first Saturday of each month. The Maryland State Archives marriage records guide covers all Calvert County collections and explains how to request records by mail or in person.
Current and recent records are at the Clerk's office in Prince Frederick. Certified copies cost $5.50 each. You can request them in person or by mail. The Maryland Judiciary Case Search is available for court cases but does not contain marriage license records. For marriage record searches, contact the Clerk or the State Archives.
The Maryland Vital Statistics Administration also has information about marriage records from a statewide perspective. The Southern Maryland Regional Library catalog at catalog.somd.lib.md.us may have local history resources useful for Calvert County genealogy research.
Maryland Marriage Laws and Calvert County Requirements
Maryland Family Law Section 2-401 requires a license before any marriage. The 48-hour waiting period is mandatory statewide. It starts at 6:00 a.m. on the second calendar day after the license is issued. Both parties must complete the application, even if only one appears at the Prince Frederick office.
The license is valid only for a ceremony held in Calvert County. If you decide to marry elsewhere, you need a new license from that county's clerk. Officiants in Maryland include ordained clergy, judges, clerks of court, and others authorized by state law. Maryland does not have justices of the peace. After the ceremony, the officiant must return the completed marriage certificate to the Clerk's office within five days. That signed document is the official record of your marriage in Calvert County.
Same-sex marriage has been legal in Maryland since January 1, 2013. There is no residency requirement for either party. No blood test is needed. No witnesses are required at the ceremony. As of October 2022, no one under 17 may marry in Maryland. Persons aged 17 need a court order. Both parties must be 18 or older to apply without a court order.
Note: If you need to use your Calvert County marriage certificate internationally, get a certified copy from the Clerk, then apply for an apostille from the Maryland Secretary of State.
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.