Find a Marriage License in Frederick County

Frederick County marriage licenses are issued by the Clerk of Circuit Court at 100 West Patrick Street in downtown Frederick. This county has the highest marriage license fee in Maryland at $75, and the courthouse is located right in Frederick City, the county seat. This page explains how to apply, what to bring, what the 48-hour rule means for your plans, and how to look up past Frederick County marriage records through the state archives and other sources.

Frederick County Circuit Court Clerk Office

The Clerk of Circuit Court at 100 West Patrick Street handles marriage license applications for Frederick County. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and closed on state holidays. Walk-ins are accepted for applications, but civil ceremonies require an appointment. The main number for marriage license questions is (301) 600-1965. The general clerk line is (301) 600-1976.

The official Frederick County marriage license page at courts.state.md.us shows the $75 fee and application requirements at the Frederick courthouse.

The page covers what to bring, how to pay, and what you can expect at the 100 West Patrick Street office in downtown Frederick.

The Frederick County official government courts page at frederickcountymd.gov provides information about courthouse services and the local court system in Frederick.

This page covers the local courts structure in Frederick County, which can help you understand where different court offices are and what each one handles.

Applying for a Frederick County Marriage License

You can apply as a couple or have one person come in alone. Only one party needs to appear in person. The clerk will ask both parties to sign the application, so make sure the absent party has reviewed the form before the applying party comes in.

Frederick County requires more identification detail than some counties. Each person must provide their full legal name, current physical address, age, state or country of birth, and Social Security number. If either party was previously married, you must give the month, day, and year of each divorce and the county and state where each divorce took place. If a prior spouse died, you need the date and place of that death. These are strict requirements. Missing this information will delay your application. A preliminary application form is available online if you want to gather the required details before your visit to the Frederick courthouse.

The $75 fee is one of the highest in Maryland. Frederick County accepts cash, Visa, MasterCard, and Discover credit cards. For mail orders, personal checks, cashier's checks, and money orders are accepted. Make checks out to "Clerk of Circuit Court." The license is issued the same day you apply. Maryland's 48-hour waiting period then applies before your ceremony can legally take place. Under Maryland Family Law Section 2-401, a license is required before any ceremony. There is no blood test requirement and no residency requirement. You do not need to live in Maryland to get a Frederick County license, but your ceremony must take place within Frederick County.

A non-resident marriage license application and affidavit is also available for out-of-state couples applying in Frederick County. You can also use the statewide Non-Resident Form CC-FM-066 from the Maryland Courts website.

Note: Frederick County's $75 fee includes a domestic violence funding component. The fee has not changed frequently, but call (301) 600-1965 to confirm the current amount before your visit.

Civil Ceremonies at the Frederick County Courthouse

The Frederick County Clerk's office performs civil marriage ceremonies by appointment. Call to schedule. The fee is $25, paid at the time of the ceremony. Cash, Visa, MasterCard, and Discover are accepted for the ceremony fee. Ceremonies take place at the 100 West Patrick Street courthouse in downtown Frederick City.

Frederick County also has an outdoor ceremony option in the front courtyard of the courthouse. This is available from spring through fall, weather permitting, and can accommodate approximately four to six guests. If you want a slightly less formal setting than the indoor ceremonial room, the courtyard is a simple alternative. Call the office to ask about current availability and any requirements for outdoor ceremonies. Maryland has no justices of the peace, so the Clerk or a judge must perform civil ceremonies if you are not using a private officiant. The Maryland People's Law Library has information on who can perform marriage ceremonies and what the law requires of officiants throughout the state.

Frederick County Marriage License Records Search

The Frederick County Clerk holds marriage records for the county. You can request a certified copy in person at the Records Room, by phone at (301) 600-1957, or by mail. Phone requests can be processed immediately. Mail requests are handled when they arrive. Send written requests to: Clerk of the Circuit Court for Frederick County, Attn: Records Department, 100 West Patrick Street, Frederick, MD 21701. Include both parties' names, the date of marriage, and a check or money order for $5.50 per copy. Plain copies cost $0.50 each if you just need an uncertified version.

For historical records, the Maryland State Archives holds Frederick County court marriage licenses from 1778 to 1851 under collections CM492 and CM493, and Circuit Court marriage licenses from 1851 to 1865 under collections C828, CM471, and CM480. Marriage license applications from 1938 to 1941 are also available. The Maryland State Archives marriage records guide explains how to access all of these Frederick County collections, whether you visit Annapolis or search online.

FamilySearch includes Frederick County marriage records from 1778 to 1797 as part of their Maryland County Marriages compiled collections. These are free to search online. The Maryland State Archives marriage index is another tool for finding older Frederick County records by name and date range.

The Maryland Judiciary Case Search covers court cases in Frederick County but does not include marriage license records. For marriages specifically, contact the Clerk's office directly.

Maryland Marriage Law Applied to Frederick County

Maryland's waiting period is 48 hours. The clock starts at 6:00 a.m. on the second calendar day after you apply. If you apply on a Tuesday, your first valid ceremony date is Thursday morning. The license is good for six months. If it expires unused, you must apply again and pay the full $75 fee.

Same-sex marriages have been legal in Maryland since January 1, 2013. Frederick County's Clerk processes all applications the same way regardless of the parties involved. As of October 2022, no one under 17 may marry in Maryland. A 17-year-old needs a court order. Both parties need valid photo IDs. Social Security numbers are required by state law but do not appear on the printed license. The Maryland People's Law Library covers the full legal framework for marriage in the state if you want more detail on any of these rules.

After the ceremony, the officiant must return the signed marriage certificate to the Frederick County Clerk within five days. The Division of Vital Records in Baltimore holds statewide marriage records from January 1, 2007 onward. You can reach them at (410) 764-3038 at 6764 B Reisterstown Road, Baltimore.

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.