Harford County Marriage License Search

Harford County marriage licenses are issued through the Clerk of Circuit Court in Bel Air, the county seat. The Licensing Department handles all applications, civil ceremony scheduling, and certified copy requests. This page covers the application process, what to bring, fees, civil ceremony options including evening slots, and how to search historical Harford County marriage records going back to 1775.

Harford County Clerk Office and Licensing Department

The Harford County Clerk of Circuit Court operates two key locations for marriage licenses. Applications are taken at 7 W. Courtland Street, which is across the street from the main courthouse. Civil ceremonies take place at the Ceremonial Room at 24 Office Street, Bel Air, MD. The Licensing Department can be reached at (410) 638-3426. For civil ceremonies, call (410) 638-3586. Certified copy requests go through (410) 638-3489, (410) 638-3586, or (410) 638-3248. You can also email harfordcountyclerk@mdcourts.gov.

Application hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. The office is closed Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays. Walk-ins are welcome for license applications. No appointment is needed to apply. If you want a civil ceremony at the Clerk's office, that is a different process and requires an appointment.

The official Harford County marriage license page at mdcourts.gov provides requirements and contact information for the Bel Air licensing office.

The page covers fees, what to bring, and how to request certified copies of Harford County marriage records.

The Harford County Clerk general information page covers the full range of court services available in Bel Air.

This page is helpful if you need other court services alongside your marriage license, since Harford County Clerk handles multiple types of filings at the same courthouse complex.

Applying for a Harford County Marriage License

Head to 7 W. Courtland Street in Bel Air during business hours. No appointment is needed. Both parties can come together or just one person can apply. The clerk will complete the form with you. The application takes about 15 minutes if you have all the required information ready.

Both parties need a valid government-issued photo ID. A driver's license, passport, or state-issued ID card all work. Both must provide Social Security numbers. Maryland law requires this, though the numbers do not appear on the printed license. Each party must provide their full name, age, state or country of birth, and current address. If either person was married before, you need the exact date and place of each divorce. If your divorce was finalized within the last six months, bring a copy of the divorce decree. If a prior spouse died, provide the date and place of death. These facts are required to complete the application. A valid photo ID is required for both parties regardless of who appears in person. Under Maryland Family Law Section 2-401, no ceremony may take place without a valid license. Same-sex marriages are legal in Maryland since January 1, 2013, and Harford County processes all applications equally. As of October 2022, no one under 17 may marry in Maryland, and a 17-year-old requires a court order.

The $50 license fee is non-refundable. Payment can be cash, check, money order, Visa, MasterCard, or Discover. Make checks payable to "Clerk of the Circuit Court." A replacement license costs $10 if you need one before the ceremony. If there is an urgent need to waive the 48-hour waiting period, a petition for an emergency waiver costs $95.

The Harford County marriage requirements PDF at mdcourts.gov is a printable checklist of what to bring to the Bel Air licensing office.

Civil Ceremonies at the Harford County Clerk Office

Harford County offers civil marriage ceremonies by appointment at the Ceremonial Room located at 24 Office Street, Bel Air. Ceremonies are scheduled Monday through Friday. There is also limited availability on alternating Wednesday evenings for couples who cannot make a daytime slot. Call (410) 638-3586 to book your ceremony date.

The ceremony fee is $25, and it is non-refundable. Note that checks are NOT accepted for the ceremony payment. Cash or credit card only for this fee. Harford County also enforces a strict guest limit of 20 people total, including the couple being married. All children count toward this limit regardless of age. No exceptions are made, and guests above the limit will not be admitted to the ceremonial room. Both parties must have valid photo IDs at the ceremony. The license must have been obtained at least two days before the ceremony. If either party does not speak English or is hearing impaired, bring a fluent adult translator over age 18. The office may also have assistance available; call ahead to ask.

Maryland has no justices of the peace. Civil ceremonies are performed by the clerk or a judge. If you are using a private officiant at another location, the officiant must return the signed marriage certificate to the Harford County Clerk within five days after the ceremony. The Maryland People's Law Library explains who can perform wedding ceremonies in Maryland and what the law requires.

Note: Harford County also offers a special service where a clerk can appear outside the office for a ceremony, at a cost of $175.

Harford County Marriage Records and Genealogy Research

To get a certified copy of a Harford County marriage license, you have several options. In person at 24 Office Street, Bel Air, payment can be cash, check, money order, or credit card. By mail, send a written request to: Clerk of the Circuit Court for Harford County, Attn: Licensing Department, 20 W. Courtland Street, Bel Air, MD 21014. By email to harfordcountyclerk@mdcourts.gov with a credit card payment form attached. By fax to (410) 838-8540. By phone at any of the copy request numbers. Include both parties' names, the date of marriage, payment for $5.50 per copy, and a return mailing address.

Harford County has marriage records going back to 1775. The Maryland State Archives holds Harford County Court marriage licenses from 1782 to 1851 in collection MSA CM586, and Circuit Court marriage licenses from 1851 to 1886. FamilySearch has Harford County marriages from 1777 to 1850 as part of its Maryland County Marriages compiled collection. These are free to search at familysearch.org. The Maryland State Archives marriage records guide covers all available collections and how to access them in person or through the online catalog.

Published genealogy books on Harford County marriage records include "Harford County Marriage Licenses, 1775-1865," which is available through libraries and genealogy societies. The Historical Society of Harford County also holds records and can assist with local research. The Maryland State Archives marriage references index provides a searchable index of historical records across all counties including Harford. The Maryland Judiciary Case Search covers court filings but not marriage licenses specifically.

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.