Access Howard County Marriage License Records
Howard County marriage licenses are issued at the new courthouse at 9250 Judicial Way in Ellicott City, which opened in 2021. Whether you live in Columbia, Ellicott City, or another part of the county, this is where you apply. This page covers the application steps, what documents to bring, the $50 fee, civil ceremony scheduling, and where to search historical Howard County marriage records through the Historical Society database and the Maryland State Archives.
Howard County Overview
Howard County Clerk of Circuit Court
The Clerk of Circuit Court handles all marriage license applications in Howard County. The office is in the courthouse at 9250 Judicial Way, Suite 1900, Ellicott City, MD 21043. This new courthouse complex opened in 2021. Call (410) 313-5850 with questions before your visit. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., closed on weekends and holidays.
Ellicott City is the county seat, and the courthouse sits about five miles from Columbia, Howard County's largest community with roughly 105,000 residents. If you live in Columbia or another part of the county, you still apply at the Ellicott City courthouse. Walk-ins are welcome for license applications. Civil ceremonies require a separate appointment. The clerk's office can answer questions about both.
The official Howard County marriage license page at mdcourts.gov has current requirements and contact details for the Ellicott City courthouse.
This page is the authoritative source for current Howard County marriage license requirements and should be your first stop when planning your application visit.
| Office | Clerk of Circuit Court, Howard County |
|---|---|
| Address | 9250 Judicial Way, Suite 1900, Ellicott City, MD 21043 |
| Phone | (410) 313-5850 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Payment | Cash, check, money order, or credit card |
How to Apply for a Howard County Marriage License
Only one party needs to appear in person at the Ellicott City courthouse to apply. Both can come together if preferred. You complete the application at the clerk's office. There is no online form. Bring everything listed below to avoid delays.
Both parties need a valid government-issued photo ID. A driver's license, passport, or state ID card all work. Both parties must provide their Social Security numbers. Maryland requires them by law, but they are not printed on the license. Each person must provide their full legal name, current address, age, and state or country of birth. If either party was previously married, you must give the exact date and county or state of each divorce. If a prior spouse died, you need the date and place of the death. These facts are required. Missing even one piece of information means you cannot complete the application that day.
The $50 fee covers the license. Howard County accepts cash, checks, money orders, and major credit cards. Make checks payable to "Clerk of the Circuit Court." You get the license the same day you apply. The 48-hour waiting period then begins at 6:00 a.m. on the second calendar day. Under Maryland Family Law Section 2-401, no ceremony may take place without a valid license. No residency requirement exists. You do not need to live in Howard County or Maryland to apply. You must marry in Howard County, though, since the license is county-specific. Same-sex marriages have been legal in Maryland since January 1, 2013. No one under 17 may marry in Maryland as of October 2022. A 17-year-old needs a court order. The statewide Non-Resident Marriage License Form CC-FM-066 is available for out-of-state applicants.
Civil Marriage Ceremonies in Howard County
The Howard County Clerk's office can perform civil marriage ceremonies by appointment. Call (410) 313-5850 to schedule. The fee is $25. After your ceremony, the officiant must return the signed marriage certificate to the Howard County Clerk within five days.
Maryland has no justices of the peace, so civil ceremonies are performed by the clerk or a judge. If you prefer a private officiant at another venue in Howard County, that officiant must be legally qualified to perform ceremonies under Maryland law. The Maryland People's Law Library explains who can officiate weddings and what the law requires. Ceremonies must take place in Howard County since the license is issued for this county only. The license is valid for six months, giving you time to plan and schedule after you apply.
Howard County Marriage Records Search
Howard County has several resources for searching marriage records, from current records held by the Clerk to historical collections going back well over a century. Knowing which source to use depends on the time period you are researching.
For recent records, the Clerk of Circuit Court at 9250 Judicial Way holds all Howard County marriage licenses. To get a certified copy, you can visit in person or contact the office by phone or mail. Certified copies cost $5.50 each. Bring or provide both parties' names and the approximate date of marriage.
For historical records, the Howard County Historical Society maintains a dedicated marriage records search database. The Howard County Historical Society marriage records search database covers historical marriages and is a valuable first stop for genealogy research on Howard County families.
The database is specific to Howard County and may have records not found through the state archives or online genealogy sites. It is a free resource for anyone researching local family history.
The Howard County Historical Society main research services page offers additional genealogy research assistance beyond the online database.
The Historical Society's research staff can help with specific questions about Howard County records that may not be findable through online searches alone.
The Maryland State Archives Marriage References Index includes Howard County historical marriage records as part of its statewide collection.
This statewide index is searchable and can help you locate records before submitting a formal request to the archives or the Historical Society.
The broader Maryland State Archives marriage records guide covers all available Howard County archive collections with instructions for access. FamilySearch also includes Howard County records as part of the Maryland County Marriages compiled collection, which is free to search online. The Maryland Judiciary Case Search covers court cases but does not contain marriage license records specifically. For statewide vital records from 2007 forward, the Division of Vital Records in Baltimore holds the data and can be reached at (410) 764-3038.
Marriage Laws That Apply in Howard County
Howard County follows Maryland state marriage law. The 48-hour waiting period is statewide. Your license becomes valid at 6:00 a.m. on the second calendar day after you apply at the Ellicott City courthouse. You must use the license within six months. No blood test is required. Witnesses are not required to apply, though they may be required by your officiant at the ceremony depending on their practice.
After the ceremony, the officiant has five days to return the signed marriage certificate to the Howard County Clerk. This step is required by law. If it does not happen, contact the Clerk's office. The Maryland State Archives guide referenced above covers what happens if a marriage certificate was never returned. Statewide records from January 1, 2007 are held by the Division of Vital Records in Baltimore at 6764 B Reisterstown Road. The Maryland Marriage References Index at the State Archives is also a useful tool for resolving gaps in the record.
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.