Kent County Marriage License
Kent County marriage licenses are issued by the Clerk of Circuit Court in Chestertown, the county seat on Maryland's Eastern Shore. The $35 fee is among the lowest in the state. This page covers how to apply, what to bring, the 48-hour waiting period, and how to search for historical Kent County marriage records through local genealogy societies and the Maryland State Archives.
Kent County Overview
Kent County Clerk of Circuit Court
The Clerk of Circuit Court handles marriage license applications for Kent County at 103 N. Cross Street, Chestertown, MD 21620. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and is closed on weekends and state holidays. Walk-in applications are accepted. Civil ceremonies require an appointment.
Kent County is one of Maryland's smaller Eastern Shore counties. Chestertown is a compact courthouse town, and the clerk's office is easy to reach in the downtown area. The $35 license fee is non-refundable and is one of the more affordable fees in Maryland. Payment is accepted by cash, check, money order, or credit card. For certified copies of past marriage records, the fee is $5.50 per copy statewide.
The Kent County marriage license page at mdcourts.gov has current requirements and contact information for the Chestertown office. The Kent County Clerk of Circuit Court homepage covers the full range of services at the courthouse.
| Office | Clerk of Circuit Court, Kent County |
|---|---|
| Address | 103 N. Cross Street, Chestertown, MD 21620 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Payment | Cash, check, money order, or credit card |
The Maryland People's Law Library provides useful context on Maryland's marriage license process. Their page at peoples-law.org covers the application and officiation rules statewide.
The People's Law Library is a free resource that covers who can perform ceremonies, what the waiting period means, and other key rules that apply when you get a Kent County marriage license.
Applying for a Kent County Marriage License
Go to the Clerk's office at 103 N. Cross Street in Chestertown during business hours. Only one party needs to appear in person, though both are welcome. Bring the following:
- Valid government-issued photo ID for both parties (driver's license, passport, or state ID)
- Social Security numbers for both parties (required by law, not printed on license)
- If either party was divorced: the exact date and county or state of each divorce
- If either party was widowed: the exact date and place of each prior spouse's death
- $35 fee in cash, check, money order, or by credit card
You do not need to be a Maryland resident. No blood test is required. There are no witnesses needed to apply. Under Maryland Family Law Section 2-401, a marriage license is required before any ceremony. Same-sex marriages have been legal in Maryland since January 1, 2013. As of October 2022, no one under 17 may marry in Maryland, and a 17-year-old needs a court order from a judge. If you are coming from out of state, the Non-Resident Marriage License Form CC-FM-066 from the Maryland Courts website has information relevant to your application. A special instruction sheet for Kent County is also available at the courthouse.
You receive the license the same day you apply. The 48-hour waiting period then begins. The license becomes valid at 6:00 a.m. on the second calendar day after your application date. You then have six months to use it. Your ceremony must take place in Kent County since the license is county-specific.
Civil Marriage Ceremonies at the Kent County Clerk
The Kent County Clerk's office can perform civil marriage ceremonies. You must call ahead to schedule an appointment. Walk-in ceremonies are not accepted. The ceremony fee is $25 and is paid at the time of the ceremony. Civil ceremonies are a simple and low-cost option for couples who want a quick, legal ceremony without a large event.
Maryland has no justices of the peace. Civil ceremonies in Kent County are performed by the Clerk or a judge. If you use a private officiant for a ceremony elsewhere in Kent County, that person must be legally qualified under Maryland law. The officiant must return the signed marriage certificate to the Kent County Clerk within five days of the ceremony. The Maryland People's Law Library has a thorough guide on who can officiate and what the return process involves.
Searching Kent County Marriage Records
Kent County has records going back to the colonial period. The Maryland State Archives holds extensive collections for the county. The Maryland State Archives marriage records guide covers what is available for Kent County, including older court marriage licenses and later circuit court records. You can search their catalog online or visit the Archives in Annapolis to view physical records.
For local genealogy resources, the Kent County Historical Society can assist with local family history research. They hold materials that may not be in the state archives, including local church records and personal collection donations that touch on marriage and vital records. The Upper Shore Genealogical Society at usgsmd.org also serves Kent County and the surrounding area, covering Queen Anne's and Cecil Counties as well. Their resources can be useful if you are researching families that span county lines on the upper Eastern Shore.
The Maryland State Archives marriage references index is searchable online and can help you find records by name and date before you submit a formal request. FamilySearch also includes Kent County records as part of the Maryland County Marriages compiled collection, which is free to search at any time.
The Maryland State Archives records guide is the most complete reference for understanding what Kent County marriage records are held in Annapolis and how to access them, whether in person or through the online catalog.
To get a certified copy of a Kent County marriage record, contact the Clerk at 103 N. Cross Street in person, or send a written request by mail. Include both parties' names, the approximate year of marriage, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a check or money order for $5.50 per copy made out to "Clerk, Circuit Court for Kent County." The Maryland Judiciary Case Search handles court case lookups but does not include marriage licenses. For statewide vital records from January 1, 2007 forward, contact the Division of Vital Records in Baltimore at (410) 764-3038.
Maryland Marriage Law in Kent County
Kent County follows the same Maryland state marriage laws as every other county. The 48-hour waiting period is mandatory. It starts at 6:00 a.m. on the second calendar day after you apply. If you apply on a Monday, your earliest valid ceremony day is Wednesday morning at 6:00 a.m. You must use the license within six months of the effective date.
No residency is required to get a Kent County marriage license. No blood test is needed. Social Security numbers are required but are not printed on the document itself. Both parties need a valid photo ID. If previously married, you must give the details of every prior marriage that ended. After the ceremony, the officiant returns the signed certificate to the Clerk within five days. The Division of Vital Records in Baltimore holds statewide records from 2007 onward at 6764 B Reisterstown Road. You can reach them at (410) 764-3038 if you need records from that era and the Clerk's office cannot help directly.
Note: Kent County's marriage license instructions sheet is available online from the Maryland Courts website for those who want to review requirements before their visit to the Chestertown office.
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.