Queen Anne's County Marriage License
Queen Anne's County marriage license applications are handled by the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Centreville. The office sits at 100 Court House Square and serves couples across this Eastern Shore county. You can walk in Monday through Friday to start your application, and the license is usually ready the same day. This page covers how to apply, what documents to bring, what the records contain, and how to search for Queen Anne's County marriage records both online and in person.
Queen Anne's County Overview
Queen Anne's County Marriage License Office
The Clerk of the Circuit Court for Queen Anne's County handles all marriage license applications in Centreville. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. It is closed on weekends and state holidays. You do not need an appointment to apply for a Queen Anne's County marriage license. Walk-ins are welcome during regular business hours. If you want to have a civil ceremony at the courthouse, call ahead to set up an appointment. Civil ceremonies cost $25.00 and are separate from the license fee.
The courthouse address is 100 Court House Square, Centreville, MD 21617. Queen Anne's County is located on the upper Eastern Shore, connected to the western part of Maryland by the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Many couples who plan weddings on the Eastern Shore come through this office. The clerk staff can guide you through the application form and answer questions about local requirements. Payment for the license is accepted by cash, check, money order, or credit card. The $35.00 fee covers the license itself. Certified copies of the marriage record cost $5.50 each and can be ordered at the same time or later.
The official Queen Anne's County marriage license page at courts.state.md.us lists the full requirements and any updates to office procedures. Check there before your visit for the most current information.
The screenshot below shows the official Queen Anne's County marriage license page at courts.state.md.us, where you can review current requirements and fees before visiting the Centreville office.
The page is updated by the Maryland Courts system and reflects the most current rules for Queen Anne's County marriage license applicants.
| Office | Clerk of the Circuit Court, Queen Anne's County |
|---|---|
| Address | 100 Court House Square, Centreville, MD 21617 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| License Fee | $35.00 (cash, check, money order, or credit card) |
| Civil Ceremony | $25.00 by appointment |
| Clerk Website | mdcourts.gov/clerks/queenannes |
Note: The Queen Anne's County clerk office accepts walk-ins for license applications but requires a separate appointment for civil ceremonies held at the courthouse.
How to Get a Queen Anne's County Marriage License
At least one party must appear in person at the Queen Anne's County Clerk's office to apply. You do not both have to show up, but the person who comes must have valid government-issued ID for both parties. That means a driver's license, birth certificate, or passport. The clerk will use these to verify names and ages. Both people must be 18 or older to marry without a court order. Maryland has not allowed anyone under 17 to marry since October 2022.
You will fill out the marriage license application form at the courthouse. The form asks for the full legal name, current address, state of birth, age, and Social Security number for each person. Your Social Security number is required by state law but will not appear on the license itself. You must also give your marital status. If either person was previously married, you need to provide the exact date and location of each divorce or the death of a former spouse. Having that information ready before you visit will speed things up. The whole process typically takes about 15 minutes once you have everything in hand.
After you apply, there is a 48-hour waiting period before the license becomes valid. The license is effective at 6:00 AM on the second calendar day after it is issued. Plan your ceremony date with this in mind. Once the license is valid, you have six months to use it. The ceremony must take place in Queen Anne's County since that is where the license was issued. Maryland Family Law Section 2-401 governs the basic requirements for all Maryland marriage licenses.
For couples who do not live in Maryland, a non-resident form (CC-FM-066) is available from the Maryland courts at mdcourts.gov. This form must be notarized before you submit it. One party still needs to appear in person or have a comparable official complete the form.
What Queen Anne's County Marriage Records Contain
A Queen Anne's County marriage license contains the full legal names of both parties, their current addresses, ages, and states or countries of birth. It also shows the date the license was issued, the date it becomes effective, and the expiration date. Previous marriage information is recorded if either party has been married before. The license will list the date and place of each prior divorce or the death of a former spouse.
After the ceremony, the officiant fills out the marriage certificate portion and signs it. They must return the completed certificate to the Queen Anne's County Clerk of Circuit Court within five days of the wedding. The clerk keeps the original on file. At that point, the marriage is part of the official public record. Certified copies of the certificate can be ordered from the clerk for $5.50 each. These copies carry the official seal and signature needed for legal tasks like changing a name on a driver's license or updating a Social Security record.
Social Security numbers collected during the application process are kept on file but do not appear on the license or any public copy. That information stays private. The rest of the record, including names, dates, and addresses, is part of the public record in Queen Anne's County.
Search Historical Queen Anne's County Marriage Records
The Maryland State Archives in Annapolis holds historical marriage records for Queen Anne's County going back centuries. The Archives can be reached at 350 Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis, MD 21401, or by phone at 410-260-6400. Their online guide at guide.msa.maryland.gov gives a breakdown of what years are available and how to request records. Most historical Queen Anne's County marriage records are on microfilm and can be viewed on-site at the Archives during open hours.
FamilySearch is a free online resource that indexes many Maryland marriage records, including those from Queen Anne's County. Their wiki page at familysearch.org outlines the available record sets and links to searchable databases. FamilySearch has indexed records that span from the colonial era through the mid-twentieth century for many Maryland counties. These records are a good starting point for genealogy research tied to Queen Anne's County.
The Queen Anne's County Historical Society also maintains resources related to local history and family records. You can reach them through their website at qachistory.org. For genealogists, the society may have information that fills gaps in the official record archives.
The screenshot below links to the Queen Anne's County Historical Society website, which maintains genealogy resources and historical records for researchers working on Queen Anne's County family history.
The historical society can be a useful secondary source when official records are incomplete or hard to access through state archives.
Note: Current marriage license records (after January 1, 2007) may also be available through the Division of Vital Records by calling 410-764-3038, though the clerk's office is the primary source for certified copies.
Searching Queen Anne's County Marriage License Records Online
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search at casesearch.courts.state.md.us covers civil and criminal court cases filed in Queen Anne's County. However, marriage license records are kept confidential under Maryland court rules and are not available through Case Search. That system is useful for other types of court records but not for looking up marriage licenses or certificates in Queen Anne's County.
To get a certified copy of a Queen Anne's County marriage record, you need to contact the Clerk of the Circuit Court directly. You can visit in person during business hours, or send a written request by mail. Include the names of both parties as they appeared at the time of the marriage, the approximate date of the wedding, and a check or money order for $5.50 per copy made out to "Clerk, Circuit Court for Queen Anne's County." Add a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want the copy mailed back to you. Mail requests typically take several business days to process.
For older records, the Maryland State Archives is the best source. Their guide to former marriage records covers the range of years available for Queen Anne's County. Many of these older records are indexed and can be searched by name. The People's Law Library at peoples-law.org also has a plain-language guide to the marriage license process in Maryland, which can help if you have questions about how the records are kept or what the law requires.
Officiants and Ceremony Rules in Queen Anne's County
Maryland does not have justices of the peace, unlike many other states. Marriages in Queen Anne's County must be performed by an ordained minister of any faith, or by a judge or clerk of a court of record. The People's Law Library page on license-officiation lists who is legally qualified to officiate a wedding in Maryland. Make sure your officiant is eligible before the ceremony date.
No witnesses are required for a Queen Anne's County marriage ceremony. The couple, the officiant, and any guests you choose to invite are all that is needed. After the ceremony, the officiant completes the certificate portion of the license. They sign it and return it to the Queen Anne's County Clerk of Circuit Court within five days. That certificate becomes the legal record of the marriage. Officiants who fail to return the certificate on time may face a fine under Maryland law, though this rarely affects the validity of the marriage itself.
Same-sex marriage has been legal in Maryland since January 1, 2013. All couples who meet the age and eligibility requirements can apply for a Queen Anne's County marriage license. There are no residency requirements. You do not have to live in Maryland or in Queen Anne's County to apply for a license there, but the ceremony must take place within the county.
Nearby Counties in Maryland
Each county in Maryland issues its own marriage licenses. If you plan to marry in a neighboring county, you need to apply for a license there. The license is only valid in the county where it was issued.