Somerset County Marriage License Records

Somerset County marriage license applications are processed by the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Princess Anne. The courthouse at 30512 Prince William Street is where couples apply for a Somerset County marriage license. This is one of Maryland's most rural Eastern Shore counties, and it has the lowest marriage license fee in the state at $25.00. Walk-ins are accepted Monday through Friday. This page covers the application process, what to bring, fees, certified copy requests, and how to search Somerset County marriage records.

Somerset County Marriage License Office

The Clerk of the Circuit Court for Somerset County is located at the Somerset County Circuit Courthouse, 30512 Prince William Street, Princess Anne, MD 21853. The mailing address is P.O. Box 279, Princess Anne, MD 21853-0279. You can reach the office by phone at 410-845-4840, or toll-free within Maryland at 800-341-2206. TTY users can connect through Maryland Relay 711. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The office is closed on weekends and state holidays.

Somerset County has a strict cash-only payment policy for marriage license fees. The $25.00 license fee and the $25.00 civil ceremony fee must both be paid in cash. This applies to in-person applications and any on-site ceremony. If you are applying by mail as a non-resident, you can use a money order or cashier's check. For certified copy requests by mail, checks and money orders are accepted. Do not bring a credit card or personal check expecting to pay for your Somerset County marriage license at the window.

The official Somerset County marriage license page is at courts.state.md.us/clerks/somerset/marriage. The clerk homepage at mdcourts.gov/clerks/somerset covers other services. The Circuit Court about page at mdcourts.gov/circuit/somerset/about has additional contact details for specific departments.

The screenshot below links to the official Somerset County marriage license page at courts.state.md.us, showing the $25 fee and cash-only payment policy for licenses issued in Princess Anne.

This page is maintained by the Maryland Courts system and reflects current requirements for Somerset County marriage license applicants.

The screenshot below shows the Somerset County Clerk of Circuit Court homepage for the Princess Anne office, where you can find contact information and links to all clerk services.

The clerk homepage is the main entry point for all court services in Somerset County, including marriage license applications and record requests.

Note: Somerset County's $25.00 marriage license fee is the lowest in Maryland. Cash is required. Plan ahead since there are no ATMs inside the courthouse.

How to Apply for a Somerset County Marriage License

Only one party needs to appear in person at the Somerset County courthouse to apply for a marriage license. You do not both have to be present, but the person who shows up must bring government-issued photo ID for both parties. A driver's license, birth certificate, or passport works. Both applicants must be 18 or older. Maryland has not permitted anyone under 17 to marry since October 2022. A 17-year-old needs a court order to marry in Somerset County.

The application takes about 15 minutes. The form asks for the full legal name, current address, state of birth, age, Social Security number, and current marital status of each person. Social Security numbers are required by Maryland law but will not appear on the printed license. If either party has been divorced or widowed, you must provide the exact date and place of each dissolution. This means you need the county and state where the divorce was finalized, or the date and place of the spouse's death. Having this ready before you visit will keep the process moving smoothly.

After the license is issued, a 48-hour waiting period applies before it becomes valid. The license takes effect at 6:00 AM on the second calendar day after it is issued. The ceremony must take place in Somerset County. The license is valid for six months from the date of issue. Under Maryland Family Law Section 2-401, no blood test or witnesses are required for the application. No residency requirement exists either. You can apply even if neither of you lives in Maryland, as long as the ceremony will be held in Somerset County.

For non-resident applications, you will need the CC-FM-066 form from the Maryland courts at mdcourts.gov. This form must be notarized and signed by a comparable official before being submitted. Non-resident fees must be paid by money order or cashier's check rather than cash. Bring the right payment form when you visit the Princess Anne courthouse.

Somerset County Marriage Records and Genealogy

Somerset County has one of the oldest recorded histories in Maryland. Marriage records date back to 1649, when early Somerset County Court records began tracking births, marriages, and deaths. The Maryland State Archives holds extensive collections of these records. Key collections include the Marriage Record Index 1866-1962 (MSA CM946), Marriage Records 1866-1963 (MSA CM945), Marriage Licenses 1796-1851 (MSA CM964), and Marriage Licenses 1851-1886 (MSA CM932). Colonial records spanning 1649-1720 are also held under MSA CM956. These can be accessed in person at the Archives or through their online guide at guide.msa.maryland.gov.

FamilySearch has indexed many Somerset County marriage records, including Maryland County Marriages 1658-1940 and Maryland Marriages 1666-1970. The FamilySearch Somerset County genealogy page at familysearch.org outlines the available collections and how to search them. Access is free. The site lets you search by name and browse indexed records that link to original images where available. For very early records, you may also find useful information in the Coventry Parish Vital and Parish Records, which cover 1724-1891 and are held at the State Archives.

The Maryland State Archives local government guide for Somerset County at guide.msa.maryland.gov lists all collections held for this county. On-site access to microfilm is free during Archives hours. Certified copies from the Archives cost $25.00 each. Uncertified copies are $5.00. The Archives are open Tuesday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, and on the first Saturday of each month from 8:30 AM to noon and 1:00 to 4:30 PM.

Note: Somerset County marriage records from the clerk's office can be ordered by mail. Send the names of both parties, the approximate date of the marriage, and a $5.50 check or money order payable to "Clerk, Circuit Court for Somerset County" to the Princess Anne courthouse address.

Requesting Certified Copies of Somerset County Marriage Records

Certified copies of Somerset County marriage records are $5.50 each. You can get them in person at the courthouse during business hours, or by mail. To request by mail, send a letter or the completed form to the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 30512 Prince William Street, Princess Anne, MD 21853. Include the names of both parties as listed on the original record, the date of the marriage, a check or money order for $5.50 per copy payable to "Clerk, Circuit Court for Somerset County," and a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return. Plain copies are $0.50 each.

The case search portal at casesearch.courts.state.md.us covers civil and criminal court cases in Maryland but does not include marriage license records. Marriage license records are confidential under Maryland court rules and are not searchable through that system. Your only options for certified copies are the clerk's office or, for older records, the Maryland State Archives.

Nearby Counties in Maryland

Somerset County shares a land border only with Wicomico County to the north. Each county issues its own marriage licenses valid only within that county.