Washington County Marriage License
Washington County marriage license applications are processed at the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Hagerstown. The courthouse at 24 Summit Avenue is the only office that issues Washington County marriage licenses. The fee is $60.00, which is among the higher fees in Maryland. Walk-ins are accepted Monday through Friday. This page covers the full application process, what to bring, payment restrictions, how to get certified copies, and where to search Washington County marriage records online and in person.
Washington County Overview
Washington County Marriage License Office in Hagerstown
The Washington County Circuit Court Clerk's office is located at 24 Summit Avenue, Hagerstown, MD 21740. This is where all Washington County marriage licenses are issued. The main phone number is 301-733-8660. For the Licensing Department specifically, call 301-790-7991, Extension 1. Additional department numbers are 301-790-7941, 301-790-4972, and 301-790-7413. You can also reach the office by email at washingtoncountycc@mdcourts.gov. General office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Marriage license applications and copies are accepted from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Civil ceremonies are held from 9:00 AM to noon and from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM by appointment only. The office is closed on weekends and state holidays.
Washington County has specific payment rules. The $60.00 license fee must be paid by cash, certified check, or credit card (Visa, Mastercard, or Discover). Personal checks are not accepted. American Express, Google Pay, Apple Pay, and touchless payment methods are also not accepted. For civil ceremonies, the $25.00 fee can be paid by the same methods. Non-resident applications require money order or certified check only. Check-in for civil ceremonies is at Room 212. Arrive 10 to 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment. Capacity for ceremonies is limited to nine people total, including the couple and the officiant. The official page for Washington County marriage licenses is at courts.state.md.us/clerks/washington/marriage. The clerk homepage is at mdcourts.gov/clerks/washington.
The screenshot below shows the official Washington County marriage license page at courts.state.md.us, where applicants can review the $60 fee, payment rules, and requirements for the Hagerstown courthouse before visiting.
This page is the primary official source for current Washington County marriage license requirements and should be checked before your visit.
| Office | Clerk of the Circuit Court, Washington County |
|---|---|
| Address | 24 Summit Avenue, Hagerstown, MD 21740 |
| Phone | 301-733-8660 (general) | 301-790-7991 Ext. 1 (licensing) |
| washingtoncountycc@mdcourts.gov | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| License Fee | $60.00 (cash, certified check, or Visa/Mastercard/Discover) |
| Civil Ceremony | $25.00 by appointment, Room 212 check-in |
| Certified Copy | $5.50 per copy, $0.50 per plain copy |
Note: Washington County does not accept personal checks, American Express, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. Use cash, a certified check, or a Visa, Mastercard, or Discover card when you visit the Hagerstown courthouse.
How to Get a Washington County Marriage License
Only one party needs to appear in person to apply for a Washington County marriage license. However, both parties must provide proof of age documentation. This means bringing a government-issued birth certificate, driver's license, passport, or other official document that shows the date of birth for each person. The applicant who comes in must have ID for both parties. Both people must be at least 18 years old. No one under 17 may marry in Maryland. A 17-year-old requires a court order before applying for a Washington County marriage license.
The application form collects the full legal name, current street address, age, state or country of birth, Social Security number, and marital status for each party. Social Security numbers are collected under state law and kept on file but will not appear on the license. If either party has been previously married, you must give the county, state, and exact date of each divorce or the death of the former spouse. Processing takes about 15 minutes for walk-in applications. The license is issued the same day. There is no expedited processing available in Washington County.
After the license is issued, a 48-hour waiting period applies before it becomes valid. The effective time is 6:00 AM on the second calendar day after the issue date. The ceremony must take place within Washington County, and the license is valid for six months. Maryland Family Law Section 2-401 governs these requirements statewide. No blood test, witnesses, or residency requirement applies. Cameras are permitted during civil ceremonies at the Washington County courthouse. Contact the office for any specific photography guidelines.
The non-resident application form CC-FM-066 is available at mdcourts.gov. This form must be completed and notarized before submission. One party still needs to appear in person at the Hagerstown clerk office to file it. Non-resident fees must be paid by money order or certified check. A downloadable certified copy request form is also available at mdcourts.gov for those who want to order by mail after the marriage is recorded.
Search Washington County Marriage Records
Washington County has a strong set of free online resources for marriage record research. The Washington County Free Library maintains a searchable marriage index covering 1861-1919 and 1927-1949. Digitized images of marriage records from 1886 to 1970 are also available through the library at no cost. You can search by name and browse records from home at washcolibrary.org/marriage. This is one of the best free marriage record databases in the state for the period it covers. The library also has physical collections and can assist with genealogy research in Hagerstown.
The screenshot below links to the Washington County Free Library's marriage records page, where free access to the searchable index and digitized images of Washington County marriage records from 1861 to 1970 is available.
The library's marriage records database is a valuable free resource for anyone researching Washington County family history or verifying historical marriages.
The Maryland State Archives holds additional Washington County marriage collections, including Marriage Records from 1865-1915 (MSA CM1142), Marriage Licenses from 1799-1851 (MSA CM1144), and Marriage License Indexes from 1851-1919 (MSA C1968). Their guide at guide.msa.maryland.gov has the full list. On-site access is free. Certified copies from the Archives are $25.00 each and uncertified copies are $5.00. WHILBR (Western Maryland's Historical Library) at whilbr.org offers free online access to early court records from Washington County dating to 1778-1793. The clerk's office also maintains a historic records page at mdcourts.gov/clerks/washington/historicrecords with links to several online databases.
For genealogy collections and FamilySearch resources, the Washington County Genealogy page at familysearch.org lists available indexed marriage sets spanning multiple centuries. FamilySearch access is free and covers Maryland Marriages 1666-1970 with a Washington County specific collection of records from 1886-1970.
Note: Marriage license records are not available through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search system at casesearch.courts.state.md.us. That system covers court cases, not marriage license filings, which are kept confidential under Maryland court rules.
Certified Copies of Washington County Marriage Records
Certified copies of Washington County marriage records cost $5.50 each. Plain copies are $0.50 per page. In-person requests are handled the same day during business hours. For mail requests, download the certified copy request form from the official page or write a letter with the names of both parties, the date of the marriage, and a check or money order for $5.50 per copy payable to "Clerk of Circuit Court." Include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Send to: Clerk of the Circuit Court, 24 Summit Avenue, Hagerstown, MD 21740. Mail processing typically takes 7 to 14 business days.
The People's Law Library at peoples-law.org explains the Maryland marriage process in plain language, including who may officiate. Maryland does not have justices of the peace. Officiants must be ordained ministers or court officials. After the ceremony, the officiant has five days to return the completed marriage certificate to the Washington County Clerk. That returned certificate becomes the permanent marriage record for Washington County.
Nearby Counties in Maryland
Washington County borders Allegany County to the west and Frederick County to the east. Each county issues its own marriage licenses valid only within that county. Apply in the county where your ceremony will be held.