Wicomico County Marriage License Records
Wicomico County marriage license applications are filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Salisbury. The office at 101 North Division Street serves couples across the county and offers both in-person walk-ins and virtual appointment options. Salisbury is the largest city on Maryland's Eastern Shore. The license fee is $35.00. This page covers the full application process for a Wicomico County marriage license, what documents to bring, how virtual services work, and where to find marriage records online and through state archives.
Wicomico County Overview
Wicomico County Marriage License Clerk Office
The Wicomico County Circuit Court Clerk is located at 101 North Division Street, Salisbury, MD 21801. The mailing address is P.O. Box 198, Salisbury, MD 21801. The main phone number is 410-543-6551. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The office is closed on weekends and state holidays. Walk-in applications for marriage licenses are accepted during business hours. Civil ceremonies require an advance appointment. The office also accepts virtual appointments, which is a service Wicomico County pioneered and was recognized statewide for during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The license fee is $35.00. Payment is accepted by cash, credit card, or money order. Personal checks are generally not accepted for in-person license fees. For mail requests, money orders or cashier's checks are preferred. Certified copies cost $5.50 each. The official Wicomico County marriage license page at courts.state.md.us/clerks/wicomico/marriage has the current requirements. The clerk homepage at mdcourts.gov/clerks/wicomico and the Circuit Court page at mdcourts.gov/circuit/wicomico provide additional contact details.
The screenshot below shows the official Wicomico County marriage license page at courts.state.md.us, with the fees and requirements for applying at the Salisbury courthouse.
This page is updated by the Maryland Courts system and reflects current requirements for Wicomico County marriage license applicants.
| Office | Clerk of the Circuit Court, Wicomico County |
|---|---|
| Address | 101 North Division Street, Salisbury, MD 21801 |
| Phone | 410-543-6551 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| License Fee | $35.00 (cash, credit card, or money order) |
| Civil Ceremony | $25.00 by appointment |
| Certified Copy | $5.50 per copy |
Virtual Marriage License Services in Wicomico County
Wicomico County was one of the first counties in Maryland to offer virtual marriage license services. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the clerk's office began allowing couples to complete the application process by videoconference. This service was highlighted in Maryland Courts publications as an example of innovation in court services. The virtual option has continued since then, giving couples more flexibility in how they apply for a Wicomico County marriage license.
The screenshot below links to a Maryland Courts news article about how Wicomico County adapted its marriage ceremony services during the pandemic, including virtual ceremonies and virtual applications.
The news article at courts.state.md.us details how the Wicomico County clerk adapted its services and what applicants can expect from the virtual process.
To use the virtual application option, contact the clerk's office at 410-543-6551 to arrange a videoconference appointment. During the appointment, a clerk will walk you through the form, verify identity via video, and arrange payment remotely. Virtual civil ceremonies are also available through the same process. This is useful for couples who live far from Salisbury or have scheduling constraints that make an in-person visit difficult. The marriage is just as valid whether you apply in person or through a virtual appointment in Wicomico County.
Note: Even with virtual services, at least one party must participate in the videoconference and complete the identity verification step. The 48-hour waiting period applies regardless of how the application is submitted.
Applying for a Wicomico County Marriage License
One party must appear in person or complete a virtual appointment to apply for a Wicomico County marriage license. The applicant must have government-issued photo ID for both parties. Acceptable IDs include a driver's license, birth certificate, or passport. Both people must be 18 or older. Maryland law has prohibited anyone under 17 from marrying since October 2022. A 17-year-old needs a court order to proceed. Same-sex marriage has been legal in Maryland since January 1, 2013.
The application form collects the full legal name, current address, age, state or country of birth, Social Security number, and marital status for each person. Social Security numbers are required by state law but will not appear on the issued license. They are kept on file by the clerk. If either party has been previously married, you must list the date and place of each divorce or the death of a prior spouse. This is a required field. Have the exact county, state, and date ready before you start the application.
After the license is issued, the standard 48-hour waiting period applies. The license becomes effective at 6:00 AM on the second calendar day following the date of issue. The ceremony must take place within Wicomico County. The license is valid for six months. Maryland Family Law Section 2-401 sets these rules statewide. No blood test, witnesses, or residency requirement applies. For couples who do not live in Maryland, the non-resident form CC-FM-066 is available at mdcourts.gov.
Wicomico County Marriage Records and History
Wicomico County marriage records date back to 1868, when the county was established. The Maryland State Archives holds the Marriage Record collection for 1868-1981 (MSA CM1064) on microfilm. Their guide at guide.msa.maryland.gov describes what is available and how to access it. On-site microfilm access at the Archives in Annapolis is free. Certified copies from the Archives cost $25.00 each and uncertified copies are $5.00. You can request by mail to 350 Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis, MD 21401, or email msa.helpdesk@maryland.gov.
The State Archives local records guide for Wicomico County at guide.msa.maryland.gov lists the full set of collections held for this county. FamilySearch has indexed some Wicomico County marriage records as part of broader Maryland marriage collections. The Enduring Connections database from Salisbury University at enduringconnections.salisbury.edu covers marriage records for several Eastern Shore counties. Check there to see if Wicomico County records for the period you need are available.
For certified copies of recent Wicomico County marriage records, the clerk's office is the best option. Mail requests should be sent to: Clerk of the Circuit Court, Wicomico County Circuit Court, Marriage Records Department, 101 North Division Street, Salisbury, MD 21801. Include the names of both parties, the date of the marriage, a money order or cashier's check for $5.50 per certified copy payable to "Clerk of Court," and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Processing by mail typically takes 7 to 14 business days.
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search at casesearch.courts.state.md.us covers civil and criminal court cases filed in Wicomico County. It does not include marriage license records, which are kept confidential under Maryland court rules. Use the clerk's office or the State Archives for marriage record requests.
Ceremony Requirements for Wicomico County Marriages
Maryland does not have justices of the peace. Marriages in Wicomico County must be performed by an ordained minister or a judge or clerk of a court of record. The People's Law Library at peoples-law.org explains who is qualified to officiate in plain terms. Verify that your officiant meets state requirements before the ceremony date.
No witnesses are required for a Wicomico County marriage ceremony. After the wedding, the officiant must complete the certificate portion of the license and return it to the Wicomico County Clerk of Circuit Court within five days. That certificate is the official record of the marriage. Certified copies of the certificate can be requested from the clerk at any time after the certificate is filed. The clerk's office also has a dedicated wedding ceremony room available for couples who schedule a civil ceremony. Virtual civil ceremonies remain available for those who cannot attend in person.
Nearby Counties in Maryland
Wicomico County borders Somerset, Dorchester, and Worcester counties on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Each county issues its own marriage licenses, and your ceremony must be held in the county where you applied.