Office of County Clerk/Register of Deeds

Complete the Online Application

*Please remember: There is a required 3-day waiting period to obtain a license after submitting an application. Do not apply before 33 days of your wedding date.

• State Law: The State of Michigan through MCL 551.101, 104, 106 requires all parties intending to be married to obtain a marriage license from the county clerk of the county in which either applicant resides.
• Minimum Age: You must be 18 years of age to apply for a marriage application in Michigan.
• Documentation Required to Obtain a License:
  1. Proof of residency: For marriage application, residency is determined by a current valid driver's license, state I.D., Kalamazoo County ID Card, or current utility bill, lease, or mortgage statement.
     • Michigan residents must apply in the county where you live.  If both parties are Michigan residents but live in different counties, you may apply in either county. The license is valid throughout the state.
     • Out-of-state residents must apply in the county where you are going to be married. The license is valid in that county only.
  2. Social Security Numbers for both applicants. If you are exempt from having a social security number due to other legal reasons (citizen of another country here with a passport, work or student visa or in the process of becoming a citizen of this country) or exempt because of religious convictions pursuant to MCL 551.102{sec. 2(3)}, you must provide applicable documentation and must sign an affidavit to that effect. If you are ineligible to obtain a social security card, you must sign an affidavit to that effect in lieu of having the social security information.
• Educational Materials: The County Clerk is required to provide applicants with educational materials on the transmission and prevention of venereal disease and HIV infection.

Payment due at time of pick-up of Marriage License. Fees can be paid with cash, money order, credit/debit card, or check payable to the Kalamazoo County Clerk.

• Michigan Residents: $20
• Out-of-State Residents: $30

There is a required 3-day waiting period to obtain a license after submitting an application. This 3-day waiting period is considered satisfied if the online application is completed more than three days prior to coming into the Clerk’s office to pay the application fee and complete the process. Michigan statute permits the county clerk of each county, for good and sufficient cause shown, to waive the 3-day waiting period and deliver the license immediately following the application. State law also requires a fee in order to waive the 3-day waiting period. A $15 waiver fee is required in addition to the $20 marriage license fee.

The license is valid anywhere in the state for thirty-three (33) days from the date of application.

Please be advised that the Kalamazoo County Clerk’s Office is governed by the State of Michigan on the issuance of marriage licenses.
It is the responsibility of the couple being married to determine the legality of the officiant performing the ceremony. To ensure full compliance with the law, you may want to seek the guidance of an attorney in interpreting the law regarding "Persons authorized to solemnize marriages".

1. The related Michigan State Statute
2. State Licensing Requirements

The directions below are offered to be of assistance to those individuals who wish to change their last name to the last name of their spouse or to hyphenate both last names. An attorney should be consulted for other name change arrangements.

If one or both of the applicants plan on a traditional name change, as a result of marriage, (taking partner’s last name or hyphenating both last names), they may sign with that new name at the bottom of the license.

NOTE: Regardless of how the license is signed, there is no requirement in the State of Michigan for individuals to change their name and no time frame in which it must be done after the ceremony.

1. Request a Certified Copy of your marriage license. Click here to learn how.
2. Visit the Social Security Administration.
   Once the ceremony has occurred, individuals may take the certified copy of the marriage license to the Social Security Administration to change their name with Social Security. An individual will also need a valid state-issued ID or driver’s license, current social security card/number, and birth certificate. Other documents accepted in place of those listed above can be found here.
3. Visit the State of Michigan Secretary of State.

To change a name on a Michigan Identification Card or Driver’s license, an individual must go to any Secretary of State Branch Office with their valid driver’s license or state ID card, a certified copy of the marriage license, and their birth certificate or another form of proof of Legal Presence.

Visit the 9th Judicial Circuit Court page for additional filing name change instructions.

If a mistake was made on a marriage license that is already on file with the Kalamazoo County Clerk's Office, a court case will need to be opened in order to fix the mistake.

1. Complete Marriage License Request Form.
2. Mail, drop off, or deliver in-person  to Kalamazoo County Clerk’s Office, 201 W. Kalamazoo Ave., Room 103, Kalamazoo, MI 49007
3. Fee is $15; additional copies of the same record are $5. Method of payment includes cash, check, money order or credit/debit card.

Divorces are recorded at the 9th Circuit Court. Please visit the Frequently Asked Questions for more information.
In order to obtain a copy of your Judgement of Divorce please put your request in writing and mail to:

9th Judicial Circuit Court-Family Division Gull Road Justice Complex
1536 Gull Road
Kalamazoo, MI 49048

With your request, include a $15.00 check or money order made payable to the Circuit Court Clerk and a self-addressed stamped envelope.