Marriage Licenses in Missouri: Who Actually Issues Them

Getting a marriage license in Missouri starts at the county level. There is no state office where you apply. Missouri has 114 counties plus the independent City of St. Louis, and each one has a recorder of deeds who issues licenses and files the record after the wedding. In many smaller counties the circuit clerk or county clerk serves as ex officio recorder of deeds, so the license counter is often inside the courthouse, next to the deed and land-record windows.

The state still sets the rules. Missouri statutes decide who may marry, what the officiant must do, and how long a license stays valid. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, through its Bureau of Vital Records, handles statewide vital records. The county recorder remains the office where you apply, pay and pick up your license.

Our directory lists 114 marriage license offices across the state. That means almost every county seat has a listing, from Albany in the northwest to Bloomfield in the southeast. Use the listings to confirm the street address and phone number before you drive anywhere.

Courthouse Counters in Rural Missouri: Gentry, Oregon, Douglas and Scott

Most of Missouri's offices are small. A rural office may have one or two staff members who also handle deeds, deeds of trust, military discharge filings and notary records. That has practical consequences for couples.

The Gentry County Marriage License office is at 200 West Clay Street in Albany, and its phone number is 660-726-3618. The Oregon County Marriage License office is in the Oregon County Courthouse, Court Square #4, in Alton, at 417-778-1827. The Douglas County Marriage License office is at 203 Southeast 2nd Avenue in Ava, at 417-683-1219. The Scott County Marriage License office is at 131 South Winchester Street in Benton, at 573-545-3551. You can also browse Gentry County, Oregon County, Douglas County and Scott County on their own pages.

Courthouse hours in these counties usually follow the standard weekday schedule. Some offices close for lunch or on local holidays, and a smaller staff means a single absence can change the hours. A two-minute call saves a long drive. Ask what the fee is, which payment types are accepted, and whether the office takes cards. Some small courthouses prefer cash or a check.

Rural offices have an upside. There is rarely a line, and staff often know the local officiants, churches and judges. If you plan a courthouse wedding, ask the recorder who is available to perform the ceremony in that county.

Metro Counties: St. Louis County, Jackson County and Boone County

Metro offices handle much higher volume. The Saint Louis County Marriage License office is at 41 South Central Avenue in Clayton, the county seat, and its number is 314-615-2500. Our directory has two listings for St. Louis County, and two for Jackson County, which covers Kansas City and Independence. In the larger metros, check which location is closest to you and confirm whether it takes walk-ins or appointments.

The Boone County Marriage License office is at 701 East Broadway in Columbia, at 573-874-7208. Columbia is a university town, so spring and early summer can be busy for weddings. The Camden County Marriage License office is at 1 Court Circle, Suite 5, in Camdenton, at 573-317-3880. That county covers much of the Lake of the Ozarks, a popular wedding destination. Couples who live elsewhere often pick up a license there before a lakeside ceremony.

Here is the main difference between metro and rural. In a large county, you may deal with a counter staff that issues licenses all day. In a small county, the person who helps you may also be the elected recorder. Both can issue a valid license. The rules are the same, but the pace and the way you reach the office differ.

What to Bring When You Apply in Missouri

Missouri generally expects both parties to appear in person at the recorder's office. Exceptions exist for unusual circumstances, such as a serious illness or a military deployment, so call ahead if one of you cannot attend. Plan the visit as a joint trip.

A typical list looks like this:

Offices can differ on small points, such as whether they ask to see a divorce decree or how they handle Social Security number questions. The rule of thumb is to ask when you phone. Bring original documents rather than photocopies, since clerks may need to check them.

Age, Residency and Timing Rules Missouri Couples Should Know

Missouri does not require you to live in the state to get a license. Out-of-state couples can apply at any county recorder's office and marry in Missouri. The license is valid statewide, so you can buy it in one county and hold the ceremony in another.

Age matters. Adults who are 18 or older may apply on their own. Missouri law is stricter for minors than it once was. Couples with a 17-year-old need parental consent, and anyone younger than 17 cannot marry. Check the current statute or ask the recorder if either of you is under 18.

Missouri does not require a blood test, and it has no waiting period between the license and the ceremony, so couples can often marry the same day. Licenses do expire. A Missouri license is generally good for 30 days from the date of issue, so schedule the ceremony inside that window. After the ceremony, the officiant completes the certificate and returns it to the recorder for filing. Until that happens, the marriage is not recorded.

Same-sex couples apply with the same form and the same fee as everyone else. Missouri recognizes those marriages, as the rest of the country does.

Marriage licenses in Massachusetts are issued by county clerks or recorders, with requirements for identification, fees, and waiting periods set by state law. Couples must obtain their license from a county within the state where the ceremony will be performed.

Marriage Licenses locations are available in 302 cities across Massachusetts. They are spread across 13 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Sutton, Great Barrington, Shelburne Falls, which serve as county seats with the busiest marriage license offices in the state.

Couples in Massachusetts should verify current ID and documentation requirements directly with the issuing county clerk before applying, as requirements for previously divorced or widowed applicants may differ from those marrying for the first time.

Marriage Licenses by Counties

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Couples in Massachusetts should check whether their county clerk offers online appointment scheduling for marriage license applications, which can reduce wait times significantly compared to walk-in visits, especially during the busy spring and summer wedding season.

Browse Marriage Licenses by county across Massachusetts to find the nearest location.

Finding the Right Missouri County Office Before You Go

A few quick checks will save you a wasted trip. Start with the county where you plan to apply. You do not have to marry where you apply, so pick the office that is easiest to reach. Couples who live in the Bootheel might use the Stoddard County Marriage License office at 316 South Prairie Street in Bloomfield, at 573-568-3444. Others in the Ozarks may prefer the Polk County Marriage License office in the Polk County Courthouse, 102 East Broadway St., Room 8, in Bolivar, at 417-326-4924. You can read more on the Stoddard County and Polk County pages.

Central and east-central Missouri have their own options. The Cooper County Marriage License office is at 200 Main Street in Boonville, at 660-882-2232, and the Pike County Marriage License office is in the Pike County Courthouse, 115 West Main St., in Bowling Green, at 573-324-5567. In the southwest, the Dallas County Marriage License office is at 108 South Maple Street in Buffalo, at 417-345-2242. Related listings are on the Cooper County, Pike County and Dallas County pages.

Call before you leave. Ask about hours, the fee and payment methods, and whether both of you must be present. Ask who in the county can perform a ceremony if you want one at the courthouse. Then double-check your names against your ID, because spelling errors on a license can take time to fix later.

Keep the license somewhere safe until the wedding. Hand it to your officiant before the ceremony, and confirm who will return it to the recorder.

Frequently Asked Questions About Marriage Licenses in Missouri

In Missouri, the county recorder of deeds issues marriage licenses. In some smaller counties, the circuit clerk or county clerk acts as the recorder, so the counter may sit in a different part of the courthouse than you expect. The City of St. Louis has its own recorder. You do not apply to a state agency. Look up your county in our directory, confirm the address and phone number, and call to verify hours before you go. Offices in places such as Albany, Bolivar and Clayton each handle their own applications.

No. Missouri does not require either person to be a resident. Out-of-state couples can apply at a county recorder's office and marry in Missouri. This is one reason places like Camden County, near the Lake of the Ozarks, see destination weddings. Bring valid photo ID and the personal details the form asks for. If you live far away, call the office ahead of time so you know what to expect, and plan to hold the ceremony before the license expires.

Missouri does not require a blood test, and it has no waiting period between getting the license and holding the ceremony. Couples can often apply and marry on the same day, provided they have an officiant available. The license does expire, though. It is generally valid for 30 days from the date it is issued, so book the ceremony inside that window. If it expires, you will need to apply again and pay the fee again. Confirm the current rules with the county office.

Missouri raised its minimum marriage age in 2018. A person who is 18 or older may marry without consent. A 17-year-old needs parental consent, and anyone younger than 17 cannot marry. The recorder may ask for proof of age and for the parent or guardian to appear or sign. Because requirements for minors involve specific paperwork, call the county recorder before you travel. Ask exactly what documents the parent needs to bring.

Yes. A Missouri license is valid across the state, so you can apply in one county and hold the ceremony in another. Many couples pick the office closest to home, such as the Boone County office in Columbia or the Saint Louis County office in Clayton, then marry at a venue elsewhere. Keep in mind that the signed certificate is returned to the recorder, and that office will hold your record. Ask the officiant how and where the certificate will be filed.

Missouri allows authorized officiants, which include judges and clergy members, to perform marriages. After the ceremony, the officiant completes the certificate and returns it to the county recorder for filing. Until it is filed, the marriage is not on record. Once it is recorded, you can ask the recorder about certified copies, which you will need for name changes at the Social Security Administration, the driver license office and your bank. Ask about the fee for copies when you apply.