Marriage License

A Maricopa County AZ marriage license is issued through the Maricopa County Clerk of Superior Court. Couples can apply through an online marriage license program when they meet the program requirements or apply in person at participating Clerk locations and certain deputized court facilities. This article explains application options, identification and age requirements, fees, ceremony deadlines, certified copies, covenant marriage requirements, and the steps that can prevent delays or an incomplete marriage record.

Marriage License Basics

The Maricopa County Clerk of Superior Court is the primary office responsible for marriage license services in the county. The Clerk provides both an online application process and in-person service. The official Maricopa County marriage license page contains the county's application requirements, fee information, identification rules, age restrictions, and instructions for completing the license after the marriage ceremony.

A marriage license must be issued before the marriage ceremony takes place. For an in-person application, the Clerk states that the license is received on the same day the couple applies. A couple may also marry that same day if they have already arranged for an officiator to perform the ceremony.

The license does not remain valid indefinitely. The marriage must take place within one year after the license is issued because the license expires one year from the date of purchase. After the ceremony, the officiator must complete and return the appropriate portion of the license within 30 days of the ceremony so the marriage can be recorded.

Online or In-Person Application

The Clerk offers two main ways to obtain a marriage license. The right option depends on residency, the planned ceremony date, available identification, and how quickly the couple needs the license.

Online Marriage License Program

The Online Marriage License Program allows qualifying applicants to complete the process without visiting a Clerk office or making an in-person appointment. The Clerk describes the online service as an Arizona-resident program, and its eligibility checklist requires at least one applicant to be a current Arizona resident.

The online program also requires the planned marriage ceremony to be at least 30 days away. Applicants must have valid identification and social security numbers and must be able to complete the electronic application and document-upload process.

Before starting an online application, applicants should be able to answer yes to the program's eligibility questions, including:

At least one applicant is a current Arizona resident.
The marriage ceremony is scheduled at least 30 days from the application date.
Both applicants have valid identification and a social security number.
The applicants have access to a browser supported by the Clerk's online system.

The Clerk's online instructions identify supported versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Apple Safari. Applicants using the online service should review the current requirements on the official program page before submitting documents.

In-Person Marriage License

Couples who do not use the online program can apply in person. Marriage license appointments are available on a limited basis at participating Maricopa County Clerk of Superior Court locations. Appointments are recommended at the listed marriage license offices, although walk-in customers are accepted.

The participating Clerk locations include the Downtown Customer Service Center in Phoenix, the Northeast Regional Court in Phoenix, the Northwest Regional Court in Surprise, and the Southeast Regional Court Center in Mesa. The Clerk's marriage license locations and hours page should be used when confirming where marriage license services are offered.

Several deputized justice and municipal court facilities can also provide marriage license services. Those facilities operate differently from the Clerk's appointment system. The Clerk specifically states that its reservation webpage cannot be used to make appointments at justice or municipal court facilities.

In-Person Appointment Process

Applicants who want a scheduled visit at a participating Clerk location can use the official Clerk appointment booking system. The booking system identifies branches that provide different Clerk services, so applicants should make sure they select a branch and service appropriate for a marriage license.

At the Downtown, Northeast, Northwest, and Southeast marriage license locations, appointments are recommended and walk-ins are accepted. Customers with appointments are served ahead of walk-in customers.

After making an appointment, applicants receive a confirmation QR code. The Clerk asks customers to use that code when checking in at the selected location. The QR code may be printed or displayed electronically on a phone or another device.

The marriage license application can be completed before arrival. Applicants who do not complete the form in advance can arrive early and complete an application available at the location. Preparing the application before check-in can reduce the amount of paperwork that needs to be completed at the counter.

Identification and Personal Information

Both parties must be present when obtaining an in-person marriage license. Each applicant must provide valid government-issued photo identification to establish identity and age. Examples listed by the Clerk include a driver's license and passport.

A Matricula Consular identification card may also be accepted for a marriage license if the issuing foreign government used biometric identity-verification techniques when issuing the card. The Clerk gives fingerprint identification and retina scans as examples of biometric verification.

Arizona Revised Statute 25-121(B), as described by the Clerk, requires applicants to provide their social security number, if any. The Clerk states that, except for child support purposes, the office may not release an applicant's social security number without that applicant's written request.

Applicants do not need to bring a copy of a divorce decree as part of the marriage license requirements described by the Clerk. Blood tests are also not required.

Online Identification Requirements

The online application has additional document-preparation requirements. Each applicant must save an image of the front of a valid government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license, state identification card, or passport, and upload it during the application process.

The identification submitted online must demonstrate Arizona residency as required by the program. The names shown on the identification must exactly match the names entered in the application. Signatures used later on the marriage license affidavit must also match the signatures shown on the submitted identification.

Differences in names or signatures can create a problem during review, so applicants should compare the application, identification, and affidavit before uploading the completed documents.

Online Application Steps

The online process requires more than submitting an electronic form. Applicants must complete several document, signature, verification, and payment steps before the Clerk can issue and mail the license.

Application and ID Upload

Applicants first complete the online marriage license application and upload the required government-issued photo identification. The information entered into the application should correspond exactly with the identification being submitted.

Marriage License Affidavit

After the online application is submitted, the Clerk sends a confirmation email from donotreply@coc.maricopa.gov. The email provides access to the affidavit needed for the next stage of the application.

Only one affidavit is required for the couple. Both applicants must print and sign it using their original hand signatures. Those signatures must appear as they do on the identification provided with the application. The signed affidavit is then uploaded using the link included in the confirmation email.

Clerk Review and Verification

The Clerk states that an online application will be reviewed within seven to ten business days. If the application is accepted, the Clerk's Office calls the applicants during business hours, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The call is made from a restricted number to the telephone number entered on the application. Both applicants should be prepared for the identity-verification process. The Clerk states that applicants will need to confirm both applicants' social security numbers and dates of birth.

This phone call is also when payment is processed. Because the Clerk calls from a restricted number, applicants using the online program should be aware of that detail while their application is pending.

Mailing the License

After payment is received, the marriage license is processed and mailed to the address provided at the bottom of the application. The Clerk states that the license is mailed within three business days using USPS First Class mail, and a copy of the payment receipt is included.

The one-year expiration period applies to the mailed license as well. The marriage must take place before one year has passed from the date the license was issued.

Marriage License Age Rules

Age requirements are especially important when either applicant is younger than 18. Under the requirements effective August 3, 2018, a person younger than 16 is prohibited from marrying.

An applicant who is at least 16 but younger than 18 must satisfy additional requirements. The Clerk requires:

Either a certified copy of an Emancipation Order, a notarized Clerk's Office parental consent form accompanied by the front and back of the parent or legal guardian's identification, or the parent or legal guardian appearing with the applicant, presenting proper identification, and signing the parental consent form in the presence of the clerk issuing the license.

A copy of the applicant's birth certification.

A government-issued picture ID, such as a current driver's license, state or military identification card, current passport, or another government-issued picture ID.

There is also an age-difference restriction. The prospective spouse of the younger applicant cannot be more than three years older than the younger applicant.

Fees and Payment Methods

The standard marriage license fee is $98. Payment options depend on how and where the license is obtained.

For a marriage license purchased through the Clerk, the listed payment methods are cash, money order, debit card, or credit card. If a license is purchased at a Justice Court, only a money order is accepted.

The online program uses a different payment process. Payment is handled by telephone after the application passes review and the Clerk completes identity verification. Online payment must be made by credit card. The Clerk accepts Visa, MasterCard, and American Express for online applications.

For the online program, the charges identified by the Clerk are:

$98 for the marriage license.

$8 for postage and handling.

An optional additional $43.50 if the applicants want to prepay for a certified copy to be mailed after the completed marriage license has been returned and recorded.

Applicants should distinguish the marriage license fee from the separate certified-copy charge. Paying for the license itself does not mean that an additional certified copy will automatically be mailed after the marriage is recorded.

Ceremony and Recording Deadlines

Obtaining the license is only the first part of creating the official marriage record. The license must be issued before the ceremony occurs. Once issued, the couple has up to one year to marry.

At the completion of the ceremony, the marriage license must be signed as required. The officiator is responsible for returning the completed bottom portion of the license. The Clerk states that it must be returned no more than 30 days after the ceremony so the license can be recorded.

This distinction can prevent a common misunderstanding: the one-year period is the time allowed to have the marriage ceremony after the license is issued. The 30-day period applies after the ceremony and concerns the officiator's return of the completed license for recording.

A couple applying in person can receive the marriage license the same day and can marry that same day if an officiator has already been arranged. The online program, however, requires the ceremony date to be at least 30 days from the date of the online application.

Certified Marriage License Copies

A certified copy becomes available after the completed bottom portion of the marriage license has been returned and recorded. The Clerk allows applicants to request a certified copy at the time they apply for the license or afterward.

The charge for a certified copy to be mailed is $43.50. The fee is $35.50 when the requester provides a business-size, self-addressed stamped envelope at the time of the request.

Applicants using the online program may prepay the $43.50 certified-copy charge during the payment stage. The copy is mailed after the marriage license has been completed, returned, and recorded.

Covenant Marriage Requirements

Arizona also recognizes covenant marriage. Couples applying for a covenant marriage license have requirements beyond those for a traditional marriage license.

According to the Clerk's information concerning A.R.S. 25-901 through 25-906, a couple planning a covenant marriage must provide a notarized statement from the clergy member or marriage counselor who provided premarital counseling.

The notarized statement must confirm that:

The couple was advised about the nature and purpose of a covenant marriage.

The couple was advised about the limited reasons for ending the marriage through legal separation or divorce.

The couple received a copy of the Arizona Office of the Courts pamphlet titled Covenant Marriages in Arizona.

At the Marriage License Office, the couple must sign a marriage license affidavit and a Declaration of Intent to Enter Into a Covenant Marriage stating that the statutory requirements have been met.

Converting an Existing Marriage

A couple that is already married can convert an existing marriage to a covenant marriage. The Clerk states that it does not matter where the original marriage license was issued.

A new wedding ceremony is not required for the conversion. The married couple must sign a certificate of covenant marriage conversion and a Declaration of Intent to Enter Into a Covenant Marriage Conversion at the Marriage License Office.

The fee for converting a traditional marriage to a covenant marriage is $35.

Common Application Mistakes

Several marriage license problems can be avoided by matching the application method to the couple's circumstances and reviewing the Clerk's requirements before submitting paperwork.

Choosing Online Too Late

The online program requires a ceremony date at least 30 days away. Couples planning a ceremony sooner than that should not assume an online application can be completed immediately. The in-person process follows different timing rules and allows the license to be issued on the application date when the requirements are met.

Mismatched Online Information

For an online application, the names entered on the form must exactly match the identification submitted. The original signatures on the affidavit also need to match the identification signatures. Applicants should review all three before uploading the affidavit.

Missing the Verification Call

The online verification call comes from a restricted number. The Clerk calls during business hours after reviewing an accepted application. Both applicants need to be prepared to confirm identifying information, including dates of birth and social security numbers.

Assuming Every Location Takes Appointments

The Clerk's online reservation system applies to participating Clerk locations. It does not make appointments for deputized justice or municipal court facilities. Applicants using an alternate court facility should not rely on the Clerk reservation page to schedule service there.

Using the Wrong Payment Method

Payment rules differ by application method and location. The standard Clerk marriage license fee can be paid by the methods identified by the Clerk, but Justice Courts accept only money orders for marriage license purchases. The online program requires credit-card payment during telephone verification.

Confusing License and Recording Dates

The license expires one year after issuance, but that is not the deadline for returning a completed license after a ceremony. Once the ceremony occurs, the officiator has no more than 30 days to return the completed portion for recording.

Marriage License Office

Maricopa County Clerk of Superior Court – Downtown Customer Service Center
601 W. Jackson St., Phoenix, AZ 85003
(602) 372-5375

Marriage License FAQs

Which Downtown Phoenix location should I choose for a marriage license appointment?

Use the Customer Service Center at 601 W. Jackson Street when selecting a Downtown Phoenix location for marriage license service. The Clerk's appointment booking system also displays a Downtown File Counter at 201 W. Jefferson Street, but that branch is specifically identified as not serving marriage license or passport customers. Checking the branch description before selecting a date can prevent a trip to the wrong courthouse counter.

Can one applicant live outside Arizona and still apply online?

Yes, based on the eligibility checklist for the county's online program. The Clerk requires at least one applicant to be a current Arizona resident; it does not state that both applicants must be Arizona residents. Couples with one Arizona resident should still review every eligibility condition on the official online marriage license program page before submitting the application.

Does each person need a separate online marriage license affidavit?

No. The Clerk's online instructions state that only one affidavit is required for the couple. Both applicants sign that same affidavit with their original hand signatures. This is separate from the photo identification requirement, which requires an image of each applicant's government-issued photo ID.

What if the appointment website shows a branch I am unsure about?

Do not assume every branch displayed in the reservation system handles marriage licenses. The booking system covers several Clerk services, and some counters have service restrictions. Compare the branch shown during booking with the Clerk's official marriage license locations and hours information before confirming the appointment.