Marriage License Information

Carroll County residents who wish to be married in Carroll County within the next 6 months can visit the Clerk’s Office Land Records & Licensing Department without an appointment to apply for a marriage license. If possible fill out the Marriage License Application at the following link: Resident Marriage License Application

For those who are Non-Residents of Carroll County who wish to be marry in Carroll County within the next 6 months, please read the Non-Resident Marriage Application directions and fill out the following NON-Resident Marriage License Application at the following link: NON-Resident Marriage License Application

If either party is a resident of the county/Baltimore City where the marriage ceremony will take place, the NRMLA Affidavit cannot be used, and one of the parties will need to apply for the marriage license in person at the Clerk’s Office in that county/Baltimore City.

• If you apply in Carroll County you must be married in Carroll County.
• Only one party need be present to apply.
• New Legislative Update October 2022: No one under the age of 17 may be married in the state of Maryland as of October 2022.
• New Legislative Update October 2022: Those age 17 who wish to be married in Maryland must obtain a court order from the county in which they reside.
  • A 17 year old who lives in Carroll County, must go to the Carroll County Clerk’s Office Civil Department on the second floor and file for a Petition for Authorization to Marry. Those who are looking to apply from another state must obtain a court order from their county/state and bring to us. We will then present the order to the AG for review, they will decide if the Order is valid for us to proceed. This process will take time and we should inform the parties it could be 30 days or longer.
  • There is a $165 fee to file the petition and the 17 year old must bring a certified copy of the order along with both parents or a letter from a physician confirming pregnancy.

  Information needed from both parties to apply

  • Driver’s License or Legal Form of Identification
  • Full Names
  • Physical, Permanent Address
  • Age
  • State of Birth
  • Social Security Number (mandatory)
  • If you have been married before, we need to know the place and date of each divorce or death of a spouse. Supporting documents may be needed if less than thirty (30) days since the divorce or death.

  Marriage of Minors (under age 17)

  • New Legislative Update October 2022: Noone under the age of 17 may be married in the state of Maryland as of October 2022.
  • New Legislative Update October 2022: Those age 17 who wish to be married in Maryland must obtain a court order from the county in which they reside.
    • A 17 year old who lives in Carroll County, must go to the Carroll County Clerk’s Office Civil Department on the second floor and file for a Petition for Authorization to Marry.
    • There is a $165 fee to file the petition and the 17 year old must bring a certified copy of the order along with both parents or a letter from a physician confirming pregnancy.

    Civil Ceremonies Performed by the Clerk

    • An appointment is required for a Civil Wedding Ceremony.
    • There is a $25.00 fee paid at the time of the ceremony. Check or money order made payable to: Heather S. DeWees, Clerk
    • Payment with a VISA, MASTERCARD or DISCOVER credit card is also accepted in the office. Credit card payment is not accepted over the phone.
    • Marriage Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday thru Friday, except state holidays
    • Location: The ceremony will be performed on the Court House grounds.
    • For more information and to make an appointed to be married, please call 410-386-8760.
    • If you would like to be married by the Clerk of the Circuit Court, Heather S. DeWees, please indicate this when you make the appointment.

    Copies of Marriage Records

    Certified copies and/or plain copies may be obtained either in person or by mail. To obtain copies of Carroll County marriage records by mail, send your written request to Clerk of the Circuit Court, 55 N. Court Street, Room G-29, Westminster, MD 21157.

    Fees for copies of marriage records are:

    • $5.50 for each certified copy requested;
    • $ .50 for each plain (not certified) copy requested;

    Use this request form, or write a request including:

    • Names of both parties (Names must be those used at the time of application for the marriage license in question, not those used after the marriage)
    • Date of Marriage (Approximate year at minimum)
    • A check or money order in appropriate amount is to be made payable to: Heather S. DeWees, Clerk