The cost to get married at a courthouse usually runs between $30 and $150 total, covering the marriage license and the civil ceremony fee. Both numbers are set by your county, not the federal government, so the exact figure depends on where you apply.
What the Marriage License Costs
The license is the document that gives you legal permission to marry, and no ceremony can happen without one. Fees range from about $20 to $115 depending on the county, with most falling between $40 and $80. You apply at the county clerk’s or recorder’s office, usually in the county where the ceremony will take place or where one of you lives.
A handful of states knock money off the license fee if you complete a premarital education course. Florida, for example, reduces the fee and waives its three-day waiting period for couples who take an approved class. If your county’s website mentions a premarital course discount, the few hours of class time are almost always worth the savings.
Licenses expire. Depending on the state, the window runs from 30 days to one year, so pick a ceremony date before you apply.1USAGov. How to Get a Copy of a Marriage Certificate or a Marriage License Let it lapse and you pay the full fee again for a new one.
What You Need to Apply
Both parties typically appear in person at the clerk’s office. Bring valid government-issued photo ID such as a driver’s license or passport. Most counties also ask for your Social Security number and, if you were previously married, a divorce decree or death certificate showing the earlier marriage ended. Some counties accept certified copies instead of originals, but calling ahead saves a wasted trip.
About a dozen states impose a waiting period between license issuance and the ceremony, usually one to three days. States without a waiting period let you marry the same day you pick up the license. If you’re traveling to a particular county for a quick ceremony, check that county’s rules first.
What the Ceremony Itself Costs
The ceremony carries a separate fee in most jurisdictions, typically between $0 and $150. Some courts include a basic ceremony at no additional charge when you buy the license. Others charge a flat fee that goes to the judge, magistrate, or justice of the peace who performs it.
Most courthouses require an appointment. Walk-in ceremonies are possible in some locations when an officiant happens to be available, but counting on that is a gamble. Schedule through the clerk’s office, judge’s chambers, or the court’s website once the license is in hand. The ceremony itself usually lasts five to fifteen minutes and covers the legal exchange of vows and the signing of paperwork.
Certified Copies of the Marriage Certificate
After the ceremony, the signed license is filed with the county, and the government issues a marriage certificate as official proof the marriage happened. Plan on buying at least two or three certified copies for practical use: updating your name, changing insurance beneficiaries, or filing joint tax returns. Certified copies typically cost $5 to $25 each through the county clerk or your state’s vital records office.1USAGov. How to Get a Copy of a Marriage Certificate or a Marriage License
Name-Change Costs After the Wedding
If you plan to change your last name, factor in a few related expenses. Updating your Social Security card is free through the Social Security Administration, and you can often start the process online.2Social Security Administration. Change Name With Social Security A passport name change is also free if you submit it within one year of the passport’s issue date, though expedited processing adds $60.3U.S. Department of State. Name Change for U.S. Passport or Correct a Printing or Data Error A new driver’s license fee depends on your state’s DMV but is usually under $30. Handling everything in the first few weeks after the wedding saves headaches later.
A Typical Courthouse Wedding Budget
Here’s what the pieces generally run:
- Marriage license: $20 to $115, most commonly $40 to $80
- Ceremony fee: $0 to $150, often $25 to $75
- Certified copies: $5 to $25 per copy (plan on two or three)
- Name-change documents: free for Social Security; usually under $30 for a new driver’s license
A couple in a typical county, paying mid-range fees and picking up a couple of certified copies, will spend somewhere around $100 to $200 all in. That is a fraction of what even a modest traditional wedding costs, and the legal result is identical.