To get an Anne Arundel County marriage license, apply in person at the Clerk of the Circuit Court, 8 Church Circle, Room H101, in Annapolis. The fee is $55, and the license cannot be delivered until the second calendar day after you apply. Only one of the two people getting married needs to appear.
Where to Apply and What It Costs
Applications are handled by the License Department at the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County in Annapolis. One applicant goes in, fills out the form, provides the required information for both parties, and swears under oath that it is accurate.1Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code Family Law 2-405 – License Issuance Lying on the application is perjury, so check names, dates, and spellings before you go.
The fee is $55 and non-refundable.2Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code Family Law 2-404 – Fees for Licenses That is a $10 base fee set by state law plus a $45 supplemental fee set by the Anne Arundel County Council. Cash, credit, and debit cards are accepted. The License Department’s number is 410-222-1434.
The Two-Day Waiting Period
Maryland law builds in a delay between application and issuance. The license cannot be delivered until the second calendar day after you apply.1Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code Family Law 2-405 – License Issuance The statute gives the example of applying on Monday and receiving the license on Wednesday. If your ceremony date is close, plan the application accordingly.
A judge can waive the waiting period in limited circumstances, typically involving military deployment or pregnancy. If you think you qualify, ask the clerk’s office how to petition for a waiver before your application date.
Who Can Marry in Maryland
You must be at least 18 to marry without extra requirements. A 17-year-old can apply, but only after clearing two hurdles: consent from every living parent, guardian, or legal custodian (or a physician’s certificate confirming the woman to be married is pregnant or has given birth); and a certified court order authorizing the marriage, filed no earlier than 15 days after the order was issued.3Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code Family Law 2-301 – Marriage of Individual Under the Age of 16 Years No one under 17 may marry in Maryland.
Both parties must be currently unmarried. A prior marriage must be fully dissolved by divorce or death of the former spouse. Marrying while still legally married to someone else is bigamy and can lead to criminal prosecution.
Maryland prohibits marriage between close relatives, including parent and child, siblings, grandparent and grandchild, aunt or uncle and niece or nephew, and several in-law relationships. First cousins are not on the prohibited list. No blood test or medical exam is required.
What to Bring
Each applicant provides full legal name, date of birth, birthplace, and Social Security number on the application. The SSN is required by law but does not appear on the license itself. If either person was previously married, you need the date and method of dissolution.
Bring a valid government-issued photo ID: a driver’s license, passport, or state ID card. If you have been married before, carrying your divorce decree or your former spouse’s death certificate can head off delays, though the clerk primarily relies on your sworn statement.
If either applicant does not have a Social Security number, call the License Department at 410-222-1434 before visiting. Alternative documentation requirements vary, and confirming them in advance saves a wasted trip.
Where the License Is Valid and How Long It Lasts
An Anne Arundel County marriage license is valid only for ceremonies performed within Anne Arundel County.4Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County. Marriage Licenses The license follows the location of the ceremony, not the residence of the couple. If you live in Anne Arundel County but plan to marry in Montgomery County, you need a Montgomery County license.
The license expires six months from the date of issuance.4Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County. Marriage Licenses If the ceremony does not happen within that window, you reapply and pay $55 again.
Who Can Perform the Ceremony
Maryland authorizes four categories of officiants:
- Religious officials authorized by the rules and customs of their religious order or body to perform marriage ceremonies.
- The clerk of any circuit court in the state.
- A deputy clerk specifically designated by the county administrative judge.
- Any active Maryland state judge, federal judge (including U.S. District Court, U.S. Court of Appeals, and U.S. Tax Court judges), or retired judge eligible for recall.
Maryland does not recognize self-uniting or self-solemnizing ceremonies. Someone from the list above must perform the wedding. Online ordinations occupy a gray area; many Maryland counties accept them without issue because the law broadly covers anyone authorized by a religious body, but if you plan to use an online-ordained officiant, confirm with the clerk’s office beforehand.
After the Ceremony: Filing the Certificate
The officiant signs the marriage certificate and returns it to the clerk’s office within five days of the ceremony. That filing is what puts your marriage into the official county and state records. Until the certificate is returned, no public record of the marriage exists.
The license and the certificate are different documents. The license is permission to marry, issued before the ceremony. The certificate is proof you are married, created after the officiant returns the signed document. For name changes, insurance enrollment, passport applications, and most financial or legal transactions, you need a certified copy of the marriage certificate, with the clerk’s raised seal and authorized signature. A plain photocopy will not be accepted. Request certified copies from the Anne Arundel County Circuit Court once the certificate has been recorded.