Baltimore Courthouse Wedding: License, Waiting Period, and Ceremony

A Baltimore courthouse wedding happens at the Clarence M. Mitchell Jr. Courthouse, 100 North Calvert Street, and runs $110 in cash: $85 for the marriage license and $25 for the civil ceremony.¹ You cannot apply and marry on the same day. Maryland law makes the license effective at 6:00 AM on the second calendar day after it is issued, so plan on at least one full day between the clerk’s window and the ceremony room.²

What to Bring to the License Application

The Land Records and Licenses Division inside the courthouse handles applications. At least one of the two of you must appear in person. Bring:

Government-issued photo ID for each person (driver’s license, passport, or military ID)
Full legal names, dates of birth, and places of residence for both parties
Social Security numbers for each party who has one
Whether you are related by blood or marriage
Current marital status

If either of you has been married before, you will need the date and place each prior marriage ended, whether by divorce or death of a former spouse.³ The application is sworn, so do not guess at dates.

Both of you must be at least 18. A 17-year-old can apply only with consent from every living parent or guardian and a certified court order authorizing the marriage. No one younger than 17 can marry in Maryland.²

If the clerk spots a legal impediment during review, such as an undissolved prior marriage or a prohibited family relationship, the license is withheld unless a court orders it issued.²

If One of You Is Not a U.S. Citizen

A valid foreign passport works as the government-issued photo ID. The Social Security number requirement applies only to each party “who has” one, so a foreign national without an SSN is not disqualified.³ Expect to sign an affidavit at the clerk’s office confirming that. Any supporting document in another language, such as a birth certificate, divorce decree, or death certificate, should come with a certified translation prepared by a disinterested party, not a family member or friend.

Fees and Payment

Bring cash. The clerk’s office does not accept credit cards, checks, or money orders for the application and ceremony fees, and there is no ATM inside the courthouse.¹ The full cost looks like this:

Marriage license application: $85
Civil ceremony fee: $25
Certified copies of the marriage record: $5.50 each

Budget for at least two certified copies, which brings the realistic minimum to about $121.

The Waiting Period and How Long the License Lasts

The license becomes effective at 6:00 AM on the second calendar day after it is issued. A license issued at 3:00 PM Monday is valid at 6:00 AM Wednesday, roughly 39 hours later, not a full 48.²

A circuit court judge can waive the waiting period for good cause shown, provided at least one of you is a Maryland resident or an active service member.² Judges grant these waivers sparingly.

Once effective, the license stays valid for six months. Let that window close without a ceremony and you start over with a new application and another $85.⁴

Scheduling the Ceremony

Civil ceremonies run Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM, excluding holidays, and you need an appointment.¹ Call the Land Records and Licenses Division at (410) 396-5188 to book a time.⁵

When you pick a date, confirm the waiting period will have expired. The courthouse will not perform the ceremony if the license is not yet effective, and the 2:30 PM cutoff is firm.

What Happens on Ceremony Day

Arrive early. The courthouse has a security checkpoint at the entrance, and morning lines can eat into your appointment. Once through, head to the Land Records and Licenses Division.

Bring a witness. You must have at least one person 18 or older present, and the courthouse will not proceed without one.¹ This catches couples who assumed they could show up alone. You may be able to ask a courthouse employee or another visitor in a pinch, but do not count on it. Beyond the witness, a small number of guests can attend, though the ceremony room has limited capacity.

The ceremony itself takes only a few minutes. A clerk or deputy clerk administers vows in a form prescribed by the county administrative judge, and the wording is not customizable for a civil ceremony.⁴ Both of you sign the marriage certificate, the officiant signs it, and you are legally married.

Getting Your Marriage Certificate and Certified Copies

The officiant hands you one copy of the certificate at the ceremony. A second copy goes back to the issuing clerk within five days to be filed as the official record.⁶ When the ceremony happens at the courthouse, filing typically takes place the same day.

The copy you walk out with is not a certified copy. For a name change with the Social Security Administration, a new driver’s license at the MVA, insurance updates, HR paperwork, or beneficiary changes, you need certified copies from the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Baltimore City at $5.50 each.¹ Order at least two from the start. Some institutions will not accept photocopies, and ordering extras up front avoids a return trip to the courthouse.

1
Circuit Court For Baltimore City. Land Records and Licenses Division
2
Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code Family Law 2-405 – Waiting Period and Effective Date of License
3
Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code Family Law 2-402 – License Application
4
Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code Family Law 2-406 – Marriage Ceremony
5
Circuit Court For Baltimore City. Circuit Court For Baltimore City
6
New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. Maryland Code Family Law 2-409 – Signing and Disposition of Marriage Certificates