To get a copy of a Kentucky marriage license, request a certified copy of the marriage certificate from the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics for $6 if the marriage took place in June 1958 or later, or from the county clerk who issued the original license if it was earlier. Most people asking for “a copy of the marriage license” actually need the marriage certificate, which is the record created after the ceremony once the officiant signs the license and the clerk files it. That is the document used for name changes, insurance, and legal matters.
Where to Send the Request
Which office holds your record depends on when the marriage happened.
Marriages From June 1958 to Today
The Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics keeps centralized marriage records back to June 1958, regardless of which county issued the license.1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Where to Write for Vital Records – Kentucky It sits within the Cabinet for Health and Family Services at 275 East Main Street, 1E-A, Frankfort, KY 40621.
The issuing county clerk also keeps a copy and can provide a certified duplicate. That’s often useful if the state search comes back empty or if you want to walk in and leave with the document the same day.
Marriages Before June 1958
The state didn’t register marriages centrally before June 1958, so the Office of Vital Statistics has nothing from that period.2Greenup County Health Department. Vital Statistics You’ll need to contact the county clerk in the county that issued the license. If you’re not sure which county that was, try the county where the couple lived at the time.
What You’ll Need to Provide
The state and county offices search their files based on the details you give them, so accuracy matters. Have these ready:
- Full names of both spouses as they appeared on the license, including any maiden name
- The month, day, and year of the marriage
- The county where the license was issued
Bring a valid photo ID if you’re requesting in person. Kentucky marriage records are generally public, so you don’t have to be one of the spouses to request a copy, though Social Security numbers and government ID numbers on the original application stay confidential. Jefferson County, for example, opened an online search in 2025 that lets the public order certified copies of marriage licenses back to 1992.3Jefferson County Clerk. Search Marriage Licenses Online
One thing to know before you send payment: if the office searches and can’t find the record, the fee isn’t refunded, because it pays for the search itself.4Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Marriage and Divorce Certificates
Your Ordering Options
By Mail Through the State
Download form VS-230, the application for a certified copy of a marriage or divorce certificate, from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services website.5Cabinet for Health and Family Services. VS-230 Marriage/Divorce Application Send the completed form to the Frankfort address on the form with a $6 money order or cashier’s check. Mail is the cheapest route but the slowest, so plan ahead if a deadline is coming.
Online Through VitalChek
VitalChek is the state’s authorized online ordering service.6Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Certificate Purchase Options You’ll pay the $6 state fee plus VitalChek’s processing fee and shipping. It takes credit cards, and overnight UPS delivery is available.
In Person or Drop Box in Frankfort
The Office of Vital Statistics has a drop box at the visitor entrance at 275 East Main Street for applications and payments, and accepts walk-ins during business hours.
At the County Clerk’s Office
Fees and payment rules vary by county. Kenton County charges $7 by mail (a $5 certified copy fee plus $2 postage) and $10.50 online after the service fee.7Kenton County Clerk. Marriage License – To Obtain a Certified Copy of a Marriage License Boone County charges $5 in person or by mail.8Boone County Clerk’s Office. Marriage Licenses Call the clerk or check the website before sending anything.
What It Costs
The Office of Vital Statistics charges $6 per certified copy. State law caps the certified-copy fee for vital records other than birth certificates at $5, with the balance covering the file search.9Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. Kentucky Revised Statutes 213.141 – Fee for Certified Copies of Certificates or Records County clerks generally charge around $5 for the copy itself, with postage, service fees, and handling adding to mail and online orders. Ordering through VitalChek typically runs close to double the state’s base fee once processing and shipping are added.
Fix Errors Before You Order Copies
If a name is misspelled or a date is wrong on the license, Kentucky law lets the county clerk who issued it make the correction. Both spouses sign a sworn affidavit identifying the error and the correct information, and the clerk amends the record.10Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. Kentucky Revised Statutes 402.235 – Correction of License by Clerk – Affidavit Contact the issuing clerk for the affidavit form and any fee. Do this before you buy certified copies for a name change or a legal filing, because an incorrect copy causes problems down the line.
Using the Certified Copy
Once you have the certified copy, it’s the document that carries your name change through federal records.
The Social Security Administration accepts a certified marriage certificate as proof of a legal name change, along with a photo ID and proof of U.S. citizenship. Photocopies and notarized copies are not accepted.11Social Security Administration. U.S. Citizen – Adult Name Change on Social Security Card Updating Social Security first is usually the easiest path, since other agencies want your name to match SSA records.
For a passport, the State Department accepts a marriage certificate showing both spouses’ full names. If your current passport was issued less than a year ago, submit form DS-5504 at no fee. If it’s older, use form DS-82 and pay the renewal fee. A pre-ceremony license without proof the marriage occurred is not accepted.12U.S. Department of State. 8 FAM 403.1 Name Usage and Name Changes
Real ID has been required for domestic air travel since May 7, 2025.13Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID If your name differs from the one on your birth certificate, you’ll need documentation for every name change in the chain. A certified marriage certificate covers a name change through marriage; a previous marriage and divorce means bringing those documents too.
Apostille for Use Outside the U.S.
If another country needs to recognize your Kentucky marriage certificate, request an apostille from the Kentucky Secretary of State. The certificate has to come from the Office of Vital Statistics and carry the current State Registrar’s signature. The apostille costs $5 per document, and walk-in requests at the Secretary of State’s office in Frankfort are completed while you wait.14Kentucky Secretary of State. Apostilles and Authentications Electronic submission isn’t available for vital records, so budget for a visit or for mailing time.