To get a copy of your marriage certificate in Arizona, contact the Clerk of the Superior Court in the county that issued your original marriage license. There is no statewide marriage records office. A certified copy generally costs between $30.00 and $43.50 depending on the county, and a plain photocopy runs as little as $0.50 per page.
Start With the County That Issued the License
Every Arizona marriage license is issued by a county Clerk of the Superior Court before the ceremony.1Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 25-121 – Marriage License; Application; Affidavit After the wedding, the officiant signs the license and returns it to that same clerk, who records it.2Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 25-123 – Recording Licenses; Endorsement of Solemnization; Recording Return; Lost Licenses That recorded document is what you get when you order a copy.
The record lives with the issuing county. Not the county where the ceremony happened, if those were different, and not the county you live in now. Licensed in Pima County but married in Coconino? Pima County holds the record.
Arizona has fifteen counties, each with its own clerk. The Arizona Judicial Branch keeps a directory of every clerk’s office with links to their websites.3Arizona Judicial Branch. Superior Court Clerks of the Court For marriages before 1950, the county may no longer hold the file; older records from certain counties are with the Arizona State Archives.4Arizona State Library. Accessing Arizona Public Records
What to Have Ready Before You Request
Clerks need enough detail to pick your record out of the file. Have this on hand:
- Full legal names of both spouses as they appeared on the original license, including maiden or prior surnames
- Date of marriage; the exact date is best, but the year alone is usually enough
- Dates of birth for both parties
Missing information can cost you. Pinal County, for example, charges an extra $35.00 if you can’t provide at least the year of marriage and the clerk has to run a broader search. If you visit their Florence office in person, you can search the marriage records yourself at no charge.5Pinal County COSC, AZ. Obtaining Copies of a Marriage License Other counties have similar policies, so check the clerk’s website first.
Certified Copy or Plain Photocopy
Clerks issue two kinds of documents. A certified copy carries a raised seal and the clerk’s signature, and it works for legal purposes like name changes, passport applications, and insurance claims. A plain photocopy is a reproduction without a seal, fine for personal reference and not much else.
Fees vary noticeably from county to county:
- Maricopa County: $35.00 certification fee plus $0.50 per page. A certified marriage license copy is listed at $43.50, or $35.50 if you include a self-addressed stamped envelope.6Maricopa County Clerk of Superior Court. Marriage Licenses
- Pima County: $30.00 certification fee plus $0.50 per page.7Pima County Superior Court. Court Records
- Pinal County: $35.00 for a certified abstract copy, or $0.50 for a plain photocopy.5Pinal County COSC, AZ. Obtaining Copies of a Marriage License
If the document is for anything official, pay for the certified copy. The Social Security Administration, the MVD, and most insurance companies will reject a plain photocopy.
Three Ways to Submit Your Request
In Person
Walking into the clerk’s office is the simplest route. Bring your details about the marriage and be ready to pay at the counter. Accepted payment methods vary but generally include cash, credit and debit cards, checks, and money orders. Some offices can hand you a recent record while you wait; others quote three to five days even for in-person requests when the file is in storage. Call ahead if same-day pickup matters.
By Mail
Mail-in requests usually need a written request (most counties post a downloadable form), payment, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.5Pinal County COSC, AZ. Obtaining Copies of a Marriage License Money orders or cashier’s checks are the safest form of payment, though some counties accept personal checks. Confirm the county’s payment rules before mailing; the wrong payment type puts your request on hold until you resend it.
Online
Several counties now take requests online. Maricopa County, for one, has an online records request form for certified copies of recorded marriage licenses.8Maricopa County Clerk of Superior Court. Obtaining Records These portals typically accept credit or debit cards and send a confirmation receipt. The certificate itself still arrives by mail.
How Long It Takes
Expect a few days to a couple of weeks after the clerk receives your request. Maricopa County’s online marriage license program quotes seven to ten business days for application review, with the document mailed within three business days after payment clears.9Maricopa County Clerk of Superior Court. Online Marriage License Program Smaller counties can be faster or slower depending on staffing.
Older records take longer. A file on microfilm or in off-site storage adds retrieval time. If the clerk spots a problem with your request, such as a missing fee or an incomplete name, processing pauses until you correct it. Accuracy on the first submission is worth the effort.
When the License Was Never Recorded
Occasionally the officiant never returns the signed license to the clerk. Without that return, there is nothing on file to copy. Arizona law provides a fix. If the endorsed license is lost, the clerk can issue a replacement, which must then be signed by the officiant, both spouses, and two witnesses before being returned for recording.2Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 25-123 – Recording Licenses; Endorsement of Solemnization; Recording Return; Lost Licenses
If you cannot gather all the required signatures, either spouse or a representative can apply to the Superior Court for an order authorizing a duplicate endorsed license. The application requires a sworn statement describing the ceremony, notarized signatures of whoever is available, and a court finding that the marriage occurred. The court charges no fee for this process.2Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 25-123 – Recording Licenses; Endorsement of Solemnization; Recording Return; Lost Licenses
Fixing an Error on the Record
A misspelled name or wrong date on your recorded license can create problems every time you use the document. Arizona corrects these through a court order. The Judicial Branch publishes standardized forms, including an Application to Correct Marriage License and a proposed Order Correcting Marriage License.10Arizona Judicial Branch. Marriage Licenses Correction File the application with the Superior Court in the county where the license is recorded, describe the error, and ask the court to sign a corrective order. Once signed, present the order to the clerk, who amends the record and can issue a corrected certified copy.
Not every court uses the standardized forms without modification, so contact the clerk before filing to confirm forms and filing fees. If you catch the error before the license is officially recorded, the clerk’s office may be able to fix it directly without a court process, so speak up quickly.
Using the Certificate Outside the United States
For an Arizona marriage certificate to be recognized in another country, you will likely need an apostille, a form of international authentication under the Hague Convention. In Arizona, apostilles are issued by the Secretary of State, not the county clerk.
Start by getting a certified copy from the county clerk. Submit that certified copy to the Arizona Secretary of State with your request. The fee is $3.00 per document by mail, with a processing time of about ten business days. In-person service is available in Phoenix and Tucson for $3.00 per document plus a $25.00 expedite fee.11Arizona Secretary of State. Apostille/Certificate of Authentication Request What you submit must be an original certified copy with the clerk’s seal, not a photocopy. If the destination country is not a Hague Convention member, you will need a Certificate of Authentication instead, which uses the same submission process and fees.