To meet Kentucky marriage license requirements, both people must appear together at any county clerk’s office in the state, show valid photo ID, complete an application, and pay roughly $60. The license is issued the same day with no waiting period and no blood test, and it stays valid for 30 days.1Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. Kentucky Revised Statutes 402.105 – Marriage License Valid for Thirty Days
Who Can Legally Marry
Both applicants must be at least 18.2Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. Kentucky Revised Statutes 402.020 – Other Prohibited Marriages A 17-year-old may marry only with a court order, and at least 15 days must pass between the date of that order and the date the clerk issues the license.3Carter County Clerk. KRS 402.210 Marriage of Minors No one under 17 can legally marry in Kentucky under any circumstances.
Marriage between people related more closely than second cousins is prohibited, and any such marriage is void from the start.4Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. Kentucky Revised Statutes 402.010 – Degree of Relationship That Will Bar Marriage Second cousins and more distant relatives face no restriction.
If either applicant has been married before, that marriage must be fully dissolved first. You do not need to bring the divorce decree to the clerk’s office, but you do need to know the date the prior marriage ended, because it goes on the application.5Jefferson County Clerk. Marriage License Frequently Asked Questions
A few boundaries worth knowing before you plan around them. Kentucky does not recognize common law marriage formed in the state, though it will honor one validly formed in another state where it was legal at the time. Proxy marriages are not allowed; both people must be physically present at both the clerk’s office and the ceremony.6Shelby County Clerk. Other Services – Marriage License Requirements And a Kentucky license can only be used for a ceremony held inside Kentucky.7Franklin County Clerk. Application for Marriage License
What to Bring to the Clerk’s Office
You can apply at any county clerk’s office in Kentucky, regardless of where you live or where the wedding will be held.8Barren County Clerk. Marriage License FAQ Each person needs valid photo ID: a driver’s license, state ID card, passport, or original birth certificate.9Franklin County Clerk. Marriage License Non-U.S. citizens typically need both an original birth certificate and a passport or other government-issued ID.
The clerk will also ask for a Social Security card or other government ID to confirm identity. The number itself is not recorded or kept on file.10Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. Kentucky Revised Statutes 402.100 – Marriage License If you do not have a Social Security number, call the specific clerk’s office in advance to confirm what alternative identification they will accept.
The application asks for a fair amount of information about each applicant: full legal name, date and place of birth, race, current address, occupation, relationship to the other applicant, number of prior marriages, and both parents’ full names.10Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. Kentucky Revised Statutes 402.100 – Marriage License Many counties post a worksheet online you can fill out beforehand, which speeds the visit considerably.
No blood test, physical exam, or medical screening is required.9Franklin County Clerk. Marriage License
How Much It Costs
The statutory base fee is $26.50.11Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. Kentucky Revised Statutes 64.012 – Fees of County Clerks In practice you will pay more at the counter, because most counties bundle the license with a certified copy of the marriage certificate and add local administrative charges. Plan on around $60 total. Franklin County, for instance, charges $60 for the license and one certified copy.9Franklin County Clerk. Marriage License Additional certified copies ordered later run about $5 to $6 each.5Jefferson County Clerk. Marriage License Frequently Asked Questions Bring cash or a check; not every office accepts cards.
Getting the License and the 30-Day Window
Once both applicants are present with their documents and the application is complete, the clerk reviews it, witnesses both signatures, and applies the official seal. There is no waiting period.12Nelson County Clerk. Marriage License You can hold the ceremony the same day.
The license is valid for 30 days, counting the day it was issued.1Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. Kentucky Revised Statutes 402.105 – Marriage License Valid for Thirty Days If the ceremony does not happen inside that window, the license expires and you have to start over with a new application and a new fee. This is the deadline couples most often miss when a venue, travel, or an out-of-town officiant slips.
Who Can Perform the Ceremony
Kentucky law authorizes the following people to solemnize a marriage:
- Ordained ministers or priests in regular communion with a religious denomination.
- Active or retired justices and judges of the Kentucky Court of Justice, unless removed for cause or convicted of a felony.
- County judges/executive.
- Religious societies with no officiating minister whose custom is to solemnize marriage by consent before the congregation.
Justices of the peace and fiscal court commissioners may also officiate when authorized by the Governor or county judge/executive.13Office of the Attorney General. County Clerk’s Guide to Kentucky Marriage Law Kentucky has no registration process for officiants and no residency requirement for clergy.6Shelby County Clerk. Other Services – Marriage License Requirements Whether an online ordination satisfies the “recognized by a religious group” standard has not been definitively settled in Kentucky courts, so confirm with your county clerk before relying on an online-ordained officiant.
At least two witnesses, in addition to the couple and the officiant, must be present at the ceremony, and their names appear on the marriage certificate.13Office of the Attorney General. County Clerk’s Guide to Kentucky Marriage Law
After the Ceremony
The officiant fills in the date and place of the wedding and the names of the witnesses, then returns the signed license to the county clerk’s office that issued it.14Campbell County Clerk. Marriage Licenses Follow up to make sure it was filed. Only after the clerk records the document can you obtain certified copies of the marriage certificate, which you will need to update a Social Security card, driver’s license, insurance, and financial accounts. Order a few extras when you pick them up.