To get a Wyoming marriage license, both partners go together to any county clerk’s office in the state, show government-issued photo ID, pay a $30 fee, and walk out with a license the same day. Wyoming has no waiting period and no blood test requirement, and neither partner needs to be a state resident. The license is valid for one year and can be used for a ceremony anywhere inside Wyoming.
Who Can Apply
Both partners must be at least 18 to apply on their own.1Justia. Wyoming Code 20-1-102 – Minimum Marriageable Age; Exception; Parental Consent No one under 16 can marry in Wyoming under any circumstances, and any marriage involving someone under 16 is void.
A 16- or 17-year-old needs two separate approvals before a clerk will issue the license. A judge of a Wyoming court of record must approve the marriage and direct the clerk to issue the license, and the minor’s parent, guardian, or caretaker must consent. A parent who is physically present can consent verbally; an absent parent must give written consent backed by testimony from at least one witness.2Wyoming Legislature. Wyoming Code 20-1-102 – Minimum Marriageable Age; Exception; Parental Consent Both approvals are required. A 16- or 17-year-old who has been legally emancipated or who qualifies for the right to contract under Wyoming law is the narrow exception and can marry without either.1Justia. Wyoming Code 20-1-102 – Minimum Marriageable Age; Exception; Parental Consent
What to Bring
Each partner needs a valid government-issued photo ID. A state driver’s license, passport, military ID, or tribal ID all work.3Sweetwater County, WY. Sweetwater County Clerk – Marriage Licenses You’ll also need to know your Social Security number for the application.
The application asks for information beyond the couple itself. Bring the full names of both parents, each parent’s birthplace (state or country), and your mother’s maiden name.4Natrona County. Marriage Licenses – Section: Requirements Use names exactly as they appear on ID, and use your mother’s birth surname rather than a later married name. Pull this together before you go so you’re not guessing at the counter.
If either partner has been married before, bring a certified copy of the divorce decree, or a death certificate if the former spouse has died.3Sweetwater County, WY. Sweetwater County Clerk – Marriage Licenses The clerk uses this to confirm there’s no legal barrier to the new marriage.
Applying at the Clerk’s Office
Both partners must appear together at the county clerk’s office to complete the application.5Campbell County, WY. Marriage Licenses – Section: Requirements The in-person requirement lets the clerk verify both identities and confirm the marriage is voluntary. Some counties may allow one partner to apply on behalf of both under limited circumstances, typically requiring the absent partner’s ID and a witness who can verify that person’s information and swear there is no legal impediment.6Fremont County, WY. Marriage License Call the specific office first if you need to go this route.
The fee is $30, set by state statute.7Justia. Wyoming Code 18-3-402 – Duties Generally Payment methods vary by office, so ask ahead about whether cards are accepted. The clerk processes the application and issues the license during the same visit. No waiting period, no blood test. You can hold the ceremony immediately.
Any Wyoming county clerk can issue the license, regardless of where in the state you plan to marry.
Who Can Perform the Ceremony
Wyoming law lets several categories of officiant solemnize a marriage: any Wyoming district or circuit court judge, district court commissioner, supreme court justice, or magistrate, and any licensed or ordained minister, bishop, priest, rabbi, or other qualified person acting within the traditions of their faith.8Justia. Wyoming Code 20-1-106 – Who May Solemnize Marriage; Form of Ceremony
The state does not prescribe a ceremony format. The one legal requirement is that both partners declare, in front of the officiant and at least two witnesses, that they take each other as spouses.8Justia. Wyoming Code 20-1-106 – Who May Solemnize Marriage; Form of Ceremony Beyond that, you can write your own vows, use religious traditions, or keep it short.
Where, When, and Returning the License
The ceremony has to take place inside Wyoming for the license to be valid.9Natrona County. Marriage Licenses A Wyoming license used at a ceremony in another state has no legal weight. The license expires one year from the issue date; if you don’t marry within that window, you start over with a new application and another $30 fee.10Wyoming Legislature. Wyoming Code 20-1-103 – Application for License; Expiration
You need at least two witnesses who are 18 or older at the ceremony.11Teton County, WY. Marriage Licenses Afterward, the officiant and both witnesses sign the license. The signed license must be returned to the issuing county clerk’s office within 10 days of the ceremony.12Johnson County Wyoming. Marriage License – Section: Ceremony, Officiants and Your Marriage License The officiant usually handles the return, but it’s worth confirming it happens on time. Once the clerk records the signed license, the marriage goes on the public record.
Getting Certified Copies of the Marriage Certificate
Once the signed license is recorded, you can order certified copies of the marriage certificate. Most agencies that ask for proof of marriage will only accept a certified copy, not a photocopy. The Wyoming Vital Statistics Services portal takes online orders paid by credit card, and you’ll upload a government-issued photo ID with the request.13Wyoming VSS Portal. Wyoming VSS Portal Mail requests through the Wyoming Department of Health are also available. Order at least three or four copies at once; you’ll use them for name changes, insurance, and benefits paperwork, and buying in bulk saves repeat trips later.