Courthouse Wedding: How It Works and What It Costs in 2026

How much does it cost to get married at the courthouse in 2026?

The direct answer: $30 to $250 for the legal essentials, and most couples land around $100 to $150 once you add a certified copy of the marriage certificate. That covers the two mandatory pieces (the marriage license and the civil ceremony fee), plus the document that actually proves you're married afterward.

Counties and municipalities set their own fee schedules, so the price tag depends entirely on where you marry. A ceremony at the Miami-Dade County courthouse can run as low as $30, while San Diego County charges $88 for an indoor or outdoor courthouse ceremony. If you want personal touches like outfits, rings, a photographer, or a small dinner, a realistic all-in budget sits between $500 and $5,000, still a fraction of the roughly $33,000 average US wedding.

This guide is for engaged couples choosing a simple, affordable civil ceremony and wanting to know exactly what to expect, what to bring, and what the fees look like in their area.

Courthouse wedding cost breakdown by line item

Every courthouse wedding bill comes down to a handful of predictable line items. The table below shows the 2026 ranges based on county fee schedules across the country.

The three biggest cost drivers are your county's fee schedule, whether you marry during regular business hours or need a weekend or evening slot, and how many certified copies you order.

Some real examples to anchor expectations: Dallas County, Texas, charges $100 for a walk-in ceremony when a judge has availability and you already hold a valid license. New York City's City Clerk office charges $25 for the ceremony on top of the license fee. Indiana's license fee starts around $18, while Arizona's runs about $93.

Money-saving tip: Bring your own witnesses and schedule the ceremony during regular business hours. That lets you skip the courthouse-supplied witness fee and any after-hours surcharge entirely.

What do you need to get married at the courthouse?

You need a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID for both partners, a marriage license, and any state-specific supporting documents. Here's the standard checklist most county clerk offices require:

1. Valid government-issued photo ID for both partners (driver's license, passport, state ID, or military ID)
2. Social Security number (if applicable)
3. Full legal names of both partners
4. Dates of birth
5. Current addresses
6. Parents' full names and places of birth (required in some states)
7. Proof of divorce decree or death certificate if either partner was previously married

Eligibility basics

Every state sets its own eligibility rules, but the core requirements are consistent:

• Minimum age: 18 in most states. Nebraska sets its general marriage age at 19, and Mississippi at 21. A handful of states still allow minors to marry with parental or judicial consent, though the trend is toward raising the minimum to 18 with no exceptions.
• Not currently married: If a previous marriage ended in divorce or a spouse's death, you'll need documentation proving that.
• Mental capacity and free consent: Both people must understand what marriage means and consent voluntarily.
• No close blood relatives: Prohibited universally between siblings or parents and children. First-cousin marriage is allowed in some states and banned in others.

Residency requirements

One thing that surprises many couples: you almost never need to be a resident of the state where you're getting married. Most states issue marriage licenses to anyone regardless of residency, including foreign nationals. If you're considering a destination courthouse wedding in another state, that's generally allowed. The main exception is that some states require the license to be obtained in the county where the ceremony will take place if neither partner is a local resident.

How a courthouse wedding works: the step-by-step process

The process has three main parts: obtain a marriage license, have the ceremony performed by an authorized official, and file the signed license so your marriage is officially recorded. Here's how to move through each step.

Step 1: Verify local rules on the county's official website

Before you do anything else, look up your specific county's requirements. Every county handles things slightly differently, so check the official court or county website for:

• Minimum age to marry
• Whether a waiting period applies after the license is issued
• Whether blood tests are required (rare today, but still on the books in a few places)
• Whether both partners must appear in person to apply
• Accepted forms of identification
• License fee and ceremony fee
• Whether an appointment is required for the license application, the ceremony, or both

Step 2: Apply for the marriage license

Visit the county clerk's office and bring the documents listed above. In many states, both partners must appear together so identities and eligibility can be verified in person. Some counties now allow online applications to be started before your visit, which speeds things up at the counter. You'll pay the license fee at this step.

The marriage license is the legal authorization to have your ceremony. Without it, no officiant can legally solemnize your marriage.

Step 3: Schedule the ceremony

Most courthouses require an appointment, though some accept walk-ins during designated hours. High-volume counties like Miami-Dade, Los Angeles County, and Cook County (Chicago) can fill appointment slots weeks in advance, so book as soon as you have (or have applied for) your license.

Step 4: Have the civil ceremony

On ceremony day, arrive with your marriage license, your IDs, and your witnesses. A civil officiant, typically a judge, city clerk, magistrate, or justice of the peace, performs the ceremony. Most courthouse ceremonies are straightforward, nonreligious, and wrap up in about 10 to 15 minutes. You, your partner, your witnesses, and the officiant all sign the marriage license.

Step 5: File the signed license and order certified copies

After the ceremony, the signed license is filed with the county (often by the clerk's office itself), and the county issues your official marriage certificate. Order your certified copies at the counter before you leave. More on why that matters below.

Waiting periods, license expiration, and appointments to plan around

Three timing details trip couples up more than anything else: waiting periods, expiration dates, and appointment availability.

Waiting periods

Some counties let you marry the same day you pick up the license. Others impose a mandatory waiting period of 24 to 72 hours. Florida, for example, requires state residents to wait three days unless they complete an authorized four-hour premarital course (which also reduces the license fee). Non-Florida residents skip the waiting period entirely. Check your county's specific rules so you're not caught off guard.

License expiration

A marriage license typically expires 30 to 90 days after issuance. If you don't complete the ceremony before it expires, the marriage will not be recorded and you'll need to apply (and pay) for a new license. Build your timeline with this window in mind.

Marriage license vs. marriage certificate

These two documents are frequently confused, and the distinction matters. A marriage license is the authorization issued by the county clerk before the ceremony. It's valid for a limited number of days and specific to the county or state. A marriage certificate is the official record proving the marriage took place, issued after the ceremony. Government agencies, employers, and insurers accept the certificate, not the license.

Appointment planning

In high-volume counties, appointment slots fill quickly. If you have a target date, start checking availability as early as possible. Dallas County, Texas, does allow walk-ins for $100 when a judge is available, but that's the exception rather than the rule. Planning ahead avoids unnecessary stress.

After the ceremony: certified copies, name changes, and next steps

The ceremony may last 15 minutes, but the paperwork ripple extends for weeks. Here's what to handle next.

Why certified copies matter

A certified copy of your marriage certificate is what proves your marriage to anyone outside the court. The Social Security Administration, passport agency, DMV, employers, and insurance companies may each require one. Some agencies accept a copy and return it; others keep it on file.

Order at least two certified copies at the counter on ceremony day. It costs less effort and time than ordering them individually by mail afterward, and at $5 to $20 per copy, the upfront cost is minimal.

Name changes

If either partner plans to change their last name, the certified marriage certificate is the starting document. The typical sequence is:

1. Social Security Administration (update your Social Security card)
2. DMV (update your driver's license or state ID)
3. Passport agency (update your passport)
4. Banks, employers, insurance providers, and any other accounts

Each agency has its own form and processing time, so expect this process to take several weeks.

Financial and legal follow-ups

Getting legally married triggers a series of shared decisions that go well beyond the ceremony itself. Couples commonly need to address:

• Beneficiary updates on retirement accounts, life insurance, and investment accounts
• Health insurance enrollment (marriage is a qualifying life event that opens a special enrollment window, typically 30 to 60 days)
• Tax filing status for the current year (you'll file as married for any tax year in which you were legally married by December 31)
• Joint or separate bank accounts and how you'll manage money together
• Basic estate planning like wills and powers of attorney

These decisions don't need to happen all at once, but they do need to happen. A guided marriage planner can help you and your partner organize these steps in a calm, structured way so nothing falls through the cracks.