Marriage License Information

Marriage License Department of the Circuit Court for Howard County  

The Thomas Dorsey Building 
9250 Bendix Road 
Columbia, Maryland 21045
Phone: 410-313-5850  

How do I get a marriage license? 

Marriage Applications

Marriage applications can be obtained at The Thomas Dorsey Building, 9250 Bendix Road, Columbia, Maryland 21045. The telephone number is 410-313-5850. Marriage applications are not accepted after 4:00 p.m. The application process takes about 15 minutes.

If you do not live in the county in which you plan to marry, you may apply using a Non-Resident Application. The Non-Resident Marriage Application is available in fillable PDF (right-click on the link to save the form to your PC).  

Waiting Period: After application, the license, which is not effective until 6:00 a.m. on the second calendar day, will be issued. (i.e. 48 hour waiting period) The license must be used within 6 months.

It is recommended that you contact the Circuit Court Clerk's Office in the county you plan to marry as each county has different fees. The requirements for Howard County are as follows: 

• Only one of the parties needs to appear (If not using a non-resident affidavit)
   
• Both parties must be over 18 years of age. Forms of identification for each person: driver's license, birth certificate or a passport (Applicants 17 and younger are required to call the License Department prior to applying.)
   
• The fee is $50.00 - CASH only 
   
• Neither a blood test nor witnesses are required in Maryland. 

The following information is to be provided for the Bride and the Groom: 

Full Names 
Ages 
State/Country of birth
Addresses 
Social Security Numbers (mandatory) This information is required by State Law and will not be displayed on the marriage license. 

If previously married: 

Divorced - the day, month and year of the divorce, and the county and state in which the divorce was granted. If divorced within the last year at the time of application, a copy of the divorce decree must be presented. 

Widowed - the day, month and year of the death, and the county and state in which the death occurred. 

The application must be signed by the applicant(s) under oath indicating the truthfulness of the information under penalty of perjury. 

Civil Ceremonies

Civil Ceremonies are performed at the Circuit Court for Howard County. The address is: 
8360 Court Avenue, Ellicott City, Maryland 21043

Ceremonies are held from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. 

The cost is $25.00 CASH only - payable the day of the ceremony
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Certified Copies 

Certified copies may be obtained from the Marriage License department located at: 
The Thomas Dorsey Building
9250 Bendix Road 
Columbia, Maryland 21045 

You may request a certified copy by mail. Please include in your request:

• Names 
  
• Date of Marriage
  
• Self addressed stamped envelope
  
• Check or Money Order

The cost for each certified copy is $5.00.  The check or money order should be made payable to the Clerk, Circuit Court for Howard County.

For further information on obtaining a marriage license or civil ceremonies, please call 410-313-5850. 
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