Marriage License Information

Application for a Marriage License must be completed by either the groom or the bride at the office of the Clerk of the District Court. There is a three (3) day waiting period after application is made before you may pick up the Marriage License. For example:

Application made on Monday: the license may be picked up the following Thursday or any workday thereafter.

Application made on Tuesday: the license may be picked up the following Friday or any workday thereafter.

Application made on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday: the license may be picked up the following Monday or any workday thereafter.

A worksheet is issued when the application is made. All information must be completed and returned when picking up the license. The worksheet must be signed by both the groom and the bride, but either may turn it in and pick up the license.

The fee for the Marriage License is fifty-nine dollars ($59). Cash only – no checks or credit cards! That fee must be paid when the Marriage License is picked up.

The Marriage License will expire six (6) months from date of issuance. Whoever performs the ceremony will fill in the remaining blanks on the license (items 29 through 37). Your witnesses must be age 18 or older.

We provide you with a duplicate copy of your Marriage License, and it is yours to keep as a memento of the ceremony. It does NOT serve as a certified copy. The original Marriage License is to be returned to the office of the Clerk of the District Court within ten (10) days of the ceremony. The Clerk’s office will hold your license no longer than thirty (30) days. Anytime within that time frame, you are welcome to come in and request a certified copy be made. Cost may vary per County in the 8^th Judicial District. If you wish to request copies by mail, you must mail your request with the bride’s maiden name and the groom’s name and include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Checks or money orders should be made payable to the Clerk of the District Court.

After the thirty-day (30) time period has passed, the original Marriage License is sent to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Office of Vital Statistics, 900 S.W. Jackson, Topeka, KS 66612-1290, where it is kept on permanent file. After that time, you may request certified copies from their office. The cost of certified copies of your Marriage License is Twelve Dollars ($12.00) for the first copy and Seven Dollars ($7.00) for each additional copy. The Clerk’s Office has an Application that you may complete to send to the Office of Vital Statistics to obtain a certified copy or you may visit their web site at http://www.kdhe.state.ks.us/vital/marriage.html. Additionally, their phone number is 785-296-1400.