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Kansas marriage license: fee, waiting period and how to apply

What Kansas's official pages say about getting married there: the fee, the waiting period, how long the license lasts, witnesses, officiants, ID and where to apply. Each rule links its source.

By Wedding RemedyPublished October 30, 2026

Editorial standards

Kansas marriage license at a glance

Fee: $85.50 for the license in Johnson County, the largest county. Card payment adds $2.14 and e-check adds $1.25. Fees are nonrefundable. Waiting period: No license before the third calendar day after the application is filed, counting Sundays and holidays. A district judge can waive the wait in emergencies or extraordinary circumstances. How long it is valid: Six months from the date of issuance. The license expires if the marriage does not take place within that time.

Kansas marriage license rules

The rules below restate official pages, linked with the date they were read. Last checked October 30, 2026. Rules and fees change, and this is not legal advice: confirm with the clerk where you apply before you rely on a rule.

Fee: $85.50 for the license in Johnson County, the largest county. Card payment adds $2.14 and e-check adds $1.25. Fees are nonrefundable. (Source: courts.jocogov.org, checked October 30, 2026)
Premarital education discount: None stated on the official pages we read. Check with your county clerk. Official page
Waiting period: No license before the third calendar day after the application is filed, counting Sundays and holidays. A district judge can waive the wait in emergencies or extraordinary circumstances. (Source: kslegislature.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
How long the license is valid: Six months from the date of issuance. The license expires if the marriage does not take place within that time. (Source: kslegislature.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
Where the license can be used: The Kansas license applies only to weddings held in Kansas. (Source: courts.jocogov.org, checked October 30, 2026)
Witnesses: At least two competent witnesses over 18, other than the officiant, must be present at the ceremony. (Source: kslegislature.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
Who may officiate: Ordained clergy or religious authorities, denominational licentiates or appointees serving as regular clergy, and current or retired judges, justices and municipal judges. (Source: kslegislature.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
Officiants ordained online: Not stated here. Ask the county clerk before you rely on an online ordination. Official page
Age: Minimum 16, or 15 with a judge's approval. Ages 16 and 17 need parent or guardian consent plus a judge, unless both parents consent. (Source: kslegislature.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
ID and documents to bring: Check with your county clerk. Official page
Where to apply: Through the Kansas courts online portal, with a district court clerk issuing the license. Johnson County is not accepting in-person applications. (Source: courts.jocogov.org, checked October 30, 2026)
Online application: Yes. Johnson County requires the online portal, and the fee is paid through the portal. (Source: courts.jocogov.org, checked October 30, 2026)
Certified copy of the marriage certificate: Certified copies for marriages after May 1, 1913 come from the Kansas Office of Vital Statistics in Topeka. Wait about 2 days after the license is returned. (Source: courts.jocogov.org, checked October 30, 2026)

Common questions

How much is a marriage license in Kansas?

$85.50 for the license in Johnson County, the largest county. Card payment adds $2.14 and e-check adds $1.25. Fees are nonrefundable.

Is there a waiting period to get married in Kansas?

No license before the third calendar day after the application is filed, counting Sundays and holidays. A district judge can waive the wait in emergencies or extraordinary circumstances.

How long is a Kansas marriage license valid?

Six months from the date of issuance. The license expires if the marriage does not take place within that time.

Do you need witnesses to get married in Kansas?

At least two competent witnesses over 18, other than the officiant, must be present at the ceremony.

Who can officiate a wedding in Kansas?

Ordained clergy or religious authorities, denominational licentiates or appointees serving as regular clergy, and current or retired judges, justices and municipal judges.

How do you get a certified copy of a Kansas marriage certificate?

Certified copies for marriages after May 1, 1913 come from the Kansas Office of Vital Statistics in Topeka. Wait about 2 days after the license is returned.

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