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

What Missouri'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 November 12, 2026

Editorial standards

Missouri marriage license at a glance

Fee: $53 at the Clay County Recorder of Deeds, payable by cash or credit card; the card processor adds a transaction fee. Waiting period: None. The Cape Girardeau County Recorder says there is no waiting period and the license can be used the day it is issued. How long it is valid: The license is void 30 days after it is issued.

Missouri counties set their own fee. The fee shown is from Clay County; ask your county clerk for its fee.

Missouri marriage license rules

The rules below restate official pages, linked with the date they were read. Last checked November 12, 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: $53 at the Clay County Recorder of Deeds, payable by cash or credit card; the card processor adds a transaction fee. (Source: claycountymo.gov, checked November 12, 2026)
Premarital education discount: None stated on the official pages we read. Check with your county clerk. Official page
Waiting period: None. The Cape Girardeau County Recorder says there is no waiting period and the license can be used the day it is issued. (Source: capecounty.us, checked November 12, 2026)
How long the license is valid: The license is void 30 days after it is issued. (Source: revisor.mo.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
Where the license can be used: Check with your county clerk. Official page
Witnesses: Check with your county clerk. Official page
Who may officiate: Active or retired clergy in good standing with a church or synagogue in Missouri, judges, and religious organizations when a party is a member. (Source: revisor.mo.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: 18 or older; recorders may not issue a license for anyone under 18. (Source: revisor.mo.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
ID and documents to bring: Proof of age: a certified birth certificate, passport, or other government-issued ID. Applications also need a Social Security number or a statement that you have none. (Source: revisor.mo.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
Where to apply: The recorder of deeds; both parties sign the application in the recorder's presence, or electronically where an online process is offered. (Source: revisor.mo.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
Online application: State law lets a recorder accept applications online with identity verification; at least one applicant must live in that county or city. (Source: revisor.mo.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
Certified copy of the marriage certificate: Certified copies come only from the Recorder of Deeds in the county that issued the license. The state issues only a Certified Statement Relating to Marriage. (Source: health.mo.gov, checked October 30, 2026)

Common questions

How much is a marriage license in Missouri?

$53 at the Clay County Recorder of Deeds, payable by cash or credit card; the card processor adds a transaction fee. Missouri counties set their own fee. The fee shown is from Clay County; ask your county clerk for its fee.

Is there a waiting period to get married in Missouri?

None. The Cape Girardeau County Recorder says there is no waiting period and the license can be used the day it is issued.

How long is a Missouri marriage license valid?

The license is void 30 days after it is issued.

Who can officiate a wedding in Missouri?

Active or retired clergy in good standing with a church or synagogue in Missouri, judges, and religious organizations when a party is a member.

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

Certified copies come only from the Recorder of Deeds in the county that issued the license. The state issues only a Certified Statement Relating to Marriage.

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