View Free Michigan Marriage Records: Certificates & Licenses

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Free Michigan Marriage Record Search

Access anyone's marital information in Michigan, free of charge.

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Perform a free search of Michigan marriage records using the official lookup methods linked and explained throughout this streamlined resource.

Whether you want to find information on a particular marriage for identification purposes, to check out someone’s relationship status, or for genealogical research, this brief article shows you how to do so efficiently.

You’ll even be shown how to apply for a new marriage license in the state of Michigan if you have an upcoming wedding.

Accessing Marriage Records in Michigan

Thanks to the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, members of the public have the right to request and obtain certain records kept by state agencies.¹ This includes records involving marriages.

While some other states limit marriage records to members of the registrants’ immediate families, that’s not the case in Michigan. Copies of marriage records kept by Michigan agencies may be requested by members of the public.

There’s one relatively rare exception to this rule: In some instances, the registrants have received permission from a probate judge to keep the wedding “confidential.” In this case, only the bride and groom may access the marriage record.

Each county has a clerk who is responsible for granting marriage licenses and for maintaining these records.

However, Michigan marriage licenses may be used for weddings anywhere in the state — not just in the counties where they were granted. Therefore, it can get tricky when trying to find a license if you know that a wedding took place in Michigan but aren’t sure which county clerk issued the document.

For a search of all marriage records from any county in the state, Michigan’s Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics is the primary record custodian. The department is part of Michigan’s Department of Health & Human Services and maintains documents related to marriages, births, deaths, and divorces.

Marriage archives can also be searched through the state archives at the Library of Michigan.

Interested parties can also find out general information on Michigan marriages through the U.S. Census Bureau. According to the 2022 U.S. Census, 45.7% of households in Michigan were occupied by married couples.² Among males and females aged 15 years or older, 48.6% and 46.2%, respectively, were married.

In addition, in Michigan, 10% of males and 12.4% of females were divorced.

How To Track Down Michigan Marriage Records & Licenses

As mentioned above, the Michigan Division for Vital Records & Health Statistics (MDHHS) is the state’s primary custodian for marriage records. This agency maintains and issues copies of marriage records dating as far back as 1867.

The division allows members of the public to request copies of Michigan marital records via several methods: in person, by mail, or through a third-party service for an extra fee.

If ordering copies directly from the department, the first thing to do is to complete and print the Michigan Marriage Record Application for a Certified Copy form found online. You’ll need to provide the names of both registrants, as well as the year in which the marriage took place.

The department will search the entire year for no extra cost if the exact date of the wedding isn’t known. However, if you require the department to search multiple years, you’ll have to pay $12 for each calendar year.

The cost for a record copy is $34. The record will be certified; there’s no way to request uncertified copies for a lower price. If you need additional copies, the cost is $16 per document.

If you wish to have “rush” processing — meaning the office’s team will prioritize your request — the cost is an extra $12.

The total fee can be paid with a check or money order made out to the “State of Michigan.”

To order the record in person, you can schedule an appointment online.³

The department offers appointments only on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Alternatively, you can drop off the completed application form along with payment in a sealed envelope in the drop box located in the main lobby of the department during business hours, which are Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Here’s the address for in-person records requests:

MDHHS Vital Records
333 South Grand Avenue
Lansing, MI 48933

Or you can mail the completed form and payment to this address:

Vital Records Requests
P.O. Box 30721
Lansing, Michigan 48909

If you wish to have the record search expedited and are paying the extra $12 fee, you can write “Rush” on the front of the envelope.

If you need an apostilled copy of your marriage record (such as for a foreign work visa), you can do so using a separate application. The cost for one apostilled copy is $42, and additional copies cost $26 each. Rush processing incurs an extra $25 fee.

You can submit your completed application in person or by mail using the addresses above.

The Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics also lets interested parties order copies of records through a third-party service, VitalChek. This service costs $34 for the search plus a $14 processing fee. You can also order expedited service or delivery for additional costs.

You can use VitalChek to order copies online or via phone at 866-443-9897. You can also elect to pick up your ordered copies at the department’s address above.

If you are simply requesting the basic facts of a marriage, you can do so through the Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics. You can submit a Request for Verification of a Michigan Marriage Record, which will include only the registrants’ names, as well as the date and place where the document was filed.

The cost for this service is $18, and expedited service costs an extra $12. You can mail the completed form and payment (a check or money order made out to the “State of Michigan”) to:

State of Michigan
Vital Records Requests
P.O. Box 30721
Lansing, Michigan 48909

It’s also worth noting that the department also issues “Statements of No Marriage”. You can order an authenticated copy with apostille for $42 or a non-authenticated copy of single status for $34.⁴

For more information, you can call the department at 517.335.8666. Or you can send an email to [email protected].

Searching the County or City in Michigan Where the Marriage Occurred

There may be reasons why you’d rather order copies of Michigan marital records from local agencies, rather than the State’s Vital Records Office.

For example, it might be more convenient for you to visit your nearby county clerk’s office rather than making the trek to Lansing for in-person service. In addition, county-level agencies may keep records older than what the state offers (1867 to present).

The Clerk’s Office of each Michigan County is responsible for issuing marriage licenses; no cities in the state keep official records pertaining to weddings.

This section of the guide will explain how to locate marriage records in the state’s three most populous counties: Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb.

The Wayne County Clerk is the custodian for marriage records in the state’s largest county. You can order copies of marriage records in person, by mail, or online through VitalChek (for extra processing fees).

The cost for a certified copy is $24. Additional copies cost $7 each. The cost for an uncertified copy is $11.50.

The fee can be paid with a money order or cashier’s check payable to the “Wayne County Clerk.” In addition, if ordering copies in person, you can use cash or a debit or credit card.

To order a copy in person, you will first need to make an appointment online. The office offers appointments on Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. and on Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. All appointments take place at this address:

Wayne County Clerk
400 Monroe Street., Ste. 610
Detroit, MI 48226

Or you can complete and mail a Wayne County Marriage Certificate Search Form, along with payment, to the address above.

For more information, you can reach the Wayne County Clerk’s office at 313.967.6938.

Meanwhile, the Oakland County Clerk’s Office offers only certified copies of marriage records. The cost is $15 for the first copy plus $5 for any extra copies.

You can order these documents either in person or by mail using the Marriage Request Form or online.⁵

Ordering online will incur a service fee.

If ordering through the mail, you can pay with a money order made out to the “Oakland County Clerk.” In-person orders can be made with a debit/credit card, cash, or a money order. Online orders can be paid with a debit/credit card only.

Here’s the address for mail or in-person orders:

Oakland County Clerk
1200 N. Telegraph Rd. Dept. 413
Pontiac, MI 48341

For more information, researchers can call the office at 248.858.0571.

Finally, you can order certified copies through the Macomb County Clerk. The cost here is $15 for the initial copy, plus $5 for each extra copy. You can order a copy online through the Marriage License Self-service Request Portal.⁶

There are no additional costs for online orders, which are payable with a debit or credit card.

Or you can use the Vital Records Certified Copy Request Form to order copies in person or by mail.⁷

Orders made this way can be paid for with a check or money order made out to the “Macomb County Clerk.”

Appointments are required for all in-person requests. Here’s the address for in-person and mail orders:

Macomb County Clerk – Marriage Records
120 N. Main
Mount Clemens, MI 48043

For more information, you can call the county clerk’s office at 586.469.5205.

Marriage records can also be used to learn more about a family’s past. Details on how to access these archived records is in the section below.

How To Find Archived Marital Records in Michigan for Genealogy Research

If you wish to track down Michigan marital records for genealogical purposes, you can do so through the Division for Vital Records & Health Statistics. This agency maintains records dating back to 1867.

You can order copies by mail using the Michigan Marriage Record Application for a Certified Copy form found online.⁸

These copies cost $34 a piece, payable with a check or money order made out to the “State of Michigan.”

Requesters must include the names of both marriage parties, as well as the year in which the wedding took place. If you don’t know the exact year, the department will search possible years for the cost of $12 each.

Here’s the address for mailing the form:

Vital Records Requests
P.O. Box 30721
Lansing, Michigan 48909

Or you can request a marriage record in person, but you must first schedule an appointment online. Appointments are available only on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. You can also visit in person to drop off a request form (and payment) without an appointment at this address:

Michigan Division for Vital Records & Health Statistics (MDHHS)
Vital Records
333 South Grand Avenue
Lansing, MI 48933

For more information, you can call 517.335.8666 or email [email protected].

It’s also possible to visit the Library of Michigan to view microfilm indexes of marriage records for free. The library’s indexes date from 1867 to 1969.

Reach out the Michigan Library at:⁹

Library of Michigan
702 West Kalamazoo St.
Lansing, MI 48915

The library is open Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, you can call 517.335.1477 or email [email protected].

There are also many other resources for tracking down genealogical information in Michigan, including the following:

• Michiganology
• Michigan History Center
• Michigan Family History Network
• Michigan Genealogical Council
• Local churches
• Local newspapers
• Local libraries

How To Apply for a Michigan Marriage License

In Michigan, marriage licenses can be obtained from county clerks.¹⁰ If either you or your partner are a resident of Michigan, you can receive a license in the county in which you live and use it anywhere in the state.

However, if both registrants are from out of state, you can only apply for a license in the county in which you intend to be married.

The county clerk will accept either a valid Michigan-issued ID card, a utility bill, a mortgage document, or a lease as proof of residency.

Both partners must be at least 18 years of age. Some counties allow registrants to apply online, while others require both registrants to apply in person.

The fee for a marriage license is $20 for Michigan residents and $30 if both parties reside out of state. Payment methods will vary per county.

After submitting the application, there is a three-day waiting period before you may pick up the license. However, if there is sufficient cause, the clerk may waive the three-day period for a $15 fee.

Once you’ve received the license, it is valid for 33 days.

Using the information above, researchers should now have a good idea of how to request copies of Michigan marriage records.