The Marriage License

People signing marriage license

Applying for a Marriage License in Wisconsin

The marriage license gives the minister  permission for you to get married within the official legal parameters of the country where you reside. 

This can be an exciting time for the two of you! Don’t let the marriage license laws of Wisconsin put a dent in your wedding plans. Below is what you need to know:

This form needs to be provided to me before the ceremony.

  • No blood tests as these were done away with as of January 1995
  • You must apply for your license in the county in which you reside
  • Both parties must be present when applying for the license
  • You both must both show a certified copy birth certificate.  No photocopies or facsimiles will be accepted.
  • You both must be at least 18 years of age
  • Applicants that are 16 or 17 years of age, must have parent’s consent (both mother and father) or legal guardian’s consent.  Consent form must be properly filled out and notarized.  There is a Consent form available to be signed by parents or guardian before a County Clerk.
  • Two witnesses over 18 years of age are required at the ceremony
  • Parent’s names are required and mothers’ maiden names, along with town, city, county, country of birth.
  • One of you needs to have resided for at least 30 days in the Wisconsin county where you are applying. If you are from out-of-state, you must apply in the county where the ceremony will take place.
  • If either of the couple has had a previous marriage, a filed copy of final judgment of divorce, legal annulment or certified death certificate must be shown at the time of application.
  • Wisconsin Statutes make it unlawful for any person to marry again until 6 months from the date of the granting of a judgment of divorce, REGARDLESS OF WHERE THE DIVORCE WA S G R A N T E D.
  • You must supply the full name, address & phone number of the clergy performing the wedding ceremony.
  • You both must bring in their social security cards.
  • License must be applied for no more than 30 but no less than 6 days before the ceremony.
  • There is a waiting period of six days in Wisconsin. If one or both of the parties is coming from out of state for the wedding, you can ask for a waiver of the waiting period when you apply for your license. The cost of the waiver varies from county to county. Some counties charge $10, making the total needed at time of application $70 in cash. Please check with the County Clerk’s office for more information.
  • Milwaukee fee is $110 – CASH ONLY
  • No cousin marriages are allowed in Wisconsin
  • A Wisconsin marriage license is valid for thirty (30) days.
  • There can be NO cross-outs on the marriage license
  • All signatures must be in black ink. 

 

WHERE TO APPLY in Milwaukee:

Office of Mark Ryan, Milwaukee County Clerk,
Room 105, Courthouse
901 North 9th Street, Milwaukee.
(414) 278-4070
Applications accepted Monday thru Friday from 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P. M .

TO OBTAIN A COPY OF A CERTIFICATE OF MARRIAGE:

Send a SASE for a marriage certificate application to:

Marriage Certificate Application

Vital Records
P.O. Box 309
Madison, WI 53701-0309

Email:  VitalRecords@dhfs.state.wi.us.
Phone: (608) 266-1371

 

You can also download the application in .pdf format from their Web Site at: http://www.dhfs.state.wi.us/vitalrecords

 

PLEASE NOTE:

State and county marriage license requirements often change. The above information is for guidance only and should not be regarded as legal advice.

It is important that you verify all information with your local marriage license office or county clerk before making any wedding or travel plans.

 

Below is a listing of other County Clerk offices in Wisconsin:

Dane County Clerk
210 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Madison, WI 53709
(608) 266-4121

Adams County Clerk
P.O. Box 219
Friendship, WI 53934
(608) 339-4200

Ashland County Clerk
201 Main St. W
Ashland, WI 54806
(715) 682-7000

Barron County Clerk
330 E. LaSalle
Barron, WI 54812
(715) 537-6205

Bayfield County Clerk
117 E. 5th St.
Washburn, WI 54891
(715) 373-6100

Brown County Clerk
111 North Jefferson St.
Green Bay, WI 54301
(920) 448-4016

Buffalo County Clerk
407 2nd St.
Alma, WI 54610
(608) 685-4016

Burnett County Clerk
7410 County Road #103
Siren, WI 54872
(715) 349-2173

Calumet County Clerk
206 Court St.
Chilton, WI 53014
(920) 849-1458

Chippewa County
Register Of Deeds
711 N. Bridge St.
Chippewa Falls, WI 54729
(715) 726-7980

Clark County
Register Of Deeds
517 Court St.
Neillsville, WI 54456
(715) 743-5148

Columbia County Clerk
400 De Witt St.
Portage, WI 53901
(608) 742-9654

Crawford County Clerk
220 N. Beaumont Rd.
Prairie Duchien, WI 53821
(608) 326-0200

Dane County Clerk
210 Martin Luther
King Jr Blvd
Madison, WI 53709
(608) 266-4121

Dodge County Clerk
127 E Oak St.
Juneau, WI 53039
(920) 386-3602

Door County Clerk
P.O. Box 67
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
(920) 746-2200

Douglas County Clerk
1313 Belknap St., # 309
Superior, WI 54880
(715) 395-1330

Dunn County Clerk
800 Wilson Ave.
Menomonie, WI 54751
(715) 232-1677

Eau Claire County Clerk
721 Oxford Ave.
Eau Claire, WI 54702
(715) 839-4801

Florence County Clerk
501 Lake Ave.
Florence, WI 54121
(715) 589-4321

Fond Du Lac County Clerk
160 Macy St.
Fond Du Lac, WI 54935
(920) 929-3000

Forest County Clerk
200 E Madison St.
Crandon, WI 54520
(715) 478-2422

Grant County Clerk
P.O. Box 391
Lancaster, WI 53813
(608) 723-2675

Green County Clerk
1016 16th Ave.
Monroe, WI 53566
(608) 328-9430

Green Lake
County Clerk
492 Hill St.
Green Lake, WI 54941
(920) 294-4005

Iowa County Clerk
222 N. Iowa St.
Dodgeville, WI 53533
(608) 935-5445

Iron County Clerk
300 Taconite
Hurley, WI 54534
(715) 561-3375

Jackson County Clerk
307 Main
Blk River Falls, WI 54615
(715) 284-0201

Jefferson County Clerk
320 Main St.
Jefferson, WI 53549
(920) 674-7140

Juneau County Clerk
220 E. State St.
Mauston, WI 53948
(608) 847-9300

Kenosha County Clerk
912 56th St.
Kenosha, WI 53140
(262) 653-2552

Kewaunee County Clerk
613 Dodge St.
Kewaunee, WI 54216
(920) 388-4410

La Crosse County Clerk
400 N. 4th St.
La Crosse, WI 54601
(608) 785-9581

La Fayette County Clerk
P.O. Box 170
Darlington, WI 53530
(608) 776-4850

Langdale County Clerk
800 Clarmont
Atigo, WI 54409-1985
(715) 627-6200

Lincoln County Clerk
1110 E Main St.
Merrill, WI 54452
(715) 536-0312

Manitowoc County Clerk
P.O. Box 1121
Manitowoc, WI 54221-0421
(920) 683-4000

Marathon County Clerk
500 Forest St.
Wausau, WI 54401
(715) 847-5500

Marinette County Clerk
P.O. Box 320
Marinette, WI 54143
(715) 732-7406

Marquette County Clerk
P.O. Box 236
Montello, WI 53949
(608) 297-9114

Menominee County Clerk
P.O. Box 428
Keshena, WI 54135
(715) 799-3311

Milwaukee County Clerk
901 North 9th  St., Room 103
Milwaukee, WI 53233
(414) 278-4067

Monroe County Clerk
112 S. Court St.
Sparta, WI 54656
(608) 269-8705

Oconto County Clerk
300 Washington St.
Oconto, WI 54153
(920) 834-6857

Oneida County Clerk
P.O. Box 400
Rhine Lander, WI 54501
(715) 369-6144

Outagamie County Clerk
410 S. Walnut St.
Appleton, WI 54911
(920) 832-5077

Ozaukee County Clerk
121 West Main St.
Port Washington, WI 53074
(262) 284-8110

Pepin County Clerk
P.O. Box 39
Durand, WI 54736
(715) 672-8857

Pierce County Clerk
414 W. Main
Ellsworth, WI 54011
(715) 273-3531

Polk County Clerk
P.O. Box 172
Balsam Lake, WI 54810
(715) 485-3161

Potage County Clerk
1516 Church St.
Stevens Point, WI 54481
(715) 346-1351

Price County Clerk
126 Cherry St.
Phillips, WI 54555
(715) 339-3325

Racine County Clerk
730 Wisconsin Ave.
Racine, WI 53403
(262) 636-3121

Richland County Clerk
P.O. Box 337
Richland Center, WI 53581
(608) 647-2197

Rock County Clerk
51 South Main St.
Janesville, WI 53545
(608) 757-5660

Rusk County Clerk
311 E. Miner Ave.
Lady Smith, WI 54848
(715) 532-2100

Sauk County Clerk
515 Oak St.
Baraboo, WI 53913
(608) 355-3286

Sawyer County Clerk
10610 Main St.
Hayward, WI 54843
(715) 634-4866

Shawano County Clerk
Courthouse, Room 107
Shawano, WI 54166
(715) 526-9150

Sheboygan County Clerk
615 North 6th St., Room 106
Sheboygan, WI 53081
(920) 459-3003

St. Croix County Clerk
1101 Carmichael Rd.
Hudson, WI 54016
(715) 386-4614

Taylor County Clerk
224 S. 2nd St.
Medford, WI 54451
(715) 748-1400

Trempealeau County Clerk
County Court House
Whitehall, WI 54773
(715) 538-2311 ext 201

Vernon County Clerk
Court House Annex
Viroqua, WI 54665
(608) 637-3569

Vilas County Clerk
330 Court St.
Eagle River, WI 54521
(715) 479-3600

Walworth County Clerk
100 W Walworth St.
Elkhorn, WI 53121
(262) 741-4241

Washburn County Clerk
P.O. Box 338
Shell Lake, WI 54871
(715) 468-7808

Washington County Clerk
432 E.Washington St.
West Bend, WI 53095
(262) 335-4301

Waukesha County Clerk
County Administration Building

1320 Pewaukee Road, Room 110

Waukesha, WI 53188

(262) 548-7010

Waupaca County Clerk
811 Harding Street
Waupaca, WI 54981
(715) 258-6200

Waushara County Clerk
811 Harding St.
Wautoma, WI 54982
(715) 258-6200

Winnebago County Clerk
415 Jackson St.
Oshkosh, WI 54901
(920) 236-4888

Wood County Clerk
400 Market St.
Wisconsin Rapid, WI 54495
(715) 421-8460