Aside from wedding rings, one of the best legal proofs of being married is the marriage certificate. But how do you avail this legal document? And how much does it cost to get a marriage certificate?
Before you can marry the love of your life, you have to apply and spend for a marriage license. On the day of your wedding day, you need to let your officiant fill out and sign the license. After that, you should submit the signed marriage license to the local registrar or the county clerk personally or through mail. It takes a few weeks to make it as an official record. Once the document is ready, either you or your spouse can order a copy or copies of your marriage certificate.
Cost of a Marriage Certificate
Now that you are aware of the whole process, the next thing to know is the price of marriage certificate. The cost of the official and legal document can range from $5 to $30 for the first copy and additional copies cost from $2 to $25 each.
The prices vary from state to state, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has provided the marriage certificate cost in every state. Do take note that the costs for additional copies only apply when you request them on the same day you buy the first copy.
Alabama
– The initial copy is $15 and $6 for each additional copy.
Alaska
– The initial copy is $30, while additional copies cost $25 each.
American Samoa
– The marriage certificate is only $5. Meanwhile, the marriage license is more expensive at $20.
Arizona
– The cost of the certificate varies by county.
Arkansas
– Both the first copy and additional copies cost $10 each.
California
– The certificate costs $14 by county while $15 by state.
Canal Zone
– The first copy is $30 and additional copies are $20 each.
Colorado
– Marriage certificates in this state are not available at the State Health Department. But if you wish to verify any related information, the fee is $17.
Connecticut
– Certified copies cost $20 each.
Delaware
– The marriage certificate costs $25.
District of Columbia
– You have to pay $10 for your marriage certificate.
Florida
– A marriage certificate in this state is $5 and $4 for each additional copy. If the exact marriage date is unknown, you will pay $5 for the search in the first year. Succeeding years will charge $2 per year, and you are only allowed up to $50. The fees already include one certified copy if the information is found or a certified statement that says the record is not found.
Georgia
– The cost of a marriage certificate is $10.
Guam
– $10 in this territory as well.
Hawaii
– For the first copy, you pay $10. If you request additional copies at the same time, the price is $4 each.
Idaho
– A computer-generated marriage certificate costs $16. If you want a photostatic copy, the cost $21 and $16 for every additional photostatic copy.
Illinois
– Apparently, the marriage certificate price in this state is the cheapest at $5.
Iowa
– You pay $15 for a certified copy of your marriage certificate.
Kansas
– Both the initial copy and additional copies cost $15 each.
Kentucky
– The cost of a marriage certificate is only $6, which is one of the cheapest prices.
Louisiana
– The cost is only $5, but it only applies to couples who purchased marriage licenses in Orleans Parish. Moreover, there is a $0.50 state charge added to each mail-in request.
Maine
– $15 for the initial certificate and $6 for every additional copy.
Maryland
– A copy of a marriage certificate costs $12 in this state.
Massachusetts
– If you personally get your marriage certificate, you pay $20. But if you request to mail the document, the price is higher at $32. Meanwhile, the state archives cost $3 each.
Michigan
– Each marriage certificate costs $34. For rush orders, you need to add $12, so that makes a total of $46.
Minnesota
– If the marriage is registered in a local county, the price of the certificate is $9. Apparently, the state does not keep marriage records, that’s why no price was set.
Mississippi
– $15 is the price for your marriage certificate in this state.
Missouri
– Both the initial copy and additional copies requested on the same day cost $15 each.
Montana
– Unfortunately, there are no certified copies available at the State Office. If you want to search or verify related marriage information, the fee is $10.
Nebraska
– You pay $16 for a certified copy of your marriage certificate.
Nevada
– The state indexes marriage records from January 1968 to September 2005. If you need any information about your marriage file, then the search fee is $10.
New Hampshire
– You pay $15 for the first copy and $10 for each additional copy.
New Jersey
– The first marriage certificate copy is $25, but the additional copies ordered on the same transaction happens to be the cheapest at $2 each. (Might be a good idea to request a bunch of copies to save money.)
New Mexico
– You need to go to the county clerk where your marriage license was issued.
New York State (excluding New York City)
– $30 at the state level while $5 in the city
New York City
– Married couples registered in this city pay $10 for their marriage certificate.
North Carolina
– $24 for the first copy and additional copies cost $15 each
North Dakota
– The prices vary from county to county.
Northern Mariana Islands
– $10 for each copy
Ohio
– The state no longer keeps records of marriages. Couples may go to their respective county clerk where the marriage license was registered.
Oklahoma
– The costs vary. You may go to the county clerk where your marriage license was issued.
Oregon
– The first copy costs $25, while additional copies cost $20 each.
Pennsylvania
– Marriage certificate costs vary by county.
Puerto Rico
– $5 for the first copy and $4 for every additional copy. But couples who are 60 years old and above and veterans of the United States Armed Forces can get their marriage certificates for free.
Rhode Island
– $20 for each marriage certificate copy
South Carolina
– The search fee is $12, which includes one copy of the document if found. The price for additional copies is $3 each.
South Dakota
– $15 for each marriage certificate copy
Tennessee
– $15 for each marriage certificate copy
Texas
– The State Office has no longer been holding marriage records since January 1966. But if you wish to search for any information or verify facts related to your marriage, the search fee is $20 for each service.
Utah
– The first copy costs $18, while additional copies cost $10 each.
Vermont
– $10 for each marriage certificate copy
Virginia
– $12 for each marriage certificate copy
Virgin Islands
– If couples got married at St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John, the price of the marriage certificate is only $2.
Washington
– $20 for each marriage certificate copy
West Virginia
– $12 for each marriage certificate copy
Wisconsin
– $20 for each marriage certificate copy
Wyoming
– $8 for each marriage certificate copy