Cheers to tying the knot! You may have selected a wedding date, color schemes and started to look for venues and an officiant, but you and your future spouse may be wondering exactly how to go about obtaining your actual marriage license – the not-so-exciting part of planning a wedding. Paperwork isn’t at the top of anyone’s romantic visions, but it’s an important aspect to making your marriage official. We’re here to inform you that applying and obtaining your marriage license is not that difficult in Oakland County with a step-by-step guide.

First, head over to the Oakland County Clerk’s Office website to complete and submit your application. Please make note of the following requirements:

• Age: You must be 18 years of age to apply for a marriage application in Michigan. Individuals 16 and 17 years of age must provide a certified copy of their birth certificate and have written consent of one parent or legal guardian, who must appear at the time of application with picture identification.
• Residency: If you are a Michigan resident, you must apply in the county where you live. If both parties are Michigan residents but live in different counties, you may apply in either county. The license is valid throughout the state. If both parties are out-of-state residents, you must apply in the county where you are going to be married. The license is valid in that county only.

To apply for a marriage license, the following documentation is required of the bride and groom:

• Valid driver’s license or state ID with current address
• Birth certificate or valid passport (If a passport is used, full names of both parents and the state or country where they were born must be provided at time of application)
• Social Security Number

Obtaining a marriage license is probably the least expensive thing to cover in the midst of wedding planning. It costs $20 per couple for residents of Michigan and $30 per couple for those who live out-of-state. The fee can be covered using a credit card (Discover, MasterCard and Visa), cash or money order made payable to Oakland County Clerk, however, no personal checks.

After submitting the application, you must make an appointment to pick up your marriage license at the Oakland County Clerk’s Office. Only one party must be present to pick up the marriage license. Be sure to take your confirmation number, valid identification, social security numbers and birth certificates (or passports) for both parties with you. The marriage licenses are available to be picked up on the third day following your application submission. For example, if you apply on Monday, pick up on or after Thursday. Can’t wait the three days? No worries. For an additional fee of $5, the 3-day waiting period can be waived.

The timing to apply for a marriage license is important to remember. A marriage license expires 33 days from the date of application. Please note that if you waive the 3-day waiting period, your marriage license will expire in 30 days.

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