Get your Montana Marriage License
Everything you need to get married in Montana: where to apply, what to bring, the $53 fee and how long the license lasts. After the ceremony, we order your certified marriage certificate for you.
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Vital Records Online (VRO) is an officially approved third-party vendor for some state health departments, offering vital record services such as birth, marriage, death, and divorce certificates. VRO is an independent, SOC 2 compliant document filing service and is not a government agency.
Before the ceremony
Montana Marriage License
A Montana marriage license is issued by the Clerk of District Court of any Montana county, regardless of where you live. It costs $53, is issued the same day, and is valid for 180 days anywhere in Montana. There is no waiting period and no blood test. Both of you sign the application together, and at least one of you pays the fee.
Once the ceremony is over and the officiant returns the license, the county records the marriage. That is when you can order the certified marriage certificate, the document you will need for a name change, immigration, insurance or benefits.
Who Issues Marriage Licenses in Montana?
Only the Clerk of District Court issues marriage licenses in Montana. Every one of the 56 counties has one, and you may apply in any county: a license bought in Missoula is valid for a wedding in Bozeman. The license is valid only in Montana.
The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Office of Vital Records does not issue licenses or marriage certificates. It only keeps a statewide index of marriages since 1943 and can confirm, for a $10 search fee, that a marriage was recorded.
After the wedding, the officiant returns the signed license to the same Clerk of District Court within 30 days. That office records the marriage and is the only place that issues certified copies of the marriage certificate.
How to Get a Montana Marriage License
The process takes one visit and usually under half an hour.
- Start the application. Several counties, including Missoula and Flathead, let you fill in the application online before you come in. Elsewhere you complete it at the counter.
- Go to the Clerk of District Court together. Both of you must appear and sign the application. Bring proof of age and your Social Security numbers, if you have them.
- Pay the $53 fee. Payment methods vary by county: Missoula and Gallatin take cash and cards but not personal checks; Flathead also accepts checks.
- Receive the license the same day. It is valid for 180 days, so the ceremony can happen immediately or any time within six months.
- Hold the ceremony. Any authorized officiant in Montana can perform it. Montana also allows a declaration of marriage without a ceremony and proxy marriages.
- Return the license within 30 days. The officiant sends the completed license back to the Clerk of District Court, which records the marriage.
What to bring
- Valid photo ID or proof of age for each of you: driver's license, passport, state ID or birth certificate
- Social Security numbers (if you have one)
- Details of any previous marriage: former spouse's name and the date and place of the divorce or death
- $53 in a form your county accepts
- For a 16- or 17-year-old: parental consent and judicial approval; no one under 16 may marry
Cost & fees
Montana Marriage License Fees
The license fee is set by state law at $53 and is the same in every county. It covers the license and the recording of your marriage; it does not include a certified copy of the marriage certificate, which the county sells separately once the marriage is recorded. County copy fees vary, usually between $5 and $25.
If you would rather not visit the courthouse again, VRO orders the certified marriage certificate for you. Our filing fee starts at $16, plus the county fee, and includes document verification and order tracking.
Marriage license |
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$53.00 |
Issued |
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Same day |
Valid for |
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180 days |
Certified marriage certificate |
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Set by the county |
Waiting Period, Validity and Proxy Marriage
No waiting period. Montana issues the license on the spot and you may marry the same day.
Valid for 180 days. If the wedding is postponed beyond six months, you apply and pay again. The license is valid only for a ceremony in Montana.
Proxy marriage. Montana is the only state that allows a double proxy marriage, where neither party attends the ceremony in person. It was created for deployed service members and is available when at least one party is a Montana resident or a member of the U.S. armed forces. A proxy stands in for the absent party and signs on their behalf.
Declaration of marriage. Montana also lets a couple marry by signing a written declaration of marriage, filed with the Clerk of District Court, instead of holding a ceremony.
Common-law marriage is still recognized in Montana, but it produces no license and no certificate; proving it may require a court order.
Next step
After the Wedding: Get Your Montana Marriage Certificate
The license proves you were allowed to marry; the marriage certificate proves you did. Once the officiant returns the license, the Clerk of District Court records it and can issue certified copies. You will need one to change your name with Social Security and the MVD, to add a spouse to insurance, and for immigration or benefits.
VRO files the request with the right county, checks your documents first, and tracks the order until it ships. See the Montana marriage certificate page for county fees and processing times.
frequently asked questions
Other FAQs
How Much Does a Marriage License Cost in Montana?
$53, the same in every county, set by Montana law. Payment methods vary: some clerks take cash and cards only, others also accept checks. A certified copy of the marriage certificate costs extra and is sold by the county after the marriage is recorded.
Is There a Waiting Period for a Marriage License in Montana?
No. The Clerk of District Court issues the license the same day you apply, and you can marry immediately.
How Long Is a Montana Marriage License Valid?
180 days from the date it is issued, for a ceremony anywhere in Montana. It cannot be used in another state. If the wedding slips past six months, you apply and pay again.
Can I Apply for a Montana Marriage License Online?
Partly. Counties such as Missoula and Flathead let you fill in the application online, but both of you must still come to the Clerk of District Court to sign it, show ID and pay before the license is issued.
What Do I Need to Get Married in Montana?
Both parties appear together with valid photo ID or another proof of age, their Social Security numbers if they have them, the details of any previous marriage (former spouse's name, and the date and place of the divorce or death), and the $53 fee. Applicants aged 16 or 17 need parental consent and judicial approval. No blood test or premarital counseling is required.
Can I Get a Marriage License in Montana if I Was Married Before?
Yes, as long as the previous marriage has ended. Write the former spouse's full name and the exact date, state and county of the divorce or death on the application. The decree or death certificate is not required as proof.
What Is a Proxy Marriage in Montana?
A marriage where one or both parties are absent from the ceremony and a proxy signs for them. Montana is the only state that allows a double proxy, with neither party present. At least one party must be a Montana resident or on active duty in the U.S. armed forces.
How Do I Change My Name After Getting Married in Montana?
Use a certified copy of your marriage certificate, not the license, at the Social Security Administration first and then at the Montana MVD, your bank and your employer. Order the certified copy through VRO and read our guide to documents after a name change or marriage.
How Do I Get a Copy of My Montana Marriage Certificate?
From the Clerk of District Court in the county that issued the license, in person or by mail, or online through VitalRecordsOnline. We prepare the request, verify your documents and track the order. See the Montana marriage certificate page for fees and processing times.