How to Get a Marriage License in Detroit: Step by Step

If you want your nikah to be a legal marriage in Michigan as well, you need a marriage license first. Here is how it works in Detroit, from applying to collecting the license, in plain steps.

At a glance

Where

Wayne County Clerk, One-Stop Shop Vital Statistics Records Office, 400 Monroe St., Suite 610, Detroit, MI 48226

Booking

Appointments are scheduled via eScheduler; time-sensitive appointments are available for marriage licences. If no slots exist before your wedding date, call 313-967-6938. Hours: Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri 8:00 AM-4:00 PM; Thu 8:00 AM-7:00 PM; closed 12:00-1:00 PM daily.

Fee

$30 $30 if one or both applicants live in Wayne County; $40 if both live out of state.

Payment

Cash, money order, or debit/credit card. Personal checks are not accepted.

Who attends

A Wayne County resident applying must be present. If both parties are non-residents, they apply in the county where the marriage will occur, and at least one party must appear in person.

Valid for

Valid only in Michigan. Validity period is not stated on the page read.

Step by step

1. Apply. Complete the eVitals application online (evitals.waynecounty.com/onlinefiling) before your visit, then schedule an appointment through the county eScheduler and attend with your documents.
2. Book or plan your visit. Appointments are scheduled via eScheduler; time-sensitive appointments are available for marriage licences. If no slots exist before your wedding date, call 313-967-6938. Hours: Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri 8:00 AM-4:00 PM; Thu 8:00 AM-7:00 PM; closed 12:00-1:00 PM daily.
3. Gather your ID and documents. See the list below. Bring originals.
4. Attend and pay. A Wayne County resident applying must be present. If both parties are non-residents, they apply in the county where the marriage will occur, and at least one party must appear in person. Cash, money order, or debit/credit card. Personal checks are not accepted.
5. Give the license to your officiant. Your imam needs it at the ceremony, and must be authorized to solemnize marriages in Michigan. Valid only in Michigan. Validity period is not stated on the page read.

What to bring

• Valid driver's licence or state ID to prove residency
• Certified birth certificate showing parental information (or a passport) for each person; hospital and baptismal certificates not accepted
• If no certified birth certificate: valid U.S. passport, or a letter of 'no record' from the birth state plus a NUMIDENT from Social Security
• Foreign-born applicants need additional original documents listed on the page; foreign documents must be translated into English
• Both applicants must provide Social Security numbers; if you have none, tell the clerk when applying
• Divorce and age rules are not stated on the page

Good to know

• Officiant records city/village/township, county and marriage date, and signs with printed name, title and full address (no P.O. boxes or email addresses). Whether clergy must register is not stated.
• After the ceremony the 2nd and 3rd copies must reach the Clerk's Office; they can be mailed to the Downtown Detroit office.
• A spouse changing their name must sign all three documents using the new name.
• Certified copies: $24 first copy, $7 each additional bought at the same time; in person (by appointment), mail, or online via VitalChek. Uncertified search $11.50.
• Waiting period is not stated on the page

Your nikah and the license

The license is what makes your marriage legal. Your nikah is the religious ceremony. If your imam is authorized to solemnize marriages in Michigan, one ceremony can be both. See imams serving Detroit and our Michigan nikah guide for who may officiate and how the marriage is recorded.

A few common questions

Details come from the Wayne County Clerk, One-Stop Shop Vital Statistics Records Office website, checked in October 2026. Fees, hours and booking rules change, so confirm before you go. Wayne County Clerk, One-Stop Shop Vital Statistics Records Office: marriage license page. Contact: 313-967-6938. This guide is general information, not legal advice.