How to Get a Marriage License in Louisville: Step by Step
Published October 17, 2026
If you want your nikah to be a legal marriage in Kentucky as well, you need a marriage license first. Here is how it works in Louisville, from applying to collecting the license, in plain steps.
At a glance
- Where
- Jefferson County Clerk's Office (Professional License Department and branch offices), Professional License Department: Metro Hall, 527 West Jefferson St., Room 100A, Louisville, KY 40202. Branches: Dixie (4919-F Dixie Highway), East (12312-A Shelbyville Road, Middletown Plaza), Fairdale (10616 Manslick Road), Highview (7813 Beulah Church Road), Jeffersontown (10420 Watterson Trail, Bremer Ehrler Bldg.), West (228 Amy Avenue), Westport Plaza (9455 Westport Road).
- Booking
- Walk-ins accepted at the branches. Branch hours listed: 8:30-4:30 on most weekdays with one extended day to 6:30 per branch (Dixie, East and Highview: extended Monday; Fairdale and West: extended Tuesday; Westport Plaza: extended Wednesday; Jeffersontown: extended Thursday). Check the page for which weekdays each branch is open.
- Fee
- $60 The page says $50 and $60 starting June 27, 2025; the current fee is therefore $60 per the county page. Certified copy by mail $6.00. Confirm with the clerk.
- Payment
- Cash, checks, Visa, MasterCard and Discover (page also lists money order and credit card for the $60)
- Who attends
- Both people must be present. Both must be 18 or older. A 17-year-old needs a District Court order first; no one under 17 may marry in Kentucky.
- Valid for
- 30 days including the date of issue. Usable in any Kentucky county but nowhere outside Kentucky. If not solemnized within 30 days you must apply again.
Step by step
- Apply. Both people apply in person at the Professional License Department or at any of the seven branches. The county says branches accept walk-ins for weddings within the next 30 days.
- Book or plan your visit. Walk-ins accepted at the branches. Branch hours listed: 8:30-4:30 on most weekdays with one extended day to 6:30 per branch (Dixie, East and Highview: extended Monday; Fairdale and West: extended Tuesday; Westport Plaza: extended Wednesday; Jeffersontown: extended Thursday). Check the page for which weekdays each branch is open.
- Gather your ID and documents. See the list below. Bring originals.
- Attend and pay. Both people must be present. Both must be 18 or older. A 17-year-old needs a District Court order first; no one under 17 may marry in Kentucky. Cash, checks, Visa, MasterCard and Discover (page also lists money order and credit card for the $60)
- Give the license to your officiant. Your imam needs it at the ceremony, and must be authorized to solemnize marriages in Kentucky. 30 days including the date of issue. Usable in any Kentucky county but nowhere outside Kentucky. If not solemnized within 30 days you must apply again.
What to bring
- Driver's licence, current state picture ID or passport
- No birth certificate needed unless under 18
- No divorce decree needed
- No Social Security card needed
- No waiting period or blood test
Good to know
- At least two people besides the couple and the person solemnizing must be present at the marriage
- The county says there are no residency or licensing requirements for ministers or priests who perform marriages in Kentucky
- Common-law and proxy marriages are listed as prohibited in Kentucky
- You can get a licence in one Kentucky county and marry in another
- The FAQ also asks where the signed licence can be returned after the ceremony and lists the branch locations for returns
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 Kentucky, one ceremony can be both. See imams serving Louisville and our Kentucky nikah guide for who may officiate and how the marriage is recorded.
A few common questions
How much is a marriage license in Louisville?
The issuing office lists the license fee as $60. The page says $50 and $60 starting June 27, 2025; the current fee is therefore $60 per the county page. Certified copy by mail $6.00. Confirm with the clerk. Fees change, so check the Jefferson County Clerk's Office (Professional License Department and branch offices) page before you go.
Do I need an appointment in Louisville?
Walk-ins accepted at the branches. Branch hours listed: 8:30-4:30 on most weekdays with one extended day to 6:30 per branch (Dixie, East and Highview: extended Monday; Fairdale and West: extended Tuesday; Westport Plaza: extended Wednesday; Jeffersontown: extended Thursday). Check the page for which weekdays each branch is open.
Can I get my license in one place and marry in another?
It depends on the state. 30 days including the date of issue. Usable in any Kentucky county but nowhere outside Kentucky. If not solemnized within 30 days you must apply again. Confirm with Jefferson County Clerk's Office (Professional License Department and branch offices) whether your license can be used outside this county or state before you plan your ceremony.
Do I need a marriage license for a nikah?
Only if you want the marriage to be legally recognized in Kentucky. A nikah on its own is religiously valid but is not a legal marriage. If you want both, you need a license and an authorized officiant, and one ceremony can cover both.
Planning a nikah in Louisville?
Tell us your date and we will help you find an imam, including one who can register the marriage if you want the legal side done the same day.
Details come from the Jefferson County Clerk's Office (Professional License Department and branch offices) website, checked in October 2026. Fees, hours and booking rules change, so confirm before you go. Jefferson County Clerk's Office (Professional License Department and branch offices): marriage license page. Contact: Professional Licensing department: 502-574-5884. This guide is general information, not legal advice.