How to Get a Marriage License in Memphis: Step by Step
Published October 17, 2026
If you want your nikah to be a legal marriage in Tennessee as well, you need a marriage license first. Here is how it works in Memphis, from applying to collecting the license, in plain steps.
At a glance
- Where
- Shelby County Clerk, Marriage Department, Downtown: 150 Washington Avenue, Memphis, TN 38103 (Marriage Department, Suite 201 per the mailing address on the page). Also Shelby East Complex: 1075 Mullins Station Road.
- Booking
- The page does not mention appointments. Both offices are open Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-4:15 PM.
- Fee
- $37.50 with premarital preparation, $97.50 without The $37.50 fee applies to couples who completed 4 hours of premarital preparation with a qualified instructor (the Premarital Preparation form must be notarized and signed by the instructor). Couples who do not submit that form pay $97.50. A certified copy by mail costs $10 (check or money order). Confirm with the clerk.
- Who attends
- Both people, in person.
- Valid for
- 30 days from the date of issuance; after that the licence is void and a new one must be bought.
- Same day?
- The page does not describe a general waiting period. A three-day waiting period applies to approvals when an applicant is 17 years old. The Department of Health certificate and licence forms are handed to the couple at issuance.
Step by step
- Apply. Both people must appear in person for the licence to be issued. You can fill in the marriage application form before your visit; the page asks you to allow at least 4 hours for online applications to reach the Marriage Office.
- Book or plan your visit. The page does not mention appointments. Both offices are open Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-4:15 PM.
- Gather your ID and documents. See the list below. Bring originals.
- Attend and pay. Both people, in person.
- Give the license to your officiant. Your imam needs it at the ceremony, and must be authorized to solemnize marriages in Tennessee. 30 days from the date of issuance; after that the licence is void and a new one must be bought.
What to bring
- Age 21 and over: a photo ID
- Age 18 to 20: a certified birth certificate
- Age 17: no licence can be issued if the other applicant is more than four years (48 months) older; a birth certificate is required, and a parent/guardian must join the application or provide a notarized consent affidavit unless the applicant is emancipated (with certified proof)
- Under 17: no licence can be issued
- Blood test is not required
Good to know
- After the ceremony, the person who performs it must complete and sign both the Tennessee Department of Health Certificate of Marriage and the tear-off portion of the Rites of Matrimony form and send them back to the County Clerk's Office. The page says the marriage is not recognised by the state until the Clerk receives both forms and they are entered in the state system.
- The Marriage Licence Certified Copy is given to the couple at issuance for name changes and other legal uses.
- The page does not state SSN requirements, residency rules, prior-marriage documents or who may officiate.
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 Tennessee, one ceremony can be both. See imams serving Memphis and our Tennessee nikah guide for who may officiate and how the marriage is recorded.
A few common questions
How much is a marriage license in Memphis?
The issuing office lists the license fee as $37.50 with premarital preparation, $97.50 without. The $37.50 fee applies to couples who completed 4 hours of premarital preparation with a qualified instructor (the Premarital Preparation form must be notarized and signed by the instructor). Couples who do not submit that form pay $97.50. A certified copy by mail costs $10 (check or money order). Confirm with the clerk. Fees change, so check the Shelby County Clerk, Marriage Department page before you go.
Do I need an appointment in Memphis?
The page does not mention appointments. Both offices are open Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-4:15 PM.
Can I get my license in one place and marry in another?
It depends on the state. 30 days from the date of issuance; after that the licence is void and a new one must be bought. Confirm with Shelby County Clerk, Marriage Department 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 Tennessee. 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 Memphis?
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 Shelby County Clerk, Marriage Department website, checked in October 2026. Fees, hours and booking rules change, so confirm before you go. Shelby County Clerk, Marriage Department: marriage license page. This guide is general information, not legal advice.