How to Get a Marriage License in Nashville: 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 Nashville, from applying to collecting the license, in plain steps.
At a glance
- Where
- Davidson County Clerk, Marriage and Notary Department, Howard Office Building, Suite 101, 700 President Ronald Reagan Way, Nashville, TN 37210. This is the only office that issues marriage licenses.
- Booking
- The page does not mention appointments or walk-ins. Office hours are Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:20 PM; closed on Metro holidays, Good Friday, New Year's Day and January 2.
- Fee
- $99.50 cash / $101.49 by card Cash or card only; checks are not accepted. A notarized premarital counseling Certificate of Completion submitted at application takes $60 off (the page does not state the reduced total). Fee as listed on the page read in October 2026; confirm with the clerk.
- Payment
- Cash or card only (no checks)
- Who attends
- Both people must be present. Exceptions exist for a physical disability or incarceration, using a notarized affidavit and a notarized consent letter (originals only).
- Valid for
- 30 days from the date of issue
Step by step
- Apply. Complete the marriage license application online before you visit, then both people go to the Clerk's office with their ID.
- Book or plan your visit. The page does not mention appointments or walk-ins. Office hours are Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:20 PM; closed on Metro holidays, Good Friday, New Year's Day and January 2.
- Gather your ID and documents. See the list below. Bring originals.
- Attend and pay. Both people must be present. Exceptions exist for a physical disability or incarceration, using a notarized affidavit and a notarized consent letter (originals only). Cash or card only (no checks)
- 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 issue
What to bring
- Valid driver's license, government-issued photo ID or passport
- If you have a Social Security number, proof of it: the card, a W-2 or a tax document showing the full number
- Notarized premarital counseling Certificate of Completion, only if you want the $60 reduction
Good to know
- Civil ceremonies are not performed at the County Clerk's office at this time
- The page does not state a waiting period, minimum age, rules on prior marriages, who may solemnize, or how the license is returned; check with the clerk
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 Nashville 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 Nashville?
Do I need an appointment in Nashville?
Can I get my license in one place and marry in another?
Do I need a marriage license for a nikah?
Planning a nikah in Nashville?
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 Davidson County Clerk, Marriage and Notary Department website, checked in October 2026. Fees, hours and booking rules change, so confirm before you go. Davidson County Clerk, Marriage and Notary Department: marriage license page. Contact: 615-862-6256 (Marriage and Notary Department); general line 615-862-6050. This guide is general information, not legal advice.