Getting a Marriage License in Harford County
Marriage licenses come from the Clerk's Licensing Department at 24 Office Street in Bel Air, across from the Circuit courthouse. Phones are 410-638-3489 and 410-638-3586. The office is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and closed on weekends and state holidays. No appointment is needed to apply.
Only one party must be present to apply, but both parties' information is required, and each applicant needs a valid government-issued ID. The license is issued the same day, yet it is not effective until 6:00 a.m. on the second calendar day after issuance. It then expires six months after that waiting period.
Minors face strict limits. Maryland's marriage age law is cited on the Harford marriage page, and it bars anyone 16 or younger from marrying.
Read the marriage age rule at Family Law § 5-2A-01. A 17-year-old applicant must present proof of age, a certified court order from the minor's home county authorizing the marriage, and notarized consent from each living parent or guardian.
How to Apply for a Marriage License
The process is quick if you arrive ready. Gather both parties' details and prior marriage information before you go. If either party divorced within the last six months, bring a copy of the divorce decree.
- Visit the Licensing Department at 24 Office Street; one party may apply.
- Bring a valid government-issued ID for each applicant.
- Provide both parties' names, addresses, birth details, and Social Security numbers.
- Give prior marriage dates, with a divorce decree if a divorce was within six months.
- Pay the $50 non-refundable fee by cash or credit card.
- Wait for the license to take effect at 6:00 a.m. on the second calendar day.
Civil ceremonies are available by appointment only, on a limited basis, in the Ceremonial Room at 24 Office Street. The ceremony fee is $25, and the guest limit is 20, including the parties and children.
Marriage License Application Fields
The application asks for the same core details from both parties. A recent change matters: under HB 323, effective October 1, 2025, the application requires a date of birth instead of age. The table lists the main fields.
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Full legal names | Yes | For both parties, as recorded. |
| Current addresses | Yes | For both parties. |
| Date of birth | Yes | DOB required for both per HB 323. |
| State / country of birth | Yes | For both parties. |
| Social Security number | Yes | Required under Maryland law. |
| Prior marriages | Conditional | Divorce or death date; decree if divorced within six months. |
| Government ID | Yes | Valid photo ID for each applicant. |
Harford County Marriage and Divorce Fees
Fees split between the Licensing Department for marriage and the Clerk's civil schedule for divorce. The marriage license fee is non-refundable. Divorce filing falls under the civil action fee, which changes if an attorney files. The table sums up the common charges.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Marriage license | $50.00, non-refundable |
| Civil ceremony | $25.00, non-refundable |
| Certified marriage record copy | $5.50 each |
| Divorce filing, without attorney | $165.00 |
| Divorce filing, with attorney | $185.00 |
| Certified divorce judgment copy | $5.00 plus $0.50 per page |
Marriage payments take cash or credit card, including Visa, Mastercard, and Discover. The civil ceremony fee takes cash or credit card only.
How to Look Up Harford County Marriage Records
Harford certified marriage copies are available only for marriages recorded in Harford County. The cost is $5.50 each. You can request a copy in person, by mail, email, fax, or phone. To order, you must provide the names of both parties, the date of the marriage, payment, and a return mailing address.
Mailed requests go to the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Harford County, Attn: Licensing Department, 20 W. Courtland Street, Bel Air, MD 21014. The fax is 410-838-8540, and the phone lines are 410-638-3489, 410-638-3586, or 410-638-3248. A correction to a marriage record must be in writing with supporting documents, such as a birth record.
Couples who want to prepare ahead can use the Harford marriage application worksheet, which lists the same details the office asks for at the counter. A non-resident couple can use the Maryland Judiciary non-resident marriage license application to start the process by mail. Both are official forms from the Judiciary, and using them cuts down on time at the office.
How to Find Harford County Divorce Records
Divorce is a Circuit Court matter, handled by the Clerk under civil and family filings. To find a divorce case, use Maryland Case Search by party name or case number, then confirm details with the Clerk. The complete file stays at the courthouse where the case was heard.
Not everything in a divorce file is open. Financial statements in support cases, information about minor children, and other sensitive material are restricted under Maryland rules. The public summary and the judgment of divorce are generally available, and the Clerk can certify a divorce judgment for a fee.
A divorce file can hold many documents. Common ones include the complaint that starts the case, the summons, financial statements, custody and support orders, the marital settlement agreement, and the final judgment. People who cannot afford the filing fee may ask the court for a fee waiver. The Maryland Judiciary posts the waiver form along with other family-law forms.
Note: A marriage license is effective at 6:00 a.m. on the second calendar day after issuance and expires six months later, so plan the ceremony date around that window.
Getting Certified Copies
A certified copy is the official version a court, agency, or other body will accept. For marriage, order the certified copy from the Harford Licensing Department for $5.50 each. For divorce, request a certified judgment from the Clerk, which costs $5 plus $0.50 per page. Provide the case number when you have it, since it speeds the request. A plain copy is fine for personal reference, but legal and official uses usually need the certified version.
For mailed requests, include payment and a return address so the office can send the copy back. A mailed credit-card payment may need a separate authorization form. The Clerk's office cannot give legal advice or perform a title search, so questions about how to use a record may need a lawyer or a court help center.
Where Maryland Marriage Records Are Kept
Maryland keeps marriage records at the county level, with the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county that issued the license. That means a Harford marriage license and its certified copies come from the Harford Licensing Department, not a single statewide office. Divorce records sit with the Circuit Court that granted the divorce.
Clerk's Licensing Department
24 Office Street
Bel Air, MD 21014
410-638-3489
Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.