Marriage License Application Information
Fee
License fee is $120 in cash. No checks, no credit and no debit cards are accepted. Payment
is due upon application and is non-refundable.
Apply
The bride and groom apply together and in person. If either party lives in Wisconsin, apply
in the county where one or both parties have physically resided for at least 30 days prior to
the date of application. The license may then be used to marry in any county in Wisconsin. If
both parties live out of state apply in the county where the ceremony will take place.
When to Apply – Waiting Period
Application is made at least six full calendar days before the license may be issued. You must
then use your license within the next 30 days.
Requirements - EACH PERSON MUST PROVIDE
- Arrangements for the wedding must be set prior to applying for a marriage license. At
the time of application you will tell us the date and place of marriage ceremony and full name
and title of the officiant.
- Photo I.D. and Social Security number. If applicant does not have a Social
Security number the space will be marked “none.”
- Proof of where you have physically lived for the 30 days prior to application,
such as a driver’s license, lease, utility bill or bank statement. You must also know the name
of the city, village or township and county where you reside.
- Certified birth certificate issued by the state or county where born. Birth certificate must be
legible, not tattered and torn. The hospital birth certificate is not acceptable.
If born outside the United States, a passport, green card, or naturalization papers may be used in lieu of
a birth certificate. Photocopies of birth certificates are not acceptable. If your birth
certificate does not include full names of parents and mother’s maiden name, you will need to find
this out before coming to apply.
- If previously married we must see a judgment of divorce, legal annulment, or death
certificate from the most recent marriage. Divorced persons may not remarry
until six months after the granting of the judgment of divorce, regardless of where
the action took place.
- The legal age for marriage in Wisconsin is 18. If an applicant is 16 or 17
years of age, a consent form needs to be signed by the parents or guardian before
the County Clerk.
- If one or both of the applicants don’t speak English, a third party needs to
interpret at the time of application. Couples cannot translate for each other.
Where to Apply
Marriage licenses are issued in the Dane County Clerk’s Office, Room 106A, City-County Building,
210 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Madison, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. We
are open during the noon hour. Check
here for office closure dates.
Exception
A waiver of the waiting period may be granted for an additional fee of $25.00, but only if you cannot
apply in time to meet the waiting period for the following reasons:
- bride and/or groom live in another state and coming here to marry
- bride and/or groom are/is in the military and suddenly called to active duty
- bride or groom is terminally ill.
For further information call (608) 266-4124
ADA