Obtain Montgomery County Marriage Records For Free

Search free Montgomery County marriage records to learn more about any individual in the community.

The Maryland Public Information Act (PIA) demands that government information and public records be accessible to the people. Marriage records should be available to all, as they are in Montgomery County. Those interested in finding out if someone is married are entitled to do so.

This resource will provide tools and resources available in Montgomery County — and the state of Maryland — so that marriage information can be conveniently accessed.

How To Access Montgomery County Marriage Records

Marriage records from 1993 to the present day can be retrieved in Montgomery County with the help of the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office.¹ Anyone searching for marriage records within the county can place a request in person or via mail.

The Clerk’s Office is able to produce certified copies of marriage records for $5.50 each. Certified copies can be used for official purposes such as dealing with the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA), the Social Security Administration, and any other matters that would require valid proof of ID or marital status. They also offer non-certified copies of marital records for $0.50 each.

Regardless of how the request will be made, searchers can complete an online application to expedite the process. Mail-in orders must be sent with the application, payment, and mailing address (so they know where to send the copy). For those who prefer to request their certificates in person, it’s not necessary to schedule an appointment.

This is the address to send the request or to visit in person for marriage certificates in Montgomery County:

Montgomery County Circuit Court
License Department
North Tower – 1st Floor – Room 1300
50 Maryland Avenue
Rockville, MD 20850

Phone: (240)777.9460

For those seeking marriage certificates for nuptials before 1993, the Clerk’s Office won’t be able to help. For marriages that happened before 1990, the Maryland Archives is the official repository and how to work with them to obtain historical records will be addressed below.

For marriage between 1990 to 1992, the most convenient source to contact is the Maryland Vital Statistics Administration. That will also be addressed in this article, further ahead.

How To Acquire Archived Marriage Records in Montgomery County

For those attempting to perform a genealogical search, the Maryland State Archives can be a good source of information.³ They’re the official repository of records from the 1600s to 2013, and interested citizens can access this pool of information using a few different resources that are readily available to them.

Many of the records kept by the State Archives have already been digitized. Those can be accessed through free indexes that are available on the website.

There are indexes available for those running a Montgomery County marital records search. In fact, the Montgomery indexes are separated into two groups: marriages that happened in 1951 and on, and marriages that happened in 1950 and before.

The free indexes available on the State Archives website are organized by county, which can make the search a bit extraneous in cases where the county that held the nuptial isn’t known. However, searchers can rely on the Archives’ team for support and guidance. They can be contacted using the following information:

Maryland State Archives
350 Rowe Blvd.
Annapolis, MD 21401

Phone: 410.260.6400
Fax: 410.974.2552
Email: [email protected]

They also have computers available in their lobby for those who wish to work with them in person or take advantage of their resources. Still, when the county is known, going over the available indexes can be very productive. Although each county keeps its records in a different way, it’s possible to find information on the index, such as the names of the bride and the groom, details about their wedding and much more.

When the desired records aren’t available online (or when simply looking at them on a screen isn’t enough), it’s possible to request copies from the Maryland State Archives. Orders can be placed online and should include as much information as possible to ensure the records being sought are properly retrieved. Certified copies cost $25, and uncertified copies, $5.

Those requests may take up to ten business days to be responded to, and payment is required upfront. No refunds are available if the records aren’t found, or any issues arise with the copies. For those reasons, it’s recommended that anyone placing an order reads through the frequently asked questions section on the website.⁵

Last, but not least, searches should be aware that certified copies of marriage certificates are available for events between 1776 and 2013. Also, for records not yet digitized, all copies are certified (and, consequently, will cost $25 each).

Maryland is a state that doesn’t recognize common-law marriages. Therefore, relationships established outside of a wedlock, that haven’t been properly registered or recorded won’t appear on any of those searches – only marriages officiated with a license, recorded with the Clerk’s Office after the fact.

How To Look Up Maryland Marital Records Outside of Montgomery County

In many cases, the search at hand isn’t for historical records but for records of marriages that happened somewhere else in the state. When that happens, a Montgomery County marriage lookup won’t yield results and the recommendation becomes to try and work with the Maryland Division of Vital Records.⁶

Managed by the Maryland Department of Health, the Division of Vital Records holds marriage records starting on January, 1st, 2007. The spouses who got married, as well as their representatives and attorneys, are allowed to require copies of marriage records.

Orders can be made in person, by mail, or online. Certified copies cost $12 each, and this is how citizens can request them.

To request a marriage certificate in person, the individual who goes to the Division of Vital Records must show a valid ID. Attorneys and representatives must show proof that they’re connected to one of the spouses. For representatives, a notarized letter from the spouse giving authorization to obtain the marriage certificate should be enough.

It’s mandatory to schedule an appointment ahead of time, and this is where people should go when the time comes:

Maryland Division of Vital Records
6764 B Reisterstown Road
Baltimore, MD 21215

Phone: 410.767.6500

Having a completed application helps save time. This same application must be sent with any mail-in orders, too.

When mailing a request, searchers should send a copy of their ID, proof of connection to the spouse (if they’re an attorney or a representative) and payment to the following address:

Maryland Division of Vital Records
P.O. Box 68760
Baltimore, MD 21215-0036

For online requests, the Maryland Division of Vital Records partners up with VitalChek. As it’s widely known, third-party platforms may charge extra fees for their services.

How To Request a Montgomery County Maryland Marriage License

The Montgomery County Circuit Court License Department is responsible for assisting brides and grooms to obtain their marriage licenses.⁷ In the state of Maryland, instead of obtaining a license at their county of residence, couples must appear at the License Department of the county where they plan to marry.

In Montgomery County, the process seems to be fairly streamlined and could take as little as 15 minutes for those who come in person. The License Department is available Monday through Friday, from 8:30 am to 3:15 pm, and it isn’t necessary to schedule an appointment before heading to the office.

Both individuals in the couple must appear in person with a valid form of ID. They’ll need to provide personal information and details regarding the wedding plans. The marriage licenses cost $55.

Individuals who aren’t residents of Montgomery County must do the same but also bring a completed Non-Resident Marriage License Application – Affidavit.⁸

In both cases, residents or non-residents, this is where couples should appear to request their marriage licenses:

Montgomery County Circuit Court
License Department
North Tower – 1st Floor – Room 1300
50 Maryland Avenue
Rockville, MD 20850

Phone: (240)777.9460

Marriage records are very important because information about anyone’s marital status should be readily available to all. Accessing public records should always be convenient, and people should feel comfortable looking those records up.

Whenever the need to search for Montgomery County marriage records arises, citizens should be able to retrieve vital information seamlessly, as long as they use it responsibly and safely.