Marriage Licenses
The following is required to receive a valid Michigan marriage license. (Links are provided below for the counties surrounding my location near Flint. Please check with your county for other specifics)
- You must be 18 years of age to apply for a marriage license in Michigan. Persons 16 and 17 years of age must show a certified copy of their birth certificate and have written consent of one parent or legal guardian, who must appear at the time of application with photo identification.
- Where you apply for your license depends on where you currently live:
If you are a Michigan resident, you must apply in the county where you live. If both parties are Michigan residents and live in different counties, you may apply in either county. The license is valid throughout the state.
If both parties are out-of-state residents, you must apply in the county where you are going to be married. The license is valid in that county only.
If one party is a Michigan resident, and one party is out-of-state, you must apply in the county in which the Michigan resident lives. Again, in this case the license is valid throughout the state.
- The following is required of both parties:
- Valid driver’s license or state ID showing current address.
- Birth certificate or valid passport. If passport is used instead of birth certificate, full names of both parents and the state or country where they were born must be provided at time of application.
- Social Security numbers of both parties pursuant to MCL 551.102.
- There is a license fee per couple of $20.00 for Michigan residents; $30.00 for out-of-state residents.
- You can apply in person, or online at your county government’s website.
NOTE: Your marriage license will expire 33 days from the date of application. This represents a three day waiting period after you apply for your license, then the license is valid for 30 days, so don’t wait until the last minute!
- After your wedding ceremony and the official signing of the license, I will take care of filing your license with the County Clerk’s Office. Below are links to the Clerk’s Office in the Counties closest to me.
Genesee County Livingston County Oakland County Shiawasee County
Washtenaw County Lapeer County Saginaw County Tuscola County
Frequently Asked Questions
What are your fees? You can find a full description of my fees on the Services & Pricing page.
What do you wear? Depending on the season, I wear a dark grey or brown suit, or a light sand colored suit with shirt and tie that either matches or coordinates with your wedding colors. My goal is to not be the center of attention…that’s your job! I also wear a neutral ivory colored stole that reflects peace and love, not any particular religious symbolism.
Are your ceremonies religious? They can be as religious or non-religious as you choose. I am a non-denominational wedding officiant, so you choose what, if any, religious content your ceremony will include.
What distance will you travel if we want to book your services? I will travel practically anywhere, but most of the ceremonies I perform are in Livingston, Genesee, Oakland and Washtenaw Counties in Michigan. I charge extra for distances in excess of 60 miles from my home near Flint, MI.
Can you recommend other wedding professionals if we need other wedding services? You bet! I’ve worked with many local wedding professionals and refer many of them regularly. For a list of my preferred vendors, see my Recommended Vendor & Venues page.
Do you perform same-sex marriages? Yes I gladly do.
Do you perform rehearsals? Yes, but there is an extra fee. See the Services & Pricing page.
Do you require that we attend premarital classes with you? No. Since I’m non-denominational, I have no specific denominational requirement to conduct premarital classes. Also, I can tailor your ceremony to your particular faith or provide a secular ceremony if you have no religious belief.
How long are your ceremonies? That depends on the elements you include, such as readings, poems, music, etc. Most ceremonies last between 15 and 30 minutes.
What is your position on photography during the ceremony? Having some experience in photography myself, I understand the importance of a great shot. In general, I don’t mind the photographer doing what they need to do to get that great shot. I do, however, draw the line at the photography distracting you.
Do you attend the reception? Sometimes, if I’m invited, but it isn’t mandatory or expected. If I am invited, I ask that my wife attend with me, and I ask that the invitation is offered in time to plan for it. If I attend the reception, I am happy to give the blessing before dinner.
How many weddings do you perform on the same day? Only one unless there is ample time between weddings so there is absolutely no chance of one interfering with the other.
Are you open to themed weddings? Absolutely! I’ve conducted Scottish ceremonies, complete with hand fasting, bag pipes and kilts. I’ve done Hawaiian themed ceremonies with sand, palm trees, ukuleles and Hawaiian shirts. I’ve also done one wedding with an aviation theme. As long as your ceremony is meaningful and special to you, I’ll go along with practically anything…as long as it’s legal!
Call me at 810.516.7381 to plan your perfect wedding ceremony!
Stephan J. Smith – Wedding Officiant
