How to Apply for a Milwaukee County Marriage License
Marriage licenses come from the Milwaukee County Clerk, in courthouse Room 105. Applications are by appointment only, Monday through Friday. Both applicants must appear together in person. Set a wedding date first, then book the appointment, which can be made up to 30 days before the wedding.
The county clerk page lists the appointment tool, fee, and document list. You can reach it at the County Clerk marriage license page.
- Pick a wedding date before you apply.
- Schedule a marriage license appointment with the County Clerk.
- Complete the Marriage License Information Form and bring it in.
- Appear together with photo ID and required documents.
- Pay the fee, then observe the four-day waiting period.
The license has a four-day waiting period and is valid for 60 days from issuance. A statutory waiver of the waiting period may be available for an added fee.
Marriage License Requirements
Each applicant brings a set of documents. The rules are firm, and missing paperwork can delay the license. A person can apply before the county clerk of any Wisconsin county, and the license can be used and filed in any Wisconsin county, so residency in Milwaukee County is not required to apply here.
- A government photo ID for each applicant.
- A certified birth certificate or an accepted substitute.
- Proof of residency and a Social Security number, if the applicant has one.
- A prior marriage termination document, if previously married.
- The officiant's name, address, and phone.
Age and kinship rules apply. The minimum age is 18, and applicants who are 16 or 17 need notarized parental or guardian consent. Wisconsin bars marriage between people nearer of kin than second cousins, with narrow statutory exceptions. A person divorced elsewhere must wait six months after the divorce judgment before marrying again.
Milwaukee County Marriage and Vital Record Fees
Fees are set and paid at the time of service. The marriage license fee is paid to the County Clerk. Certified certificates are issued by the Register of Deeds and carry their own fees. Cash and credit or debit are accepted for the license, with a convenience fee on cards.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Marriage license | $120 |
| Waiting-period waiver | $25 |
| Vital record first certified copy | $20 |
| Vital record additional copy | $3 |
| In-person vital order service fee | $3 |
Personal checks, American Express, and Chase credit cards are not accepted for the marriage license. A 3% convenience fee applies to credit and debit payments.
The Marriage License Information Form
The Marriage License Information Form helps couples prepare before the appointment. It collects identity, residence, and prior-marriage details for both applicants. Filling it out ahead of time keeps the in-person appointment short.
| Field | What It Collects |
|---|---|
| Applicant information | Name and identity fields for both people. |
| Birth state | Each applicant's state of birth. |
| Residence | Address and proof of residency. |
| Social Security number | Required if the applicant has one. |
| Prior marriage | Divorce, annulment, or death document if applicable. |
| Officiant | Name, address, and phone of the officiant. |
Bring the completed form to the appointment, or email it to the county clerk's listed address ahead of time.
Officiant and Translator Rules
Two practical rules trip people up. First, courthouse weddings are not available at this time, so the clerk can provide a list of officiants who marry couples at other locations. Second, applicants who cannot read or speak English must bring a translator, and the two applicants may not translate for each other.
Non-English documents need a certified and notarized translation. Spanish appointment scheduling may require a phone call, because the online booking tool is in English only. After the wedding, a name change must be completed within two years.
Certified Marriage Certificates
A certified certificate is the proof of a recorded marriage. After the wedding, a certified marriage certificate can be obtained from any Wisconsin Register of Deeds office. The Milwaukee County Register of Deeds handles certified copies and vital records.
For couples dealing with safety concerns, Sojourner Family Peace Center provides domestic violence and family safety resources alongside the court process.
Marriage certificates for all recorded events are available in the office. The first certified copy is $20, and added copies are $3 each. For the office that keeps court files, see the County Clerk and Register of Deeds page.
Milwaukee County Divorce Records
Divorce records come in two forms, and people often need the right one. A divorce certificate is the vital record that proves the divorce happened. A divorce judgment is the court order that ends the marriage and sets the terms. The two are different documents from different offices.
Divorce case files are family and civil court records kept by the Clerk of Circuit Court Civil Division. Certified divorce certificates from January 1, 2016 forward are available through the Register of Deeds statewide certificate issuance. For divorce records before January 1, 2016, complete the Civil Records Request Form and send it to the Clerk of Courts. Divorce files may include confidential financial, child, and protected information that is not all public online.
How to File for Divorce in Milwaukee County
Filing for divorce runs through the circuit court Family Division. Wisconsin family forms and Milwaukee County Family Court resources guide self-represented people. A fee waiver may be available for those who qualify.
- Use the Wisconsin family forms and Milwaukee County Family Court resources.
- File in Milwaukee County Circuit Court if venue and residency rules are met.
- Pay the filing fee, or request a fee waiver if eligible.
- Serve the other party and address temporary orders.
- Complete mediation, financial disclosure, and the final hearing or affidavit divorce if eligible.
The Milwaukee County Family Court page covers divorce, custody, placement, and custody mediation.
Older and Genealogy Marriage Records
Milwaukee County keeps deep vital records for family history. The Register of Deeds can issue marriage certificates for all records held in the office. For genealogy, marriage records reach back to the 1830s, birth records to the 1850s, and death records to 1872. Genealogy visits report to Room G6 and should be scheduled by phone or email first.
Date limits matter for certain certificates. The county issues divorce certificates only from January 1, 2016 forward, and death certificates from September 1, 2013 forward. Domestic partnership records are available only from the county where the event took place. Older divorce records go through the Clerk of Courts civil records process.
Note: A divorce certificate proves the vital event, while a divorce judgment is the court order, so request the one your purpose actually needs.
After the Wedding: Common Questions
A few questions come up again and again at the marriage license counter. The answers turn on residency, timing, and which record proves what.
Can a non-Wisconsin resident marry in Milwaukee County? Yes. A couple may apply before the county clerk of any Wisconsin county, and the license can be used and filed in any county in the state. You do not have to live in Milwaukee County, but you must meet the ID, document, and eligibility rules.
How soon can I update my name after marriage? A name change must be completed within two years of the marriage. The Social Security Administration can be updated online 30 days after the marriage date, and the marriage certificate is needed for that update.
Where to Go for Milwaukee County Marriage Records
The County Clerk marriage license office and the Register of Deeds vital records office both sit in the Milwaukee County Courthouse at 901 North 9th Street. The Civil Division that holds divorce case files is in the same building. The map below shows the courthouse location for an in-person visit.
Room numbers help once you arrive. The County Clerk marriage office is Room 105, and the Register of Deeds vital records office is Room G6. The Civil Division is Room 104. For a record outside courts, such as county board files or recorded documents, the County Clerk and Register of Deeds page lays out the rest. For wills and estates, see the probate records page, and for fees and certified court copies, the Clerk of Circuit Court page.