Marriage License Fee in Arizona

The fee on this page covers the clerk of the superior court issuing that license and receiving the completed license after the ceremony. The license is the legal authorization to marry and is directed to a person authorized by law to solemnize marriages. Without a license, an officiant cannot lawfully conduct the ceremony. The fee does not include optional services such as a ceremony performed by a judge or justice of the peace, nor does it include certified copies of the recorded marriage.

If you plan to change your name or update records after the ceremony, you may need certified copies and should ask the clerk about those separate fees. Always confirm payment methods and local procedures with the issuing clerk before you apply. If you are converting an existing marriage to a covenant marriage, different forms and procedures apply.

12-284. The statute lists an $83 fee for a marriage license and return of the license, which is the statewide fee schedule for the clerk of the superior court. The fee appears in the special fees section and applies statewide, regardless of the county issuing the license. Some counties may charge additional fees for optional services such as certified copies, notary services, or postage and handling.

Those add-on charges are separate from the $83 license fee and can vary by county. The clerk must collect the license fee before issuing the license, so plan to pay when you complete the application and confirm accepted payment types in advance. If you are applying from out of county, confirm whether payment must be made in person or can be handled by mail or card.

Arizona does not limit applicants to a county of residence, so you can apply in any county that is convenient. The law does not restrict the ceremony to the county of issuance, so the license can be used anywhere in Arizona as long as it is valid. The clerk issues the license after the applicants complete a sworn affidavit and pay the required fee.

In some rural areas, the clerk may designate a justice of the peace whose office is located five miles or more from the county seat to receive applications and issue licenses under A.R.S. 25-126. That designation is handled by the clerk, so you should confirm in advance that the justice court is authorized and currently issuing licenses.

The affidavit must include each applicant's name, age, and residential address. The law also requires a statement that applicants understand that information on sexually transmitted diseases is available from the county health department and that such diseases may be transmitted to unborn children. The clerk files the affidavit and then issues the license directed to authorized officiants.

Because the affidavit is signed under oath, it must be complete and accurate. If you are unsure about any details, such as your legal name, residential address format, or age, clarify with the clerk before signing. The affidavit is a core part of the record and cannot be corrected after issuance without additional steps.

A.R.S. 25-121 states that Social Security numbers may not be released except to the Department of Economic Security for child support enforcement or if the applicant requests release in writing. The statute also requires this privacy notice to appear on each application. This means your Social Security number should not appear on the recorded license itself, but it is still collected for state and federal reporting purposes.

Be prepared to provide the numbers when you apply and ask the clerk how the information is collected and stored. If you need proof of marriage for agencies, request certified copies instead of relying on the Social Security record.

A.R.S. 25-102 states that a person under sixteen years of age may not marry. A person who is at least sixteen but under eighteen may marry only if one of the statutory conditions is met: the person has an emancipation order or a parent or guardian with custody consents, and the prospective spouse is not more than three years older. The clerk may not issue a license to a person under eighteen who does not meet these requirements.

If either applicant is under eighteen, contact the clerk in advance to confirm the required documentation, consent forms, and identification needed to verify age. The clerk may also require proof that the age conditions and consent requirements are satisfied before issuing the license.

The expiration date is a fixed deadline. The marriage must be solemnized before the license expires, and the officiant must return the signed license to the clerk after the ceremony.

If the license expires before the ceremony, you must apply again and pay the fee again. Keep the expiration date in mind if you are planning a ceremony far in the future.

A.R.S. 25-121 directs the clerk to issue the license after the affidavit is completed and the fee is collected. This means the license can typically be issued the same day, subject to office hours and local procedures. Some counties may require appointments or limit issuance to specific hours, and some may require both applicants to appear to sign the affidavit under oath.

Confirm the clerk's schedule and appearance requirements before you visit. If you need a same-day license for a ceremony, ask the clerk about timing and the best time to arrive. If you are applying during a busy season, allow extra time for processing.

The list includes duly licensed or ordained clergymen, judges of courts of record, municipal court judges, justices of the peace, certain federal judges and magistrates, and judges of the Arizona court of military appeals. The statute defines licensed or ordained clergymen broadly to include ministers, elders, or other persons authorized by the rules of their religious society to officiate at marriage ceremonies.

If you are using a religious officiant, confirm that they are authorized under their organization. If you plan to have a judge or justice of the peace officiate, ask about scheduling and any separate ceremony fee.

After the ceremony, the license must be signed by both persons married, the two witnesses, and the person who solemnized the marriage. The officiant must return the signed license to the clerk of the superior court for recording.

This return step is required to make the marriage part of the official record. If the license is not returned, you may have difficulty obtaining certified copies later, so confirm with your officiant that they will return the license promptly.

A.R.S. 12-284 notes that the clerk may prepare an abstract of marriage in lieu of a reproduction of the recorded license, and that copy fees are separate from the license fee. This matters if you need certified copies for legal name changes, insurance updates, or other administrative purposes. Because the license fee does not include copies, you should ask the clerk about the cost and process for certified copies, including any online ordering or mail options.

The clerk typically cannot provide certified copies until the signed license has been returned and recorded, so delays in returning the license can delay your ability to obtain proof of marriage. If you need multiple certified copies, ask about any limits and the expected turnaround time.

The clerk provides the forms and may issue blank licenses for the justice court to use, and the justice of the peace must account for those forms. The justice of the peace must report each license issued and transmit the fee to the clerk, and failure to transmit the report and fee is a misdemeanor.

Intentional misuse of the authority for personal gain is also a misdemeanor. If you live in a rural area, this option can reduce travel, but you should confirm in advance that the local justice court is authorized and has license forms available.

The clerk must collect the sworn affidavit and fee before issuing the license, and the clerk may not issue a license to applicants under eighteen who do not meet the statutory requirements. Another common issue is assuming that the license can be used indefinitely; it expires after one year. Applicants also sometimes forget to arrange two adult witnesses or to confirm that their officiant is authorized, which can delay the ceremony even after the license is issued.

Finally, some couples do not realize that the officiant must return the signed license to the clerk for recording, which can delay proof of marriage and certified copies. Confirm the required documents and timing with the clerk before you apply to avoid a repeat visit.

A.R.S. 25-121 and 25-125 state that the standard license and ceremony requirements do not apply to the conversion of an existing marriage that is valid in Arizona to a covenant marriage under A.R.S. 25-902. Covenant marriage conversions use a different statutory process and require additional forms and counseling disclosures.

If you are converting an existing marriage to a covenant marriage, ask the clerk about the separate procedure and required documentation. For most applicants obtaining a standard marriage license, the requirements on this page apply.