Search Kent County Marriage Records

Kent County marriage records date back to 1845 and are available through the Kent County Clerk in Grand Rapids. The clerk's office provides online search tools, in-person access, and mail-order certified copies for residents, legal professionals, and genealogy researchers.

Kent County Clerk Office

Kent County Clerk/Register of Deeds Lisa Posthumus Lyons oversees the office at 300 Monroe Ave NW in Grand Rapids. The office handles marriage records, marriage license applications, vital records for genealogy, and other public record functions. Marriage records at this office go back to 1845 and are public, meaning anyone may purchase a certified copy.

The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. You can call 616-632-7640 or email county.clerk@kentcountymi.gov. The main county website is at kentcountymi.gov. The clerk's office is one of the larger county operations in Michigan, given Kent County's size and population in the Grand Rapids area.

The Kent County marriage records page is the best place to start for certified copy requests and license information. It covers fees, forms, and the online ordering portal.

The Kent County marriage records page lists all the ways to get a certified copy, including in-person, by mail, and through the online ordering system.

Kent County Marriage Records Online Search

Kent County offers a free online database for searching vital records. The portal at accesskent.com/VitalRecords lets you search by name or date range. There is a Marriage Records Search link at the bottom of the page. This is a good first step before contacting the office directly, especially if you want to confirm a record exists before paying for a certified copy.

The Kent County vital records page also provides information on the types of records the office holds and the options for requesting them.

The Kent County vital records section covers birth, death, and marriage records held by the clerk's office and explains how to search and request each type.

For online orders, Kent County uses the Tyler Technologies ordering system. You can access it from the marriage records page. There is a convenience fee for online orders that is non-refundable, even if the record is not found. Search fees are also non-refundable. So confirm the record exists using the free name search at accesskent.com before you pay for the certified copy.

How to Get a Certified Copy of a Kent County Marriage Record

There are three ways to get a certified copy: in person, by mail, or online through the county's ordering portal.

In person is the most direct option. Go to 300 Monroe Ave NW in Grand Rapids during office hours. Bring a valid photo ID. Give the clerk both parties' names and the marriage date. The fee is $10 for the first certified copy and $3 for each additional copy of the same record. Payment is made at the counter. You can often walk out with the copy the same day.

By mail, complete the Certified Marriage License Request Form (available in English and Spanish from the county website) and send it with your payment to: Kent County Clerk, 300 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. The fee is the same: $10 for the first copy, $3 for each additional copy of the same record. Make checks payable to Kent County Clerk.

Online ordering is available through the Tyler Technologies portal at kentcountymi.gov/Marriage-Records. The fee is $10 for the first copy, $3 for additional copies, plus a non-refundable convenience fee. Credit cards are accepted for online orders. Note that both search and convenience fees are non-refundable, so search the free database first to confirm the record exists.

State-level copies from MDHHS cost $34 for the first copy. That is significantly more than the county fee. Use the state only if you specifically need a state-certified document for a legal requirement outside Michigan.

Kent County Marriage License Requirements

Both applicants must appear together at the Kent County Clerk's office to apply for a marriage license. Online pre-application is available at kentcountymi.gov, but both parties still need to appear in person to complete the process. You cannot finalize the application by mail or send someone else in your place.

Under MCL 551.103, there is a 3-day waiting period between applying and picking up the license. Day one is the day after you apply. So if you apply Monday, the earliest you can pick up is Thursday. If your wedding date does not allow for the wait, ask the clerk about a waiver. The waiver costs an extra $10.

The license is valid for 33 days from the issuance date. After the ceremony, the officiant must return the signed license to the Kent County Clerk within 10 days. The license is valid anywhere in Michigan, not just in Kent County. Both applicants must be 18 or older, or 16 to 17 with written parental consent.

Documents needed at application: valid Michigan driver's license or state ID for both parties; Social Security numbers for both; dates and places of birth; names and birthplaces of parents. Birth certificates are helpful if you have them, but the clerk can work with the other information if you do not.

Michigan residents pay $20 for the license. Non-residents pay $30. Payment is due in person at the clerk's office. The clerk accepts cash, check, and credit or debit cards. Checks should be made payable to the Kent County Clerk.

Kent County Marriage Records for Genealogy Research

Kent County records going back to 1845 make this a rich source for family history research. The clerk's office can help you trace family ties through birth, death, marriage, and military documents, all in one place. The free online name search at accesskent.com is the easiest first step for genealogy work.

For records that are 75 years or older, Michigan law makes them public. Anyone can request a copy. For newer records, access is limited to parties to the record, parents, legal guardians, or those with a documented legal interest. When doing genealogy research on marriages from before 1950, you generally do not need to prove a legal connection.

The Michiganology database is another free tool for older indexed Michigan vital records. It can supplement what you find through the county clerk's search portal. The Michigan Compiled Laws Chapter 551 outlines the full legal framework for marriages in the state if you want to understand the rules that governed marriage registration in different eras.

Cities in Kent County

Grand Rapids is the county seat and largest city in Kent County. Wyoming is the second-largest city and also located in Kent County. Both cities are served by the Kent County Clerk for marriage license applications and certified copy requests.

Other communities in Kent County include Kentwood, Walker, Rockford, Caledonia, and East Grand Rapids. All Kent County residents apply for marriage licenses and request records at the County Clerk's office at 300 Monroe Ave NW in Grand Rapids.

Nearby Counties

Kent County is in west-central Michigan. If you are unsure which county you live in, confirm before applying for a license or requesting records.