Access Midland County Marriage Records
Midland County marriage records are kept at the Midland County Clerk's office in Midland, a central Michigan county seat. The clerk issues marriage licenses and maintains all vital records for the county, including certified copies of marriage documents. Read on for everything you need to know about getting marriage records from Midland County.
Midland County Overview
Midland County Clerk
The Midland County Clerk is located at 220 W Ellsworth St in Midland. This office manages all vital records for Midland County, including marriage licenses and certified copies of marriage records. Staff can help you search for a record by name and year, issue certified copies while you wait, and process mail-in requests. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 4:30 PM.
Midland is the county seat and sits in central Michigan. The county clerk serves as the local vital records registrar, which means the office keeps not just marriage records but also birth and death records for the county. All marriages that take place in Midland County are recorded here after the officiant returns the completed license. That filed document is a public record and available to anyone who asks.
The state MDHHS vital records office maintains a parallel collection of Michigan marriage records. Their database at michigan.gov covers records from 1867 forward. VitalChek at vitalchek.com handles online orders for state-issued certified copies of Michigan marriage records.
| Office | Midland County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 220 W Ellsworth St, Midland, MI 48640 |
| Phone | (989) 832-6739 |
| Fax | (989) 832-6740 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
How to Get Midland County Marriage Records
The fastest way to get a marriage record from Midland County is to visit the clerk's office at 220 W Ellsworth St in Midland. Bring your photo ID and the names of both parties. If you know the year of the marriage, that speeds up the search. Staff will locate the record and make certified copies for you on the spot. You pay when you pick up the copies.
For mail requests, write to the Midland County Clerk at 220 W Ellsworth St, Midland, MI 48640. Include both parties' names, the date or year of the marriage, how many copies you want, and your return address. Send a check or money order for the fee. The clerk will mail the copies back to you once the request is processed. Mail requests usually take a few business days after the office receives your letter.
If you prefer an online option, VitalChek at vitalchek.com lets you order certified copies through the state MDHHS. The state charges $34 for the first copy and $16 for each additional copy. That is more than county fees, but the process is fully online and you do not have to visit or mail anything to Midland County. The Michiganology database at michiganology.org has historical records you can search for free, which helps with genealogy research before you order.
Midland County marriage records are public. Anyone can request a certified copy. You do not need to prove a connection to the parties listed in the record.
Marriage License Requirements in Midland County
Applying for a marriage license in Midland County requires a visit to the clerk at 220 W Ellsworth St. Michigan law requires at least one applicant to appear in person, though both coming together is recommended. Michigan residents must apply in the county where one of them lives. Non-residents who plan to marry in Midland County apply here even if neither lives in Michigan.
Both people must be 18 or older. Those who are 16 or 17 may apply with written consent from a parent or legal guardian. No one under 16 may marry in Michigan. You do not need a blood test. You will receive written educational materials about disease prevention at the time of application, as required by state law. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID for both parties.
There is a 3-day waiting period after you apply. The day of application does not count. Apply on a Tuesday, and the earliest you can hold the ceremony is Friday. The license stays valid for 33 days from the application date. After 33 days, the license expires and you must apply again. The fee is due again with the new application.
After the ceremony, the officiant must return the completed and signed license to the Midland County Clerk. Under MCL Chapter 551, this step is required by law. The filed license becomes the official marriage record for Midland County. Certified copies of that record are needed for name changes, insurance, taxes, and other legal purposes after marriage.
- Apply at 220 W Ellsworth St, Midland
- At least one applicant must appear in person
- Must be 18+ (16-17 with parental consent)
- Valid photo ID required
- No blood test required
- 3-day waiting period
- License valid 33 days
Fees for Midland County Marriage Records
Midland County uses standard Michigan county fees. The marriage license application fee is $20 for Michigan residents and $30 for non-residents. These amounts are set by state law. Most Michigan counties charge the same rates. Certified copies of marriage records typically cost $15 for the first copy and $5 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time.
Call (989) 832-6739 before your visit or before sending a mail request to confirm current fees. Rates can change, and a quick call saves you from sending the wrong amount. For state copies ordered through VitalChek, expect to pay $34 for the first copy and $16 per additional copy. County copies cost less, but state copies are available online without a visit or mailing to the county.
Pay at the clerk's office by cash or check. For mail requests, send a check or money order made out to the Midland County Clerk. Do not send cash through the mail.
Historical Records and Online Access
Midland County marriage records go back to the county's early years. For genealogy research, the Michiganology database has vital record indexes that you can browse at no cost. The site at michiganology.org covers counties across Michigan, and Midland County is part of that collection. Use it to find record details before you order a certified copy.
The state MDHHS collection covers records from 1867 forward. For records before that, the county may be the only source. Very old records may not be digitized and may require a staff-assisted search at the clerk's office. For most requests from the past several decades, the standard process works quickly.
The image below shows the Michiganology vital records page, a free resource for historical marriage record searches in Midland County and across Michigan.
Once you find a record on Michiganology, contact the Midland County Clerk or the MDHHS to order a certified copy. The Michiganology site provides index data only and does not issue official certified copies itself.
The VitalChek page above is the online ordering portal for certified copies of Michigan marriage records through the MDHHS. It covers Midland County records along with records from all other Michigan counties.
Cities in Midland County
Midland is the county seat and largest city. No cities in Midland County meet the population threshold for a dedicated records page. Marriage records for all communities in the county are handled through the Midland County Clerk at 220 W Ellsworth St in Midland.
Nearby Counties
These counties are near Midland County in central Michigan. Each county clerk handles marriage records for their own county.