Monroe County Marriage Records

Monroe County marriage records are maintained by the Monroe County Clerk in Monroe, a southeast Michigan county along the Ohio border and Lake Erie. The clerk issues marriage licenses and provides certified copies of marriage records for the county. This guide explains how to find, access, and request marriage records from Monroe County.

Monroe County Clerk

The Monroe County Clerk's office is at 106 E 1st St in Monroe. This office handles marriage licenses, certified copies of marriage records, and other vital records for Monroe County. Monroe is the county seat and sits in southeast Michigan between the Detroit metro area and the Ohio border. The county is one of Michigan's larger southeastern counties, and the clerk's office processes a high volume of vital records requests. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 4:30 PM.

All marriages in Monroe County are recorded here. After a ceremony, the officiant is required by law to return the completed license to the clerk. That document becomes the official marriage record for Monroe County. Certified copies of that record are public and available to anyone who requests them with the correct fee. Marriage records in Michigan are not restricted to parties named in the document.

The state MDHHS vital records office also maintains Monroe County marriage records. Their collection is accessible at michigan.gov. For online ordering of state-issued certified copies, VitalChek handles requests at vitalchek.com. The Michiganology database at michiganology.org has historical vital record indexes available for free research.

How to Get Monroe County Marriage Records

Monroe County marriage records are available in person, by mail, and through the state's VitalChek service. In person is fastest. Go to 106 E 1st St in Monroe during business hours. Bring photo ID. Give the clerk the names of both parties and the approximate year of marriage. Staff will search the records and make certified copies for you. Payment is due at the time of request.

For mail requests, write to the Monroe County Clerk at 106 E 1st St, Monroe, MI 48161. Include both parties' full names, the marriage date or year, the number of copies you need, and your return address. Send a check or money order for the fee. Allow several business days for the clerk to process and mail the copies back to you.

For online ordering, VitalChek at vitalchek.com handles requests for state-issued certified copies. The MDHHS charges $34 for the first copy and $16 for each added copy. This is more than county fees but is fully online. If you prefer to research first, the Michiganology database at michiganology.org lets you browse historical records at no cost before ordering a certified copy.

Monroe County is one of the larger southeastern Michigan counties. The clerk processes many requests, so in-person visits during busy times may take a little longer. Calling ahead at (734) 240-7020 to check wait times is worth doing if you plan to visit.

Marriage License Requirements in Monroe County

To get a marriage license in Monroe County, visit the clerk at 106 E 1st St. At least one applicant must appear in person. Both people coming together is the usual practice. Michigan residents apply in the county where one of them lives. Non-residents who plan to hold the ceremony in Monroe County apply here even if neither lives in Michigan.

Both applicants must be 18 or older. Those who are 16 or 17 can marry with written parental or guardian consent. No one under 16 may marry in Michigan. There is no blood test requirement. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID for both applicants. Passports and driver's licenses are both accepted. The clerk gives out state-required written disease prevention materials at the time of application.

A 3-day waiting period applies after you submit the application. The day you apply does not count as one of those 3 days. The license is valid for 33 days from the application date. If you do not marry within those 33 days, the license expires and you must apply again. Under MCL Chapter 551, the officiant must return the completed license to the Monroe County Clerk after the ceremony. That document becomes the official marriage record for the county.

• Apply at 106 E 1st St, Monroe
• At least one applicant must appear in person
• Must be 18+ (16-17 with parental consent)
• Valid government-issued photo ID required
• 3-day waiting period after application
• License valid 33 days from application date
• No blood test required

Monroe County Marriage Record Fees

Monroe County uses standard Michigan fee rates. The marriage license application is $20 for Michigan residents and $30 for non-residents. Certified copies of marriage records typically cost $15 for the first copy and $5 for each additional copy of the same record when ordered at the same time. These rates align with most other Michigan counties.

Call (734) 240-7020 to confirm current fees before you visit or mail a payment. For state copies through VitalChek, the MDHHS charges $34 for the first copy and $16 for additional copies. County copies are less expensive, but state copies are available online without a trip to Monroe. Pay at the clerk's office with cash or check. For mail, send a check or money order made out to the Monroe County Clerk.

Historical Marriage Records and Genealogy

Monroe County is one of Michigan's older counties with records going well back into the 19th century. If you are doing genealogy research, older marriage records may be available through the county clerk or through the Michiganology and MDHHS state databases. The state collection covers records from 1867 onward. For records before that, the county may be the only source.

The Michiganology database at michiganology.org has vital record indexes you can browse at no cost. This is often the fastest way to find record details before ordering a certified copy from Monroe County or the state. Monroe County's proximity to the Ohio border also means some genealogy researchers may need to check both Michigan and Ohio records for families that moved across the border.

The image below shows the Michigan MCL Chapter 551 marriage law, which governs how Monroe County and all other Michigan county clerks handle marriage records.

Understanding MCL Chapter 551 helps you know your rights when requesting records, what the waiting periods are, and how corrections to marriage records work. The law has changed over time, which is relevant when researching older records.

The Michiganology portal shown above is a free resource for researching historical Monroe County marriage records before you order a certified copy.

Cities in Monroe County

Monroe is the county seat and largest city. No cities in Monroe County meet the population threshold for a dedicated records page. All marriage records for communities in Monroe County are handled through the Monroe County Clerk at 106 E 1st St in Monroe.

Nearby Counties

These counties border or are near Monroe County in southeast Michigan. Each county clerk handles marriage records independently.