Saginaw County Marriage Records

Marriage records in Saginaw County are kept by the County Clerk at 111 S Michigan Ave in Saginaw. The clerk issues licenses, stores vital records, and provides certified copies to anyone who needs them for legal or personal use.

Saginaw County Clerk

The Saginaw County Clerk handles all marriage licenses and vital records for this central Michigan county. The office is in the county building on South Michigan Avenue in the city of Saginaw. Staff can help you apply for a license, request copies of past records, and answer questions about the process.

Both parties must come in to the clerk's office together when applying for a marriage license. You cannot send someone else in your place. Bring all required documents with you. The clerk will review everything before issuing the license. Plan to spend about 30 minutes at the office for the application.

How to Get Saginaw County Marriage Records

You can get marriage records from Saginaw County in person or by mail. In-person requests are the fastest. You visit the clerk's office, show your ID, and pay the fee. Copies can often be given the same day for recent records.

Mail requests take longer. Write a letter with your full name, the names on the record, the year of the marriage, and why you need the copy. Include a check or money order for the fee. Send it to the Saginaw County Clerk at 111 S Michigan Ave, Saginaw, MI 48602. Allow extra time for mail to be processed and returned.

The state also has records through MDHHS. For marriages recorded statewide, you can order through VitalChek or by contacting the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The MDHHS charges $34 for the first certified copy and $16 for each extra copy ordered at the same time. County fees may differ slightly from state fees.

Michiganology is a free online tool run by the State Archives. It has an index of marriage records going back to the 1800s. You can search by name and find basic info. Visit michiganology.org to search for older Saginaw County marriages. This is good for genealogy work or finding historical records.

Marriage License Requirements

Michigan law sets the rules for all marriage licenses in the state. Saginaw County follows these same rules. There are a few key things to know before you go to the clerk's office.

Both people must be at least 18 years old. If one person is 16 or 17, a parent or legal guardian must give written consent. No one under 16 can get a married in Michigan. You must show a valid photo ID like a driver's license or state ID card. You also need a certified copy of your birth certificate. Hospital birth records and baptismal papers are not accepted.

Michigan has a 3-day waiting period. The license is not valid until 3 days after you apply. After that, the license is good for 33 days. If you do not use it within 33 days, you must apply again and pay the fee again. The officiant who performs the ceremony must return the completed license to the clerk within 10 days after the wedding.

Under MCL 551.103, each applicant must provide information about any prior marriages. If you were married before, you need to show how that marriage ended, whether by divorce, annulment, or death.

Fees and Costs

Marriage license fees vary by county in Michigan. Saginaw County charges standard county fees at the time of application. Call the clerk at (989) 790-5251 to confirm the current fee before your visit.

For certified copies of marriage records, the Michigan MDHHS charges $34 for the first copy and $16 for each additional copy. County clerk fees for copies may be lower. If you need several copies, for example for a name change, insurance, or legal matters, order all of them at once to save money on the per-copy price.

If you need a search for a record and none is found, there is still a search fee. This is standard practice at both the county and state level. Always ask about the exact fee when you contact the office so you bring the right payment. Most county clerks accept cash, check, and money orders. Personal checks may not be accepted at all offices.

Online Tools and State Resources

Michigan offers several ways to find marriage records online. The state vital records office lists options at the MDHHS vital records page. From there you can learn what the state has on file and how to order copies.

The Michiganology database at michiganology.org is a free tool from the State Archives. It covers older records and is useful for genealogy research. Recent records are usually not in this database. For records from the past few decades, contact the county clerk directly.

VitalChek is the state's online ordering partner for vital records. You can order certified copies of Michigan marriage records at vitalchek.com. Credit card payment is accepted. There may be extra processing fees beyond the base copy cost.

The following screenshot shows the state vital records ordering page, which applies to all Michigan counties including Saginaw.

This page lists the steps to order a certified copy of a Michigan marriage record through the state system.

Historical and Genealogy Records

Saginaw County has records going back to its early years. The county was organized in 1835. The clerk's office holds vital records from that era through the present. Older records may be stored at the Michigan State Archives in Lansing.

For genealogy research, the Michiganology database is a good first stop. It has indexed marriage records from many Michigan counties, including Saginaw. You can search by name and year. Results show basic info like names and dates. To get the full document, you still need to contact the clerk or the State Archives.

The State Archives of Michigan holds older records that may no longer be at the county level. Their contact info and search tools are available through the Michigan government website. Libraries in Saginaw, including the Hoyt Main Library, may also have local records on microfilm.

Cities in Saginaw County

Saginaw County includes the city of Saginaw as its county seat, along with several smaller cities and townships. All marriage licenses for residents of these communities are issued by the Saginaw County Clerk.

Other communities in Saginaw County include Frankenmuth, Bridgeport, and Thomas Township. None of these communities meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site.

Nearby Counties

Saginaw County borders several other Michigan counties. If you live near a county line, confirm your county of residence before applying for a marriage license. You must apply in the county where you live.