St. Joseph County Marriage Records Search

Marriage records for St. Joseph County are maintained by the County Clerk at 125 S Main St in Centreville. The clerk handles marriage license applications and certified copy requests for this southwest Michigan county near the Indiana border.

St. Joseph County Clerk

The St. Joseph County Clerk in Centreville handles all marriage license and vital records services for this southwest Michigan county. Centreville is a small community, but the clerk's office serves the whole county. Both parties must appear in person to apply for a marriage license.

St. Joseph County sits in the southwest corner of the Lower Peninsula, near the Indiana state line. If you live just across the border in Indiana, you are not a Michigan resident and different rules apply. Michigan residents must apply in their home county. If neither party is a Michigan resident, you apply in the county where the ceremony will take place.

How to Get St. Joseph County Marriage Records

Marriage records from St. Joseph County can be requested in person or by mail. Going in person is the quickest way to get a copy. Visit the clerk's office at 125 S Main St in Centreville. Bring your photo ID. The clerk can search by name and year, make a copy, and collect the fee on the spot.

For mail requests, write a letter to the clerk stating the names of both parties, the year of the marriage, and why you need the record. Include a money order or check for the fee. Send it to the address above. Processing by mail takes longer, so plan ahead if you need the record for a time-sensitive purpose like a legal filing or name change.

Statewide records are also available through MDHHS. The MDHHS vital records office holds marriage records from 1867 to the present. You can order certified copies at $34 for the first and $16 for each additional copy. Online ordering is available through VitalChek.

Marriage License Requirements

All Michigan counties follow the same state law for marriage licenses. St. Joseph County is no exception. The rules below apply to everyone who applies at this office.

You must be 18 or older to marry without parental consent. Ages 16 and 17 may marry with a parent or guardian's written permission. You need a valid photo ID like a driver's license or state-issued ID card. A certified birth certificate is also required. Hospital birth records and baptismal papers are not valid substitutes.

Michigan's 3-day waiting period starts when you submit your application. You cannot use the license until 3 days have passed. The license is then good for 33 days. If the ceremony does not happen within that window, you must start the process over. The person who performs the ceremony must send the completed license back to the St. Joseph County Clerk within 10 days of the wedding.

Under MCL 551.103, both parties must disclose any prior marriages and show how each ended. A certified divorce decree, annulment order, or death certificate may be required.

License and Record Fees

St. Joseph County charges its own fee for marriage license applications. Call the office at (269) 467-5602 to confirm the current fee. Fees can change, and the county amount may differ from what the state charges.

Certified copy fees through MDHHS are $34 for the first copy and $16 for each extra copy you request at the same time. If you order through the county clerk, the fee may be lower. Order all copies you need in one request so you only pay the search fee once.

For mail orders, use a check or money order. Cash is accepted in person at the office. Do not mail cash. Online orders via VitalChek accept credit cards but add a processing charge on top of the base fee.

Online Resources for Marriage Records

The free Michiganology database at michiganology.org covers older Michigan marriage records from many counties, including St. Joseph. This tool is run by the State Archives and is useful for finding records from earlier generations. For recent marriages, contact the county clerk or MDHHS.

The screenshot below shows the state vital records ordering portal used for Michigan marriage records statewide.

This same portal covers St. Joseph County records. Use it when you need a certified copy and cannot visit the county clerk in person.

Cities in St. Joseph County

St. Joseph County includes the county seat of Centreville, along with other communities such as Three Rivers, Sturgis, and Mendon. All marriage license applications for county residents go through the clerk's office in Centreville.

None of the cities in St. Joseph County meet the population threshold for a dedicated page on this site. Sturgis is the largest city in the county but falls below the qualifying threshold.

Nearby Counties

St. Joseph County borders these Michigan counties and Indiana to the south. Apply for your marriage license in the Michigan county where you live.