Delaware - Obtain Marriage License

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Procedure

1. Go to your local county clerk's office.
2. Present and submit necessary documents for marriage license application.
3. Pay the marriage license fee.

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Required Documents

• A valid state I.D. or drivers license issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles, passport, U.S. visa I.D. card, federal driver's license, military I.D., or government consulate I.D. is required to apply for a marriage license.
• To verify the authenticity of an applicants identification, the office of the clerk of the peace may also require additional documentation such as a birth certificate or social security card.
• If individuals have previously been married, an original or certified copy of the divorce decree, legal annulment, dissolution, or death certificate is required.
• Special authorization (if either party is on probation or parole)

Office Locations & Contacts

Kent County - Clerk of the Peace Office
555 Bay Rd Dover, DE 19901
Phone: (302) 744-2346
Fax: (302) 760 - 4763
Email: [email protected]
Office Hours: 8:00am-5:00pm Mon. - Fri.
Marriage Licenses are issued between the hours of 8:00am - 4:15pm Monday-Friday

Newcastle County - Clerk of the Peace
Marriage Bureau
800 N. French St.
Second Floor
Wilmington, DE 19801
Phone: 302-395-7780
Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Closed: Noon - 1 p.m.

Sussex County Marriage Bureau
2nd Floor, Room 268
2 The Circle
P.O. Box 29
Sussex county Administrative Office Building
Georgetown, DE 19947
Phone (302) 853-1717
Fax (302) 855-7798
Office Hours: Monday - Friday
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
The office is closed on holidays.
Marriage licenses will not be issued after 4 p.m.

Eligibility

All applicants must be 18 years of age.

Minors must petition Family Court for authorization to marry.

Effective July 1, 2013, same sex marriages became legal in Delaware.

Fees

Delaware Marriage License

• Residents (at least one of the applicants is a resident in Delaware): $50.00
• Non-residents (neither applicant is a Delaware resident): $100.00 (Only cash payments will be accepted)

Certified Copies

Certified copies are available from the County in which the license was obtained. Certified copies are $25.00 (CASH).

Validity

A Delaware marriage license is only valid for 30 days from date of issue and the ceremony must take place in Delaware

Documents to Use

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Sample Documents

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Processing Time

A marriage license will be issued at the time of application.

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Instructions

Both parties must appear in person and present their valid IDs (Valid Driver's license, or Valid State Issued ID, or Certified Birth Certificate, or Valid Passport, or Military ID Card).

Residents and non-residents must apply for a license 24 hours prior to the time of the ceremony.

For those who are divorced, annulled, widowed

All parties must produce a Certified Final Decree of divorce/annulment or a Certified Death Certificate. These will be returned at application.

If an applicant has divorced or dissolved a legal partnership and taken back their former name, they must bring the original or certified copy of the name change court documents. No photocopies accepted.

For parolees and those under probation

An original letter of permission from the Probation Officer is required before a license will be issued.

Required Information

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1. Date of Birth.
2. City or County of Birth.

Need for the Document

Following are procedures on how you can obtain a marriage license in Delaware.

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Other uses of the Document/Certificate

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External Links

• New Castle County:

http://www.nccde.org/126/Marriage-Licenses

• Sussex County:

http://www.sussexcountyde.gov/marriage-licenses

• Kent County:

http://co.kent.de.us/clerk-of-the-peace-office/marriage.aspx

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