How to get a certified copy of a marriage certificate in Michigan
CDC warns that some marriages, especially those before 1926, were never filed with the state. It says marriage records are unrestricted and anyone can order. The directory lists a $12 rush surcharge and also identifies the County Clerk where the license was issued. CDC source for Michigan.
CDC lists the Michigan marriage-record contact as Vital Records Request P.O. Box 30721 Lansing, MI 48909. The service charge in that entry is $34.00 (Rush fee additional $12.00). (County) Varies.
| Field | CDC Where to Write | Current official evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Office | Vital Records Request P.O. Box 30721 Lansing, MI 48909 | Michigan Vital Records Official source (checked 2026-11-11) |
| Service charge | $34.00 (Rush fee additional $12.00). (County) Varies | $34 base fee, including a one-year search and one certified copy or no-find letter Official source (checked 2026-11-11) |
| Years held or service coverage | Records since 1867. Some marriages (especially pre-1926) were not filed with the state. Marriage records are not restricted so anyone can order. | Marriage records from 1867 Official source (checked 2026-11-11) |
| Ordering route | CDC entry | Mail the completed and hand-signed application with the required documents and fee Official source (checked 2026-11-11) |
Getting a marriage license in Michigan
The verified Michigan license issuing office entry is Residents use their county clerk. Nonresidents apply in the ceremony county. Official source (checked 2026-11-11).
The verified Michigan license issued-license validity entry is Ceremony within 33 days after application. Official source (checked 2026-11-11).
For the fee and waiting period, which remain unverified here, contact the Michigan official office.
Searching Michigan marriage records
Ask the Michigan official records office about marriage-record search options, which remain unverified here as of 2026-11-11.
Common-law marriage and community property
| Source scope | State entry |
|---|---|
| SSA common-law digest | Recognized before 01/01/1957. If the parties agreed to be husband and wife in a state not recognizing common-law marriage, their mere cohabitation as husband and wife in Michigan would have established a valid common-law marriage. SSA GN 00305.075. Digest effective 2023-05-30, checked 2026-11-11 |
| IRS community-property list | Outside the listed community-property states IRS 555, checked 2026-11-11 |
For Michigan, the Social Security state-law digest says Recognized before 01/01/1957. If the parties agreed to be husband and wife in a state not recognizing common-law marriage, their mere cohabitation as husband and wife in Michigan would have established a valid common-law marriage. This is SSA benefit-program guidance, effective 2023-05-30. The IRS community-property entry applies to married taxpayers domiciled in Michigan. Its federal-tax scope is set out in Publication 555.
The numbers
| Measure | State | US or reporting-area benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage rate | 5.1 | 6.3 |
| Divorce rate | 2.2 | 2.3 |
| ACS median first-marriage age, men | 31.0 | 30.8 |
| ACS median first-marriage age, women | 28.7 | 28.8 |
In 2024, Michigan had 5.1 marriages per 1,000 residents, below the US 6.3. CDC counts marriages performed in Michigan, including visiting couples.
Michigan's divorce rate was 2.2 per 1,000 residents in 2024, below the reporting-area 2.3.
The 2024 ACS first-marriage medians for Michigan are 31.0 years for men and 28.7 for women, with respective margins of error of 0.3 and 0.4 years. The male and female Michigan medians are 2.3 years apart.
From oldest to youngest across states and DC, Michigan ranks 15th for the male first-marriage median and 21st for the female median. Its male estimate is above the US 30.8, and the Michigan female estimate is below the US 28.8.
Michigan and Las Vegas
Couples with a Michigan mailing address took out 1,060 Las Vegas marriage licenses in 2025, ranking tenth among states and DC. Michigan Las Vegas data links to the available history. The method gives address and issue-date definitions.
Over 2021 to 2025, Michigan mailing addresses appeared on 7,351 Las Vegas licenses, 1.96% of the countywide statistical-file total. The highest annual Michigan count in the acquired history was 2,460 in 2007. The Michigan 2025 figure of 1,060 compares with 1,217 in 2024 and 1,250 in 2019.
The latest Michigan Las Vegas total fell 12.90% from 2024. It is 15.20% below the 2019 level and 56.91% below the series maximum for Michigan.
Michigan mailing addresses appeared on 2,460 licenses in 2007, 1,978 licenses in 2008, 1,797 licenses in 2009, 1,784 licenses in 2010, 1,726 licenses in 2011, 1,503 licenses in 2012, 1,427 licenses in 2013, 1,405 licenses in 2014. County sources and coverage.
Michigan mailing addresses appeared on 1,449 licenses in 2015, 1,445 licenses in 2016, 1,378 licenses in 2017, 1,393 licenses in 2018, 1,250 licenses in 2019, 1,426 licenses in 2020, 2,203 licenses in 2021, 1,555 licenses in 2022 (through 22 December). County sources and coverage.
Michigan mailing addresses appeared on 1,316 licenses in 2023, 1,217 licenses in 2024, 1,060 licenses in 2025. County sources and coverage.
For a Michigan couple with a Clark County license, the Nevada certificate guide links the Clerk's online, mailed and in-person ordering routes. Its officiant filing deadline is 10 calendar days after the ceremony, and a filed certified certificate costs $20.