Towson Marriage Records

Towson marriage records are maintained by the Baltimore County Circuit Court, which is located directly in Towson at 401 Bosley Avenue. Towson is the county seat of Baltimore County, so the courthouse is right in the community.

Baltimore County Circuit Court - Towson Location

The Circuit Court for Baltimore County is at 401 Bosley Avenue, Towson, MD 21204. The Licensing Department is on the 2nd floor. Office hours are Monday through Friday during regular business hours. Towson is the county seat, so the courthouse is directly in the community. Towson residents do not need to travel to another city for courthouse visits.

Towson is an unincorporated community that serves as the county seat of Baltimore County. Like several other Maryland county seats, it has no separate city government. All county government functions, including the Circuit Court, are concentrated here. The Baltimore County Circuit Court handles all marriage licensing and records for the entire county from this one Towson location.

One thing that sets Baltimore County apart from most Maryland counties is its email-based copy request system. The Baltimore County marriage records page at baltimorecountymd.gov explains the email process for requesting plain and certified copies. Check that page for current fees and email addresses before contacting the office.

Getting a Marriage License in Towson

Both people who plan to marry must appear together at the Licensing Department on the 2nd floor of the courthouse. You cannot apply alone or by mail for a standard license. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID and your Social Security number. If either party was previously married, bring proof showing how that marriage ended, with the date and place of the divorce or death.

The license fee in Baltimore County is $35. This is one of the lower fees in Maryland. Under Md. Code, Family Law § 2-401, a valid license is required before any ceremony. After the clerk issues the license, a 48-hour waiting period under Md. Code, Family Law § 2-405 applies. The license becomes valid on the second calendar day after you apply and is good for six months. Under Md. Code, Family Law § 2-409, the officiant must return the completed certificate to the Circuit Court Clerk within 5 days of the wedding.

Under Md. Code, Family Law § 2-406, the ceremony must take place in Baltimore County. Towson is in Baltimore County, so ceremonies in the community use a Baltimore County license. Note that Baltimore City is a completely separate jurisdiction with its own court. Do not confuse Baltimore County with Baltimore City. City residents apply at the Mitchell Courthouse in Baltimore City, not in Towson.

Civil Ceremonies at the Towson Courthouse

The Baltimore County Circuit Court performs civil marriage ceremonies for $25. Ceremonies are held Monday through Friday at two time windows: 8:30 to 11:30 AM and 2:00 to 3:30 PM. Both indoor and outdoor ceremony options are available. Check in at the 2nd Floor Licensing Department when you arrive. You must already have a valid marriage license before scheduling.

For Towson residents, the courthouse is close or easily walkable from parts of the community. The indoor and outdoor options provide some flexibility. Both cost $25. Attendance is limited at civil ceremonies, so plan for a small group. The $25 ceremony fee is separate from the $35 license fee. Together, both fees total $60, which is lower than most Maryland counties.

Certified Copies of Towson Marriage Records

Certified copies of Baltimore County marriage records cost $5.50 each. Baltimore County accepts copy requests in person, by mail, and by email. For plain copies, email ccbaltcoclerklicensing@mdcourts.gov. For certified copies, email ccbaltcoclerkmarriages@mdcourts.gov. Include the last four digits of your credit card. A staff member will call you for the full payment information. Do not send your complete card number in the email.

For mail requests, send to P.O. Box 6754, Towson, MD 21285-6754. Make checks payable to "Clerk of the Court." Include both parties' full names, the marriage date, and your return address. The email option is convenient for Towson and surrounding area residents who want to avoid a courthouse visit.

Certified copies carry the official court seal, which is required for name changes, passport applications, estate proceedings, and government benefits. Plain copies are useful for personal or genealogical purposes but are not accepted for most legal uses. The Maryland Judiciary Case Search provides online access to court case information but does not include marriage license images.

Historical Marriage Records for Towson

Baltimore County was established in 1659 and is one of the oldest counties in Maryland. Historical marriage records from the county go back to the 17th century. The Maryland State Archives holds Baltimore County marriage license indexes for 1851 to 1886 and marriage record indexes from 1885 to 1890. These are available online through the Archives' name search system.

The Maryland State Archives marriage records guide explains what Baltimore County collections are held and how to access them. For genealogical research, the FamilySearch guide on Maryland marriage records covers Baltimore County and distinguishes between Baltimore County and Baltimore City records, which are held separately. That distinction matters especially for Towson, which is the county seat of Baltimore County and the primary courthouse for county marriage records.

The Maryland State Archives in Annapolis is about 25 miles from Towson. Researchers can visit in person, use the online ordering system, or submit mail requests for some records. The Archives search room is open Tuesday through Friday and on the first Saturday of each month. For records from the mid-20th century forward, the Baltimore County Circuit Court in Towson is the direct source and is easily accessible for local residents.

Nearby Cities

Towson is the Baltimore County seat and is surrounded by several qualifying cities in the greater Baltimore area.