Find Marriage Records in Calvert County
Calvert County marriage records are held by the Circuit Court Clerk in Prince Frederick. This page explains how to obtain licenses, request copies of existing records, and research historical marriages in this county.
Calvert County Marriage Records
Calvert County Marriage License Records: Where to Apply
The Calvert County Circuit Court Clerk at 175 Main Street, Prince Frederick, MD 20678 handles all marriage license applications and record requests for the county. You can reach the office by phone at 410-535-1600, extension 2404. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Contact the office directly for the current license fee, as it can change. A certified copy costs $5.50, payable by check or money order made out to "Clerk of the Circuit Court."
Under Md. Code, Family Law § 2-401, couples must apply in the county where the ceremony will be held. Both parties need to appear in person at the time of application. As of October 1, 2022, both applicants must also bring documentation to verify their age. Call the office before your visit to confirm what forms of ID and age documentation are accepted, since requirements may be updated from time to time.
The 48-hour waiting period applies after the license is issued. The license is then valid for 6 months. Md. Code, Family Law § 2-405 sets out those time requirements in state law.
Requesting Copies of Calvert County Marriage Records
You can get copies of Calvert County marriage records by visiting the courthouse in person, writing to the office, or mailing a request. The Calvert County clerk does not require a standardized form. A written request is accepted. Your request should include the full names of both parties as they appeared on the marriage license, the date of the marriage, a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE), and payment. Mail requests to: Calvert County Circuit Court Clerk, 175 Main Street, Prince Frederick, MD 20678. A non-resident application is also available for couples who live outside of Maryland and need to apply for a license to marry in Calvert County.
For civil ceremonies, contact the office to set up an appointment. Staff can explain the scheduling process and any requirements that apply.
The image below comes from the official Calvert County marriage license page on the Maryland Courts website and shows the current license requirements and process.
This page confirms the basic process for obtaining a marriage license in Calvert County, including the 48-hour waiting period and the 6-month validity window.
Historical Calvert County Marriage Records and the 1882 Courthouse Fire
Calvert County has a complicated records history. A courthouse fire in 1882 destroyed the majority of records created before that year. This is a known gap that affects anyone researching ancestors who married in Calvert County prior to the late 1800s. Not everything was lost, though. Some deeds dating back to 1840 were re-recorded after the fire, so partial land record information survived in that form. Abstracts of deeds sent to Annapolis beginning in 1784 also survive at the Maryland State Archives. Provincial court records are available there as well.
For researchers working around the 1882 gap, the Maryland State Archives marriage records guide is the best starting point. It describes what was preserved, where those records are held, and how to search across multiple record types to piece together a family history. The FamilySearch Calvert County genealogy wiki also has tips on navigating the post-fire record gap and lists alternative sources that might contain marriage information from before 1882.
Current records run from 1882 to the present and are maintained at the courthouse in Prince Frederick. These records are generally accessible to the public during regular office hours.
Search Calvert County Marriage Records Online
The Maryland Courts statewide Case Search tool lets you look up court records by name across all Maryland counties, including Calvert. It is a good first step when you want to check whether a record exists or need to find a case number before requesting a copy. The system does not show full document images, but it confirms basic filing information. For more detail, contact the clerk's office directly.
Maryland Court Records for Calvert County offers another search option for publicly available court information. Keep in mind that unofficial search tools vary in how current their data is, so always verify important details with the clerk's office before relying on them for legal purposes.
The Calvert County Public Information Act request form is the proper channel if you need to make a formal public records request to a county government office rather than to the Circuit Court.
Calvert County Marriage Records and Vital Statistics
The Maryland Vital Statistics Administration maintains a separate statewide index of marriages. This state-level database can be useful as a cross-reference when researching Calvert County marriage records. The VSA primarily handles birth and death certificates, but their marriage index provides another avenue for verifying that a marriage occurred and finding the county where it was recorded. For certified legal documents, the Circuit Court remains the primary source.
Under Md. Code, Family Law § 2-502, marriages performed outside of Maryland can be recorded in the state under certain conditions. If you need to record a foreign marriage in Calvert County, contact the clerk's office for guidance on that process.
The image below shows the Maryland Court Records resource for Calvert County, which provides an additional search layer for public marriage and court records.
Use this tool to locate case numbers or confirm basic record details before contacting the Calvert County clerk for certified copies.
What to Bring When Applying for a Calvert County Marriage License
Both parties must appear together at the clerk's office in Prince Frederick. Bring a government-issued photo ID and documentation of your age (required as of October 2022). If either party was previously married, bring documentation showing how that marriage ended, either a divorce decree or a death certificate. The clerk's office can confirm exactly what is needed when you call ahead at 410-535-1600, ext. 2404.
Out-of-state residents can use the non-resident application process. Contact the office before your visit to get the correct form and understand any additional steps that apply to non-Maryland residents applying for a license in Calvert County.
Nearby Counties
Each Maryland county has its own Circuit Court Clerk office for marriage license applications and record requests. Counties near Calvert include Anne Arundel County, Charles County, and St. Mary's County. If the ceremony will take place in one of those counties rather than in Calvert, you need to apply for the license there instead.