Kent County Marriage Records Search

Kent County marriage records are kept by the Circuit Court Clerk in Chestertown, one of Maryland's oldest county seats, with surviving records that stretch back to the colonial era. This page covers how to apply for a marriage license, how to request certified copies, and how to access historical records through the Maryland State Archives for research dating to the 1600s.

Kent County Circuit Court Clerk

All marriage licenses and certified copies for Kent County are handled by the Clerk of Circuit Court at 103 N. Cross Street, Chestertown, MD 21620. Clerk Sherise L. Kennard oversees the office. The main phone number is 410-778-7460. A toll-free line is also available at 800-989-2520 for callers outside the local area. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

The marriage license fee in Kent County is $35, which is among the lowest in Maryland. Most other counties charge $50 or more. Certified copies cost $5.50 each. Civil ceremonies are available by appointment for $25. For in-person payment, the office accepts cash and major credit cards including Visa and MasterCard. For mail requests, make your check or money order payable to "Clerk of Circuit Court for Kent County."

The Kent County Circuit Court Clerk's page on the Maryland courts website has current contact details and any updates to fees or procedures. The Maryland courts directory for Kent County also provides office information and can be useful if you need to confirm contact details before making the trip to Chestertown.

Applying for a Kent County Marriage License

Both parties must appear together at the Clerk's office. Bring valid photo ID for each person. Under Md. Code, Family Law § 2-401, a valid marriage license is required before any ceremony can take place in Maryland. No exceptions exist under current law.

Maryland law under Md. Code, Family Law § 2-405 sets a 48-hour waiting period after you apply. The license becomes valid at 6:00 AM on the second calendar day after your application. Once issued, the license is good for six months. If the ceremony does not happen within that time, you need to apply again and pay the fee again. Under Md. Code, Family Law § 2-406, the ceremony must take place within Kent County. A Kent County license is not valid for a ceremony held in another county.

Neither party needs to be a Maryland resident. Kent County accepts applications from out-of-state couples. A Non-Resident Affidavit is available for applicants who live outside Maryland and is completed at the time of the application. Both parties must provide their Social Security numbers as part of the process. If you have questions about what to bring or what to expect, call 410-778-7460 before making the trip to Chestertown.

Requesting Certified Copies of Kent County Marriage Records

You can request copies in person or by mail. In-person requests can often be handled during your visit. Mail requests typically take one to two weeks depending on volume. There is no requirement that you be one of the parties named in the record. Kent County marriage licenses are public records and can be requested by anyone with enough identifying information to locate the right record.

For mail requests, write to the Clerk at 103 N. Cross Street, Chestertown, MD 21620. Your request should include the full names of both parties, the approximate year or date of the marriage, the number of copies you need, and your return mailing address. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Payment must be by check or money order payable to "Clerk of Circuit Court for Kent County." The fee is $5.50 per certified copy. Do not send cash by mail.

Certified copies carry the clerk's official seal, which is needed for legal purposes. Name changes with the Social Security Administration, passport applications, and estate or probate proceedings typically require a certified copy rather than a plain photocopy. The seal confirms the record is official. A plain copy, even if printed from an official source, will not satisfy most legal requirements.

For older records, the Clerk may need extra time to retrieve archived volumes. Call ahead if your record is from the 1800s or very early 1900s. The staff can confirm whether the record exists in their files before you send a formal mail request. That step saves time if the record turns out to be held at the Maryland State Archives instead.

Kent County Marriage Records: Historical Depth

Kent County is one of the oldest counties in Maryland, with some marriage records dating to the colonial era. Records from 1675 to 1707 survive from that early period, though a fire in 1720 destroyed some documents. The formal marriage license record series begins around 1794 to 1796, depending on the specific collection. This depth of history makes Kent County one of the most valuable counties in the state for genealogical research.

The Maryland State Archives holds formal marriage license records for Kent County starting from 1794. The Kent County Court Marriage Licenses series covers 1796 to 1851, and the Circuit Court Marriage Licenses series continues from 1851 to 1886. Marriage records from 1865 to 1952 are also available through the Archives via MSA series CM664. The MSA marriage records guide lists these collections with their series numbers and explains how to access each one.

For the period from 1865 to 1952, the MSA series CM664 specifically covers Kent County. If you are doing serious genealogical research on Kent County families, this is a key resource. The Archives staff can help you understand what is available and how to request access to specific collections. Some materials have been digitized and can be viewed online. Others still require a formal written request or a visit to Annapolis.

The Maryland State Archives marriage record indexes cover Kent County's historical collections from the colonial era through the mid-twentieth century.

Colonial-era Kent County records that predate the formal license system are particularly useful for researchers tracing family lines into the 1600s. Not many Maryland counties have surviving records that go back that far. The fire of 1720 created some gaps, but what remains is well-documented and indexed at the State Archives.

Online Tools for Kent County Marriage Records

Several free tools are available for searching Kent County marriage records. Start with the Maryland Case Search for court records statewide. It is public and does not require an account. While it focuses on court cases rather than vital records directly, it can surface relevant information and confirm which county handled a particular matter.

FamilySearch maintains a Kent County, Maryland genealogy guide with links to digitized records and research tips specific to this county. It is free to use and often a good starting point before digging into the State Archives directly. The Maryland Court Records Kent County page is another secondary directory worth checking for additional links to county-level sources.

The Maryland Marriage References database at the State Archives indexes historical marriage records across all Maryland counties, including Kent County records going back to the colonial period.

The Maryland Marriage References database is an index rather than a full record set. It tells you whether a marriage appears in the archives and points you to the right collection and series. From there you can request the actual document. If you know a name and a rough time frame, this index can save a lot of time compared to searching individual county collections one by one.

Kent County Marriage Records and State Law

Maryland's marriage law applies the same way in every county. The 48-hour waiting period and six-month validity window are set by Md. Code, Family Law § 2-405. Kent County does not have any local exceptions. Both parties must be at least 18 years old. Maryland no longer allows minors to marry under any circumstances, with no exceptions for parental consent or court orders.

Each applicant must provide their full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, and current address. If either party was previously married, the Clerk may ask how that marriage ended. It helps to have documentation ready, such as a divorce decree or a death certificate, though there is no extra fee for providing that information. The process is simple and most applications are completed in a single visit.

The Clerk's duty to maintain a full record of all county marriages is set by Md. Code, Family Law § 2-501. That means every marriage recorded in Kent County since the current system was established is available as a certified copy. Older records may take more time to retrieve, but they exist and can be requested. If you are unsure whether a record has survived from a particular year, call the office and ask before mailing a request.

Nearby Counties

Kent County is on the Eastern Shore and borders Queen Anne's County to the south and Cecil County to the north. Both counties have their own Circuit Court Clerks for marriage licenses and records.