Somerset County Marriage Records

Marriage records in Somerset County, Maryland are held by the Circuit Court Clerk in Princess Anne. The office issues licenses, performs civil ceremonies, and provides certified copies of marriage records dating back to 1796. Somerset County sits on the lower Eastern Shore and has one of the older courthouse records systems in the state, though a fire in 1831 destroyed part of the historical archive. If you need records from before that period, the Maryland State Archives may have what survived.

How to Get a Marriage License in Somerset County

Both parties must go to the Circuit Court in person to apply. There is no way to apply by mail or online. Once you apply, you must wait 48 hours before the license becomes valid. Under Family Law § 2-401, a valid license is required before any ceremony can take place. The license is good for six months from the issue date, per Family Law § 2-405. If you do not hold the ceremony within that window, you'll need to apply again.

Somerset County charges $25 for a marriage license. Payment is cash only or money order made payable to "Clerk, Circuit Court for Somerset County." They do not accept personal checks or credit cards for license fees. This is worth knowing before you make the trip. The courthouse is at 30512 Prince William Street, Princess Anne, MD 21853. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm. The phone number is 410-845-4840.

The marriage ceremony must take place in Somerset County. Family Law § 2-406 states that a ceremony must occur in the county where the license was issued. If you get your license in Somerset but hold the ceremony elsewhere in Maryland, it will not be valid. Both parties should be aware of this before finalizing their plans.

Civil Ceremonies at the Courthouse

The Circuit Court offers civil ceremonies for couples who want a simple, legal wedding without hiring an officiant. The fee is $25 cash only. You must call 410-845-4840 to schedule an appointment in advance. Walk-ins are not accepted for ceremonies. The ceremony takes place at the courthouse, and the clerk or a designated official will perform it. This is a good option for couples who want a no-fuss legal marriage. The ceremony is brief, but it is fully valid under Maryland law. Bring a witness if you want one, though it is not required for the ceremony itself.

Getting a Certified Copy of a Marriage Record

Certified copies of marriage records cost $5.50 each. You can request one in person at the courthouse or by mail. Mail requests must include a self-addressed stamped envelope along with payment by money order payable to "Clerk, Circuit Court for Somerset County." The office does not process credit card payments by mail. In person, cash or money order is accepted. You can find more details about the request process on the Somerset County marriage records page on the Maryland Courts website. The court's general clerk information is also available through the Circuit Court for Somerset County main page.

Certified copies are the standard proof of marriage used for legal and government purposes. If you need a copy for a name change, passport, or Social Security update, the certified copy is what you need. A plain copy does not carry the court seal and will not be accepted for most official uses.

Historical Marriage Records

The Maryland State Archives holds Somerset County marriage records going back to 1796. The archive also has a Marriage Record series covering 1866 to 1963. These are useful if you are doing genealogy research or need a record from many decades ago. Because of the 1831 courthouse fire, some records from the early 1800s are incomplete or missing entirely. The Archives staff can help you figure out what survived and where gaps exist.

The Maryland State Archives maintains a marriage record guide that is worth checking before you visit or contact them. The guide at MSA's Marriage Records Guide lists what each county holds and the date ranges covered. The main Archives site at msa.maryland.gov has finding aids and some digitized records you can search from home.

The Maryland State Archives marriage indexes by county are a starting point for any historical research in Somerset County.

The Archives organizes records by county and date range, so you can quickly find out whether a Somerset County record from a specific year is likely to exist in their holdings.

For historical marriages, the Maryland Marriage References database is another searchable tool worth trying. It covers a broad span of years and pulls from multiple record types.

This database is especially useful when courthouse records are incomplete due to historical fires or floods, as it draws from secondary sources like church registers and newspapers.

Same-Sex Marriage in Somerset County

Maryland legalized same-sex marriage on January 1, 2013, when the Civil Marriage Protection Act took effect. Somerset County has issued same-sex marriage licenses since that date. All couples, regardless of sex, apply through the same process at the Circuit Court in Princess Anne. There is no separate form or different fee. The 48-hour waiting period and all other requirements apply equally.

Online Search Options

Somerset County does not have an online portal for searching current marriage records. The Maryland Judiciary's Case Search tool covers court cases but does not include marriage license data directly. For current records, you need to contact the Circuit Court office in Princess Anne. Third-party sites like Somerset County Records Page and Maryland Court Records Somerset may have some aggregated data, but they are not official sources and may not be current or complete. For anything you plan to use for legal purposes, go directly to the courthouse.

Genealogy researchers can also check Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness for Somerset County, a volunteer network that sometimes has transcribed records or can help locate specific entries.

Who Can Apply

Both applicants must be at least 18 years old. They must appear together in person at the courthouse. Neither party can be currently married to someone else. If either party was previously married, they will need to show proof that the prior marriage ended, either by divorce decree or death certificate. The clerk will need to see valid government-issued photo ID for both parties. There is no Maryland residency requirement to get a license in Somerset County.

Nearby Counties

Somerset County borders Wicomico County to the north and Worcester County to the east. Both of those counties have their own Circuit Court offices that handle marriage licenses.