St. Mary's County Marriage Records

St. Mary's County marriage records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk in Leonardtown, Maryland. If you need a certified copy of a marriage record, want to apply for a license, or are doing genealogy research, this office is the right place to start. St. Mary's County is the oldest county in Maryland, and its records go back further than most. Current records are at the courthouse, while older documents are held at the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis.

St. Mary's County Circuit Court Clerk

The Clerk of the Circuit Court for St. Mary's County is at 41605 Courthouse Drive, Leonardtown, MD 20650. The mailing address is P.O. Box 676, Leonardtown, MD 20650. The main phone number is 301-475-7844. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. For civil ceremony appointments, call 301-475-7844 ext. 74563 or 74580.

Leonardtown is the county seat of St. Mary's County and is located in southern Maryland near the Potomac River. The clerk's office is the single point of contact for all marriage records in the county, from current licenses and certified copies to older records that have been transferred. Staff can search for records by name and date, though no online search tool exists for St. Mary's County marriage records. All searches and requests go through the courthouse directly.

The St. Mary's County marriage license page covers the current fee schedule, the waiting period, and how to apply. The Clerk's Office page has general contact information and an overview of services. Review both before coming in so you know what to bring.

Applying for a Marriage License in St. Mary's County

Both people who plan to marry must come in together to the clerk's office to apply for a St. Mary's County marriage license. One person cannot apply on behalf of the other, and mail applications are not available for standard licenses. Bring a government-issued photo ID and your Social Security number. If either party was previously married, bring documentation showing when and how that marriage ended, such as a divorce decree or a death certificate.

The marriage license fee in St. Mary's County is $35, payable in cash or money order at the time of application. Under Md. Code, Family Law § 2-401, a valid Maryland marriage license is required before any ceremony. Once the clerk issues your license, you cannot hold the ceremony immediately. Maryland law under Md. Code, Family Law § 2-405 requires a 48-hour waiting period before the license becomes effective. The license is valid for six months from the date it was issued.

St. Mary's County offers a Non-Resident Affidavit for people who do not live in Maryland. If you want to marry in St. Mary's County but live out of state, you can complete the affidavit, have it sworn before a comparable official in your home state, and mail it along with your fee. The county accepts this process, and the $35 fee applies to non-residents as well as residents.

The ceremony must take place in St. Mary's County. Under Md. Code, Family Law § 2-406, the licensed officiant must perform the ceremony in the county where the license was issued. After the ceremony, the officiant signs the license and returns it to the clerk's office. That returned document becomes the official St. Mary's County marriage record.

Certified Copies of St. Mary's County Marriage Records

Certified copies cost $5.50 each. Plain (uncertified) copies are $0.50 each. To get a certified copy, you can visit the clerk's office in person or send a mail request to P.O. Box 676, Leonardtown, MD 20650. A downloadable request form is available at courts.state.md.us.

The form asks for both parties' names as they appear on the license, the date of marriage (approximate year is acceptable), the license number if you know it, the number of copies you want, the total amount enclosed, and your full contact information including address and phone number. For mail requests, make your payment by check or money order payable to "Clerk of the Circuit Court for St. Mary's County." The clerk's office processes requests and mails copies back, typically within one to two weeks.

Certified copies bear the clerk's official seal, which is required for legal purposes such as name changes with the Social Security Administration, updating a passport, or settling an estate. A plain copy does not carry the seal and will not work for most official purposes. Always ask for certified copies if the record is needed for anything legal or government-related.

Civil Marriage Ceremonies in St. Mary's County

The St. Mary's County Clerk's office performs civil marriage ceremonies by appointment. Hours for ceremonies are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The fee is $25, payable by cash or money order only. To schedule, call 301-475-7844 ext. 74563 or 74580 after your license has been issued. You must bring a valid picture ID to the ceremony, and you must already be past the 48-hour waiting period.

Civil ceremonies are a fast and low-cost option for couples who do not need a formal celebration. They also work well when time is limited or when the legal fact of the marriage matters more than the event itself. The clerk or a designated deputy performs the ceremony at the courthouse in Leonardtown. Guest numbers are limited, so plan for a small group if you want people present.

Historical Marriage Records in St. Mary's County

St. Mary's County is Maryland's oldest county, established in 1637 and named for Mary, the mother of Jesus. It is one of the oldest English settlements in North America. This long history means that marriage records from St. Mary's County go further back than most counties in the state, though records from the earliest periods are held at the Maryland State Archives rather than the courthouse.

The Maryland State Archives has St. Mary's County Court Marriage Licenses from 1794-1851 and Circuit Court Marriage Licenses from 1851-1863. Marriage records from 1865-1960 are also held at the Archives. The courthouse itself has records from 1827 to the present. For anything before 1827, the Maryland State Archives is the main resource.

The Internet Archive Maryland marriage records collection includes free digital access to records from 1914 to 1988. This collection covers St. Mary's County and is searchable by name. It is a good starting point for researchers looking for 20th-century marriages before visiting the courthouse or State Archives. The Maryland State Archives marriage records guide explains what date ranges exist for St. Mary's County and how to access them. The Maryland State Archives main site allows online ordering for some records and lists what is available in the research room. For genealogy, Maryland Court Records and Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness offer additional resources specific to St. Mary's County research.

The Pratt Library genealogy guide points to digitized newspaper collections that often contain marriage announcements predating formal state record-keeping. Because St. Mary's County has such a long documented history, researchers sometimes find records from the colonial period in church archives, private genealogical collections, and the State Archives' older index volumes.

What St. Mary's County Marriage Records Show

A modern St. Mary's County marriage license contains both parties' full names, their current addresses, ages, and states or countries of birth. Social Security numbers are required at the time of application under Maryland law but do not appear on the license. The license shows the issue date, the effective date 48 hours later, and the expiration date six months out. Marital status and previous marriage details are recorded on the application.

After the ceremony, the officiant adds the ceremony date, location, and signatures to the license and returns it to the clerk. That completed document is what the clerk's office uses to issue certified copies. Older records, particularly those from the 1800s, may vary in what information they contain. Earlier licenses often listed ages, birthplaces, parents' names, and sometimes the occupation of the groom. The St. Mary's County marriage page and the Maryland Judiciary Case Search are both useful for current records, with the Case Search providing access to other court case information beyond marriage records.

Nearby Counties

St. Mary's County is in southern Maryland and shares borders with two other counties. Each has its own Circuit Court Clerk and independent marriage records.