Wicomico County Marriage Records

Marriage licenses in Wicomico County are issued by the Circuit Court Clerk's office in Salisbury, on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Both parties must apply in person, and the license becomes valid 48 hours after you apply -- at 6:00am on the second calendar day. The county has records going back to 1868, and some older records from 1868 to 1981 are held at the Maryland State Archives. There is no online search portal for Wicomico County; you need to contact the clerk's office directly or visit in person to look up a specific record. Civil ceremonies are also available at the courthouse by appointment.

Circuit Court Clerk -- Marriage License Office

The Wicomico County Circuit Court handles all marriage license applications. The mailing address is P.O. Box 198, Salisbury, MD 21803-0198. You can reach the clerk's office by phone at 410-543-1427. Office hours are Monday through Friday. The Wicomico County marriage license page on the Maryland courts website has current details on what to bring and how the process works.

Both people getting married must show up at the same time. The clerk will check IDs, collect the fee, and record your application. You'll also need to provide Social Security numbers -- these are required by state law but do not appear on the printed license itself.

Fees and Payment

The marriage license fee in Wicomico County is $35. Payment must be made by check or money order payable to "Clerk of the Court." The office does not accept cash or credit cards, so plan ahead. If you need a certified copy of a marriage record, the fee is $5.50 per copy.

If one or both parties live outside Maryland, a Non-Resident Affidavit is available at the clerk's office. Out-of-state residents follow the same basic process but must complete this additional form before the license can be issued. The fee remains the same regardless of residency.

Waiting Period and License Validity

Under Maryland Family Law, a valid license is required for any marriage ceremony in the state. Family Law section 2-405 sets a 48-hour waiting period -- the license is not effective until 6:00am on the second calendar day after you apply. So if you apply on a Monday, the earliest you can have a ceremony is Wednesday morning at 6:00am.

The license stays valid for six months. If you don't use it within that window, you'll need to apply again and pay the fee a second time. The ceremony must take place in the county where the license was issued, per Family Law section 2-406. Wicomico County licenses are only valid for ceremonies held in Wicomico County.

Civil Ceremonies at the Courthouse

The Circuit Court offers civil ceremonies for couples who want a simple, legal marriage without a separate officiant. The fee is $25, paid by check or money order. Ceremonies are by appointment only -- call 410-543-1427 to schedule. Available times are 9:00am to 4:00pm, Monday through Friday, at the courthouse.

Civil ceremonies are brief and official. The judge or clerk who performs the ceremony will sign the license, which is then recorded. You can get a certified copy of the record on the same visit if you need one right away.

Historical Marriage Records

Wicomico County was created in 1867 -- its name is said to mean "a place where houses are built" in the local Algonquian language. The county began keeping marriage records in 1868. Records from 1868 to 1981 have been transferred to the Maryland State Archives (MSA) and are available for research there.

The MSA marriage guide is a good starting point for older records. The Maryland State Archives marriage records guide describes what is available from each county and what time periods are covered. Wicomico's pre-1981 circuit court marriage records are part of that collection.

The State Archives also maintains indexes that help researchers narrow down specific entries before requesting copies. Check the Maryland marriage record indexes page at MSA for searchable finding aids.

For records after 1981, you need to contact the Wicomico County Circuit Court directly. There is no online database for recent Wicomico marriage licenses. The clerk's office can tell you whether a record exists and what is needed to get a copy.

Searching for Records Online

Wicomico County does not have its own online marriage license search portal. The Maryland courts' statewide Case Search system covers civil and criminal court cases but is not set up for marriage license lookups. For general court records in Wicomico, the clerk's office page lists what services are available and how to contact them.

Third-party sites may aggregate some public record data, but they are not official sources and may not have complete or current information. For a certified copy that has legal weight -- needed for name changes, immigration, insurance, and similar purposes -- you need to get it directly from the Circuit Court or the Maryland State Archives, depending on the record year.

The Maryland State Archives is the official repository for historical government records. Researchers can visit in person or submit written requests for copies of older marriage records.

Related Records in Wicomico County

Birth and death records for Wicomico County are handled by the Wicomico County Health Department -- not the Circuit Court. If you need a birth or death certificate, contact the health department separately. Marriage records and vital records are kept by different offices, so it's worth knowing which one you need before you call.

If you were previously married and divorced, you do not need to show a divorce decree to apply in Wicomico County, but the application asks for that information. Bring documentation if you have it -- the clerk may ask questions about prior marriages as part of the application process.

Court case records for Wicomico County -- including any civil or family court matters related to marriage -- are searchable through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search tool. This covers filings from the circuit and district courts.

What to Bring When You Apply

Both parties must appear together. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID -- a driver's license, passport, or state ID card. You'll need your Social Security number (have the card or know the number). If either party was previously married, know the date and location of the divorce or the date of the former spouse's death.

The fee is $35, paid by check or money order only. Make it out to "Clerk of the Court." The office is at the Wicomico County courthouse in Salisbury. Call ahead at 410-543-1427 to confirm current hours and any requirements that may have changed.

Nearby Counties

Marriage licenses and records in neighboring Eastern Shore counties are handled by their respective circuit court clerks.