George Boyle
Michigan is a popular wedding destination, with its 16,000 square miles of untouched wilderness, 3,000 miles of freshwater coastline, and vibrant fall foliage. The state has relatively straightforward marriage laws, which include obtaining a marriage license and having the wedding solemnized by an authorized person. Couples can choose from a variety of ceremony options, ranging from large religious gatherings to small, intimate affairs. Michigan does not recognize common-law marriages but does respect those that occurred in other jurisdictions. The state also allows Secular Celebrants to perform weddings without religious content, providing more options for couples to personalize their special day.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Wedding location | Michigan |
| Wedding type | Religious or non-religious |
| Wedding size | Large or small gathering |
| Wedding ceremony | Left to the couple |
| Marriage requirements | Pronounce desire to take another as husband or wife, a presiding magistrate or minister, two witnesses of legal age, and a minister to pronounce the couple as married |
| Marriage license | Required, obtained from the county clerk of the county in which either the man or woman resides |
| Marriage license validity | 33 days in the county of issuance |
| Marriage license fee | $20 |
| Marriage license waiting period | 3 days |
| Marriage license delivery | To the magistrate or minister officiating the wedding |
| Marriage license return | To the issuing county clerk within 10 days of the ceremony |
| Officiant credentials | Letter of good standing and ordination credentials |
| Officiant age | 18 years or older |
| Witnesses | 2, both of whom must be of legal age |
| Secular Celebrants | CFI Secular Celebrants will perform weddings with no religious content |
| Common-law marriage | Not recognized in Michigan |
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What You'll Learn
Michigan wedding laws and requirements
Michigan is a popular place to tie the knot, with its stunning sights, untouched wilderness, and miles of freshwater coastline. The state has relatively simple marriage laws, leaving the specifics of the wedding ceremony up to the couple. The only requirement is that the couple publicly declares their intention to be married before a presiding magistrate or minister and at least two witnesses of the age of majority. The minister must then pronounce the couple married.
To marry in Michigan, couples must obtain a marriage license from the county clerk of the county in which one or both parties reside. If both parties are non-residents, they must obtain a license from the county clerk of the county in which the marriage will take place. The license is valid for 33 days in the county in which it was issued, and there is a three-day waiting period between the date of application and when the license may be issued. The fee for a marriage license is $20, although additional fees may apply depending on the county.
To obtain a marriage license, couples must provide proof of age with a birth certificate and state-issued identification. If applicable, proof of divorce may also be required. If one or both parties are under the age of 18, parental consent is required. Michigan law prohibits marriages between any two people who are directly related by blood or marriage up to and including first cousins. Marrying more than one person at the same time is also not permitted.
The marriage license must be signed by a person authorized by Michigan law to solemnize a wedding, such as a federal, district, municipal, or probate court judge or magistrate, city mayor, county clerk, or religious practitioner. Certified CFI Secular Celebrants are also legally recognized to solemnize marriages in Michigan, although they are not required to perform a ceremony devoid of religious content.
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Marriage licenses and fees
To obtain a marriage license in Michigan, couples must apply to the county clerk in the county where either member of the couple resides. If both parties are non-residents of Michigan, they must obtain a license from the clerk in the county where they plan to wed. The marriage license is valid anywhere in the state of Michigan for 33 days from the date of application. However, there is a three-day waiting period between the date of application and when the license may be issued, excluding the application day. This waiting period can be waived for an additional fee, which varies by county. In Monroe County, for example, the fee is $10, whereas in Macomb County, it is $5.
The marriage license must be signed by a person authorized under Michigan law to solemnize a wedding, such as an ordained minister, magistrate, mayor of a Michigan city, or a judge, as well as two witnesses who are 18 or older. The couple, two witnesses, and the officiant must be physically present for the ceremony and to sign the license.
The base fee for a marriage license in Michigan is $20, although additional fees may apply depending on the county. In Monroe County, the fee for residents is $20, while for out-of-state residents, it is $30. This fee must be paid in cash or by money order, and personal checks are not accepted.
To apply for a marriage license, couples must submit their application online and provide valid identification, social security numbers, birth certificates or passports, and proof of residency, such as a driver's license or state ID. If neither member of the couple is a Michigan resident, they must provide a social security number and/or card. After submitting the application, an appointment must be made with the Clerk's Office for notarization of the affidavit, fee payment, and receipt of the license. Payment is made in person at the office, and the application is valid for two weeks after submission.
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Who can officiate a wedding
To be legally married in Michigan, a couple must obtain a valid marriage license and have their wedding "solemnized" by certain authorized persons.
Who can solemnize a wedding in Michigan?
- A federal, district, municipal, or probate court judge or magistrate
- A city mayor
- A county clerk
- Clergy or religious practitioners
- A certified CFI Secular Celebrant
- A minister of the gospel or religious actor, such as a minister of the Universal Life Church
- Civil officers, such as clerks, judges, mayors, and magistrates
Who cannot solemnize a wedding in Michigan?
Those who are not authorized to solemnize a wedding in Michigan include:
- A person under the age of 18
- A relative, if the marriage is incestuous
To perform a marriage in Michigan, you need to be ordained and may be required to provide proof of ordination, such as an ordination credential, wallet credential, or a letter of good standing from the church on the church letterhead. This requirement can be met by providing documentation from a religious denomination. Although most ministers complete years of training and schooling to become ordained, Michigan also accepts online certification.
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Secular weddings
To perform a secular wedding in Michigan, a couple must obtain a marriage license from the county clerk in their county of residence. This license can then be used in any county in Michigan and is valid for 33 days from the application date. There is a three-day waiting period to pick up the license, though this can be waived by the county clerk in certain circumstances. The marriage license must be signed by a person authorized by Michigan law to solemnize a wedding, such as a Secular Celebrant, and two witnesses who are 18 or older.
Secular Celebrants are individuals trained and certified by the Center for Inquiry (CFI), a non-profit organization, to perform weddings containing no religious content. These marriages are legal in Michigan. Secular Celebrants decide which weddings they will officiate and what content to include, with some allowing other participants or family members to contribute religious or spiritual content if requested by the couple.
In addition to Secular Celebrants, certain elected and appointed government officials, "ministers of the gospel" (including clergy), and certain religious practitioners may also solemnize marriages in Michigan. These individuals may include those who are or were previously a minister, priest, rabbi, etc. Those who are ordained or certified through religious organizations such as the Humanist Society, the Society for Humanistic Judaism, or the Universal Life Church Monastery also qualify as "ministers of the gospel" under Michigan law.
Couples can also ask federal, district, municipal, or probate court judges, magistrates, city mayors, or county clerks to perform a non-religious ceremony. However, there is no requirement for these individuals to perform a non-religious wedding, and they often have a set script with little to no personalization.
Michigan law requires that the couple pronounce their desire to take each other as husband and wife before a presiding magistrate or minister and at least two witnesses, who must be of legal age. The couple, witnesses, and officiant must be physically present for the ceremony and to sign the license.
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Incest laws
Michigan, like many other states, allows weddings to be held in a wide variety of settings, from large religious gatherings to small informal ceremonies. The state's laws regarding weddings are relatively straightforward and easy to understand.
To legally marry in Michigan, couples must obtain a valid marriage license from the county clerk in their county of residence. If both parties are non-residents, they must obtain the license from the county clerk in the county where the marriage will take place. The license costs $20 and is valid for 33 days in the county it was issued. There is typically a three-day waiting period between the application and when the license is issued, but this can be waived by the county clerk in certain circumstances.
During the wedding ceremony, the couple must pronounce their desire to take each other as husband and wife before a presiding magistrate or minister and at least two witnesses, all of whom must be of the age of majority. The minister must then pronounce the couple as married. The couple, witnesses, and officiant must be physically present for the ceremony and to sign the license.
Now, regarding incest laws in Michigan, the state, like most others in the US, criminalizes incest between consenting adults. Specifically, Michigan law forbids women from marrying their close male relatives, including fathers, brothers, uncles, nephews, and first cousins, among others. This law has not been updated to remove the restriction against a woman marrying "any other woman", but this provision has been overridden by legal same-sex marriage.
In terms of criminal sexual conduct, Michigan law prohibits sexual penetration or contact with a close relative. The penalties for such acts vary depending on the degree of the crime, with first-degree criminal sexual conduct being the most severe and punishable by up to life in prison. The degree of the crime is determined by factors such as the age of the accuser and the specific relationship between the accused and the accuser. For example, if the accuser is between 13 and 16 years old and is related to the accused by blood or affinity, the charges can be increased to first-degree criminal sexual conduct for penetration cases or second-degree criminal sexual conduct for touching cases.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, weddings are allowed in Michigan.
To have a legal wedding in Michigan, you must obtain a valid marriage license and have the wedding "solemnized" by an authorized person. This includes federal, district, municipal, or probate court judges, magistrates, mayors, clerks, ministers of the gospel, or religious practitioners.
You must apply for a marriage license in the county that you reside in. If both parties reside in different counties, you can submit documents in both counties. The license costs \$20 and is valid for 33 days in the county it was issued.
Most judges, magistrates, mayors, clerks, ministers of the gospel, or religious practitioners authorized to solemnize marriages can officiate weddings in Michigan, provided they are 18 years old.
