Get a Marriage License in Baraga County
Baraga County residents apply for a marriage license at the county clerk's office in L'Anse, the county seat located in Michigan's Upper Peninsula along Keweenaw Bay. Both people planning to marry must go together, present valid photo ID and an official birth certificate, and sign a sworn affidavit before the clerk. Michigan law requires a three-day waiting period from the application date. The license is valid for 33 days once issued, giving you a set window to hold your ceremony.
Baraga County Overview
Baraga County Clerk Office
The Baraga County Clerk's office is located at 16 North 3rd Street in L'Anse. This is where you apply for a marriage license and return after the waiting period to pick it up. The clerk's office maintains local marriage records and can direct you to state resources if you need certified copies.
| Office | Baraga County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 16 N. 3rd Street, L'Anse, MI 49946 |
| Phone | Contact the county clerk directly for current phone and hours |
| Hours | Contact office for current business hours |
| Website | Michigan MDHHS Vital Records |
Baraga County is one of Michigan's smaller Upper Peninsula counties. The clerk's office may have limited hours compared to larger counties. Always call ahead before making the drive from outside the area. If you are a non-resident marrying in Baraga County, you can still apply here and will pay $30 instead of the $20 resident fee.
How to Apply in Baraga County
The application process is the same in Baraga County as everywhere else in Michigan. Both people planning to marry visit the clerk's office together. Neither can go alone. Each signs the sworn affidavit in front of a clerk, which is required by MCL 551.102. You pay the fee on the spot, and the three-day clock starts.
The three-day waiting period means you can't pick up the license until at least the fourth calendar day. If day three is a weekend or a holiday, you wait until the next business day. Build this into your planning so your ceremony date works out. A Monday application means the earliest pickup is Thursday.
Waivers of the waiting period are possible but not guaranteed. A judge must approve the waiver and there is an added fee. The exact cost varies. If you need the license faster than three days, contact the clerk's office as soon as possible to find out what steps to take in Baraga County.
Michiganology.org provides free online access to historical Michigan vital records for genealogy and family history research. For older Baraga County marriage records, visit michiganology.org/vital-records/.
Michiganology has scanned many older records and offers free searches, which can be helpful if you need historical documentation.
Requirements and Documents
Both applicants need the same set of documents. The Baraga County Clerk will not process an incomplete application, so check this list before you go.
- Valid government-issued photo ID with your current home address
- Official birth certificate from a government agency (not a hospital copy)
- Social Security number for each applicant
- Certified divorce decree or death certificate of a former spouse, if applicable
- Full names and birthplaces of both applicants' parents
Age requirements are firm. Both applicants must be 18 or older to apply without consent. Those who are 16 or 17 need written parental or guardian consent. No one under 16 may marry in Michigan. The clerk checks IDs and will ask follow-up questions if ages are close to the minimum.
The affidavit is a sworn legal document. MCL 551.108 makes it a criminal offense to lie on a marriage license application. Double-check every answer before you sign.
Fees and Waiting Period
Baraga County residents pay $20. Non-residents pay $30. Michigan law sets these fees for all counties. Ask the clerk what forms of payment are accepted before you make the trip, especially since the office is in a rural area and may not have ATM access nearby.
The waiting period of three days is set by MCL 551.103a. The license cannot be issued any earlier. After it's issued, the license is valid for 33 days. That is the window in which your ceremony must take place. If you miss the window, the license expires and you must apply again and pay the fee again.
Note: Don't delay applying if your ceremony date is firm. Give yourself enough buffer so the waiting period doesn't push your pickup date past the last day you can use the license.
Certified Copies and Records
After the ceremony, the officiant must return the signed and completed marriage license to the Baraga County Clerk within 10 days. This is required by MCL 551.104. The clerk sends the record to the state. After that, you can request certified copies from the Michigan MDHHS.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) maintains state marriage records since 1867 and offers certified copies through their vital records portal. The first certified copy is $34. Each additional copy ordered at the same time is $16. Rush processing adds $12. Standard processing takes four to five weeks. MDHHS is at 333 S. Grand Ave, Lansing, MI 48933, and can be reached at (517) 335-8666.
Visit michigan.gov/mdhhs/doing-business/vitalrecords to start your request for certified copies online.
State certified copies are accepted for name changes, legal proceedings, and other official purposes across Michigan and nationwide.
Michigan Marriage Laws
Baraga County follows Michigan's statewide marriage laws found in Chapter 551 of the Michigan Compiled Laws. These laws set the rules for applications, waiting periods, ceremonies, and record-keeping.
MCL 551.101 gives county clerks authority to issue licenses. The sworn affidavit requirement is in MCL 551.102. Age rules are in MCL 551.103. The three-day waiting period and 33-day validity are in MCL 551.103a. Post-ceremony filing is required by MCL 551.104.
Authorized officiants include judges, magistrates, mayors, county clerks, and ordained ministers under MCL 551.7. Two witnesses who are at least 18 years old must attend the ceremony. The officiant is responsible for making sure the paperwork gets back to the clerk on time.
For name changes after marriage, start with the Social Security Administration (no cost), then the Secretary of State for your driver's license, then notify your bank, insurer, and employer.
Nearby Counties
Baraga County is in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The surrounding counties do not currently have dedicated pages on this site. Contact nearby county clerks directly for marriage license information.