Clare County Marriage License Search

Clare County marriage license applications are filed at the county clerk's office in Harrison, the county seat in central Michigan. Both applicants must appear together at the clerk's office, present valid government-issued photo ID showing their current address and an official birth certificate, and sign a sworn affidavit before the clerk. Michigan law requires a three-day waiting period after the application is submitted. The license is valid for 33 days from the date it is issued.

Clare County Clerk Office

The Clare County Clerk is located at 225 West Main Street in Harrison. The office handles marriage license applications for residents and non-residents who plan to marry in Clare County. You apply here, wait three days, then return to pick up the license.

Clare County is in Michigan's lower-central area. It is a small county with limited staff, so calling ahead before your visit is a good idea. Confirm the clerk's office is open and find out what forms of payment they accept. Non-residents planning to marry in Clare County pay $30 instead of the resident fee of $20.

How to Apply in Clare County

Both people who plan to marry must visit the Clare County Clerk's office together. There is no way to submit the application separately or by mail. Each person signs the sworn affidavit in front of a clerk, as required by MCL 551.102. After the clerk processes the application and you pay the fee, the three-day waiting period starts.

Day one of the waiting period is the day you apply. You can pick up the license on day four or later. If that day falls on a weekend or holiday, the next business day is the earliest pickup. Plan your ceremony to happen after you have the license, not before or on the pickup day itself.

A judge can sometimes waive the three-day waiting period. This requires a court order and comes with an extra fee. The amount varies. If you need the license in less than three days, contact the clerk's office right away to find out how to start the waiver process in Clare County.

Michiganology.org provides free online access to historical Michigan vital records for genealogy and family history research. For older Clare County marriage records, check michiganology.org/vital-records/.

Michiganology is a good option for searching older records without paying for official certified copies.

Requirements and Documents

The Clare County Clerk needs the same set of documents every Michigan county requires. Both applicants must bring a full set. An incomplete application cannot be processed the same day.

• 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

Both applicants must be 18 or older to apply without parental involvement. Those who are 16 or 17 need written consent from a parent or legal guardian. No one under 16 may marry in Michigan. The clerk will check IDs for every applicant regardless of apparent age.

The affidavit is a sworn legal statement. Providing false information violates MCL 551.108 and can lead to criminal charges. Answer every question on the form truthfully and completely before signing.

Fees and Waiting Period

Residents of Clare County pay $20 for a marriage license. Non-residents pay $30. These rates are set statewide by Michigan law. Ask the clerk about accepted payment methods before your visit, particularly if you plan to pay by card.

The three-day waiting period is required by MCL 551.103a. The license is valid for 33 days after it is issued. If the ceremony doesn't happen within those 33 days, the license expires and you would need to apply again. Write down both the earliest pickup date and the expiration date when you apply.

Note: Waiting period waivers are possible but not guaranteed. A judge must approve them, and there is an extra cost. Contact the clerk's office if you think you'll need one.

Certified Copies and Records

After your ceremony, the officiant must return the completed marriage license to the Clare County Clerk within 10 days under MCL 551.104. The county files the record and forwards it to the MDHHS. Once processed at the state level, certified copies are available.

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. Phone: (517) 335-8666.

Visit michigan.gov/mdhhs/doing-business/vitalrecords to order certified copies online or to learn more about the process.

State-certified copies carry the official MDHHS seal and are recognized for legal name changes, insurance claims, and other purposes.

Michigan Marriage Laws

Clare County operates under the same marriage laws as every county in Michigan, found in Chapter 551 of the Michigan Compiled Laws. These rules apply statewide without local variation.

MCL 551.101 gives county clerks authority to issue licenses. MCL 551.102 requires the sworn affidavit. Age requirements are in MCL 551.103. The waiting period and validity rules are in MCL 551.103a. MCL 551.104 sets the 10-day return deadline for officiants.

Authorized officiants under MCL 551.7 include judges, magistrates, mayors, county clerks, and ordained ministers. Two adult witnesses who are at least 18 years old must be present at the ceremony. These are legal requirements, not suggestions.

After marriage, update your name at the SSA first (no cost), then the Secretary of State, then your bank, insurance, and employer.

Nearby Counties

Clare County is in central Michigan. The surrounding counties of Mecosta, Osceola, Missaukee, Roscommon, Gladwin, and Isabella do not currently have pages on this site.