Get a Marriage License in Iron County

Iron County marriage licenses are issued by the County Clerk in Crystal Falls, serving residents and couples planning to marry in this Upper Peninsula county. All applications are handled in person by both parties at the same visit.

Iron County Clerk's Office

The Iron County Clerk in Crystal Falls processes all marriage license applications. Both applicants must be present at the same time. Mail applications and applications through a third party are not accepted. Crystal Falls is a small city in the eastern U.P., and the clerk's office is in the county courthouse.

Iron County sees visitors who come to the area for its lakes, forests, and outdoor spaces. Non-residents planning to marry in Iron County are welcome to apply at this office. Call ahead, especially if you're driving from a neighboring county or across the Wisconsin border.

How to Apply

Both people go to the clerk's office at the same time. You fill out the short application form, hand over your documents, and pay. The clerk reviews your materials and, if all is in order, hands you the license the same day. Plan on about 20 to 30 minutes.

After you receive the license, Michigan law requires a 3-day waiting period before the ceremony can happen. The waiting period starts the day you apply. Apply on a Wednesday and you can first marry on Saturday. Weekends and holidays count. Budget those 3 days into your timeline when setting the wedding date.

The license is valid for 33 days. If your ceremony doesn't happen within that window, the license expires and you must reapply. Note: A circuit court judge can waive the 3-day wait in special circumstances, but you must file a petition and pay a court fee, and it is not a sure thing.

Required Documents

Both applicants must each bring the following. Neither person's documents cover the other's requirement.

• Government-issued photo ID with your current address
• Certified birth certificate from a government vital records office (not a hospital record)
• Social Security number (have your card with you if possible)
• Certified divorce decree or death certificate for any previous marriage
• Full legal names of your parents and the state each parent was born in
• If 16 or 17 years old: a parent or legal guardian must come in person and sign a consent form

If your ID doesn't list your current address, bring a recent utility bill, lease agreement, or bank statement. Michigan residents pay $20; non-residents pay $30. Call the clerk's office to confirm payment methods accepted.

Fees and Waiting Period

The fee for a marriage license in Iron County is $20 for residents and $30 for non-residents, per MCL 551.101. It is due at the time of application. Fees are not refunded, regardless of whether the marriage takes place.

The 3-day waiting period is a state law requirement. You cannot pay the county to skip it. To waive it, you must petition the Iron County Circuit Court, which charges its own fee. Whether the judge grants a waiver is entirely up to judicial discretion. Most couples simply schedule their ceremony at least 3 days after their application date. No other county fees apply.

Certified Copies of Your Marriage Record

After the ceremony, your officiant signs the license and has 10 days to return it to the Iron County Clerk. This is required under MCL 551.104. The clerk records the marriage locally and reports it to the state vital records system in Lansing.

Certified copies from the state are available through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) at 333 S. Grand Ave, Lansing, MI 48933, phone (517) 335-8666. First copy: $34. Additional copies at the same time: $16 each. Rush processing adds $12 and takes 2 to 3 weeks; standard is 4 to 5 weeks. Order through the MDHHS VitalChek portal, or visit in person by appointment Tuesdays and Thursdays 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM in Lansing.

The Iron County Clerk can also provide certified copies, often more quickly and for less cost. Call the office for current pricing. For historical Michigan marriage records dating back to 1867, Michiganology.org provides free online access.

Michigan Marriage Laws

MCL 551.101 sets out the basic requirements: in-person application, 3-day wait, and 33-day validity. MCL 551.102 determines where couples apply based on residency. Residents apply in their home county. Non-residents apply in the county where the ceremony will be held.

Authorized officiants under MCL 551.7 include judges, magistrates, mayors, county clerks, and ordained ministers. Two witnesses who are at least 18 years old must be present at the ceremony. The officiant must return the signed license to the county clerk within 10 days per MCL 551.104.

Age to marry: 18 on your own; 16 or 17 with parental consent; under 16 cannot marry in Michigan.

Name Change After Marriage

A certified copy of your marriage record is what you need to change your name legally. Go to the Social Security Administration first. The SSA process is free. After that, visit a Michigan Secretary of State office to update your driver's license. Then notify your bank, employer, insurance company, and other institutions. Most will want to see a certified copy, so have several on hand.

State Records Resources

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Division for Vital Records maintains state marriage records since 1867 and processes certified copy requests.

Michiganology.org offers free online access to historical Michigan vital records, including marriage records, for genealogy and family history research.

Nearby Counties

Iron County is in the central Upper Peninsula. These neighboring U.P. counties follow the same Michigan marriage license process and handle applications at their own county clerk offices.