Get a Marriage License in Keweenaw County

Keweenaw County marriage licenses are issued by the County Clerk in Eagle River, serving the small resident population and visitors who plan to marry on the Keweenaw Peninsula. Michigan state law governs the process, and both applicants must apply together in person.

Keweenaw County Clerk's Office

Keweenaw County is the least populous county in Michigan. The county clerk's office is in Eagle River, a small community on the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula. Both applicants must come together. Mail applications are not accepted. Call ahead to confirm the clerk is available before making the trip, especially in winter.

Keweenaw County attracts visitors to its national park, remote shoreline, and historic copper mining sites. Non-residents who want to marry in the county can apply here. Because the county is so remote, planning your application visit well in advance is wise. Call to confirm the clerk's schedule before driving out, especially from copper country's south side.

How to Apply

Both applicants go to the clerk's office at the same time. You fill out the application, show your documents, and pay. If everything checks out, you leave with the license the same day. Allow 20 to 30 minutes for the visit.

Michigan law requires a 3-day waiting period starting on the day you apply. Apply on a Monday and the earliest you can hold the ceremony is Thursday. Weekends and holidays count toward those 3 days. Keep this in mind when scheduling your ceremony, especially given the remote location and potential travel logistics.

Your license is valid for 33 days. If the ceremony doesn't happen in that window, the license expires. You would need to reapply and pay the fee again. Note: A circuit court judge can waive the 3-day period under compelling circumstances, but a petition and court fee are required and approval is not guaranteed.

Required Documents

Both people applying must each bring a complete set of documents. One person's documents don't cover the other.

• Valid government-issued photo ID showing your current address
• Government-issued birth certificate (certified copy from a vital records office)
• Social Security number (have your card if possible)
• Certified divorce decree or death certificate for each previous marriage
• Full legal names of both parents and the state where each parent was born
• If 16 or 17: a parent or legal guardian must appear in person and give written consent

If your ID doesn't list your current address, bring a utility bill, bank statement, or lease. Michigan residents pay $20; non-residents pay $30. Because the office is small, call to confirm payment methods before your visit.

Fees and the Waiting Period

The fee is $20 for Michigan residents and $30 for non-residents, as required by MCL 551.101. You pay at the time of application. There are no refunds after the license is issued.

The mandatory 3-day waiting period applies statewide, including in Keweenaw County. A waiver requires a petition to the local circuit court (shared with Houghton County) and judicial approval. There is a separate court fee involved. Most couples plan their timeline to include the wait rather than go through that process. No extra county fees are charged beyond the license fee.

Getting Certified Copies

After the ceremony, the officiant must sign the license and return it to the Keweenaw County Clerk within 10 days. MCL 551.104 requires this. The clerk registers the marriage locally and reports it to the state vital records system.

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 ordered at the same time: $16 each. Rush service adds $12 and takes 2 to 3 weeks; standard orders take 4 to 5 weeks. Order online through the MDHHS VitalChek portal, or visit in person by appointment Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM in Lansing.

You can also request certified copies from the Keweenaw County Clerk. For this small, remote county, contacting the clerk directly may be the most efficient option. Historical Michigan records dating back to 1867 are accessible for free through Michiganology.org.

Michigan Marriage License Law

MCL 551.101 sets the core requirements: in-person application, 3-day waiting period, and 33-day validity. MCL 551.102 says residents apply in their home county, while non-residents apply where the ceremony will take place.

Authorized officiants under MCL 551.7 include judges, magistrates, mayors, county clerks, and ordained ministers. Two witnesses who are at least 18 must be present at the ceremony. The officiant must sign and return the 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

Your certified marriage license is the document used for a name change. Start with the Social Security Administration (free). Then update your driver's license at the Michigan Secretary of State. After that, notify your bank, employer, insurance company, and other institutions. Each place will typically want to see a certified copy.

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

Keweenaw County is at the very tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula in the Upper Peninsula. Houghton County is its only neighboring county in Michigan and handles the circuit court shared between the two.