Livingston County Marriage License
Livingston County marriage licenses are issued through the Livingston County Clerk's office in Howell, Michigan. County Clerk Elizabeth Hundley oversees the office, which handles all marriage license applications and vital records for the county. This page covers where to apply, what documents you need, what the fees are, how the waiting period and license validity work, and how to search Livingston County marriage records through the county's LivingstonLive online portal.
Livingston County Overview
Livingston County Clerk Office
The Livingston County Clerk's office is at 200 E. Grand River Avenue in Howell, which is the county seat. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, except on county holidays. The office handles marriage license applications, vital records requests, and certified copy orders for all marriages on file in Livingston County.
County Clerk Elizabeth Hundley runs the office. You can reach the office by phone at (517) 546-0500 or by fax at (517) 546-4354. Email inquiries can go to countyclerk@livgov.com. The main county website is livgov.com, and the clerk's specific page is at livgov.com/clerk. Both pages link to current forms, contact information, and the online vital records portal.
| Office | Livingston County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 200 E. Grand River Ave., Howell, MI 48843 |
| Phone | (517) 546-0500 |
| Fax | (517) 546-4354 |
| countyclerk@livgov.com | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Website | livgov.com/clerk |
Applying for a Livingston County Marriage License
Under MCL 551.101, at least one applicant must be a Livingston County resident to apply here. If you live in Howell, Brighton, Hartland, or another part of Livingston County, you apply at the clerk's office in Howell. Out-of-state applicants who plan to marry in Livingston County must apply here and hold their ceremony in the county.
The application is a sworn affidavit under MCL 551.102. Both parties must provide their Social Security numbers and sign under oath. Making false statements on the application is treated as perjury under Michigan law. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID that shows your current Livingston County address. If you recently moved and haven't updated your ID yet, visit a Michigan Secretary of State branch to get an address sticker applied before coming to the clerk's office.
Both applicants must be at least 18 years old. If one party is 16 or 17, parental consent is required under MCL 551.103.
Note: Only one party needs to appear in person at the Livingston County Clerk's office to apply; the other party does not need to be present.
Fees and Waiting Period in Livingston County
The fee for a Livingston County marriage license is $20 for Michigan residents. Out-of-state applicants pay $30. These are standard Michigan fees set by state law. After the clerk issues your license, you must wait three days before the ceremony can take place. This is required by MCL 551.103a and applies across the state. The license is valid for 33 days from the date it was issued. If your wedding falls outside that window, the license expires and you'll need to apply again.
Plan your application date with the waiting period in mind. Apply at least four or five days before your ceremony to give yourself a comfortable buffer. After the ceremony, the officiant must sign the license and return it to the Livingston County Clerk within 10 days under MCL 551.104. That returned license becomes the official marriage record on file with the county.
Livingston County Marriage Records Online
Livingston County uses the LivingstonLive portal for online vital records requests. The portal is at livingstonlive.livgov.com/VitalRecords/ and allows residents to order death and marriage certificates without visiting the office in person. Online searches are free. If you request a manual search or order a certified copy through the portal, the fee is $25 regardless of whether a record is found. Each order includes one certified copy or an official statement confirming that no record was located.
The screenshot below is from the Livingston County LivingstonLive vital records portal, where residents can search for and order certified Livingston County marriage records.
The LivingstonLive portal lets Livingston County residents order certified marriage certificates, search records, and access other vital records services without visiting the Howell office.
Statewide Records and Additional Resources
For statewide Michigan marriage records, the Michigan MDHHS Vital Records office holds records going back to 1867 and can be reached at (517) 335-8666. This is useful if you're not sure which county holds a specific record, or if you need records from before the county's system was digitized. Certified copies from the state are available by mail or online order.
The screenshot below is from the Michigan MDHHS Vital Records page, which covers statewide marriage records including those from Livingston County.
The MDHHS page links to online ordering, fee schedules, and instructions for requesting certified marriage records from any Michigan county, including Livingston County.
For older historical records, Michiganology offers a free searchable database of Michigan vital records useful for genealogy research. You can also check Vital Records Online Michigan as an additional resource for Livingston County marriage searches.
The screenshot below is from the Michiganology vital records page, a free resource for searching older Michigan marriage records including those from Livingston County families.
Michiganology's free database is a useful starting point for genealogy research involving historical Livingston County marriages and other Michigan vital records.
Who Can Officiate at a Livingston County Wedding
Under MCL 551.7, authorized officiants in Michigan include judges, magistrates, mayors, ordained ministers, and county clerks. For couples marrying in Howell or anywhere else in Livingston County, these options cover most common ceremony formats. Check with your chosen officiant to confirm they are legally authorized. The Michigan Courts website has additional guidance on civil ceremonies and authorized officiants statewide.
After your ceremony, the officiant signs the Livingston County marriage license and must return it to the clerk within 10 days. Don't wait on this step. Delays in returning the license can cause problems when you try to order certified copies later or begin the name change process.
Name Changes After a Livingston County Marriage
Once your Livingston County marriage license is filed, start the name change process with the Social Security Administration. Visit ssa.gov to update your Social Security card. You need your certified marriage certificate, your current photo ID, and proof of citizenship or immigration status. There is no fee. After SSA, update your driver's license or state ID at a Michigan Secretary of State branch. Bring your updated SSA card and certified marriage certificate. Most SOS branches accept walk-ins.
Cities in Livingston County
The county seat is Howell, but there are no qualifying cities from our list in Livingston County with dedicated marriage license pages at this time.
No qualifying cities are currently listed for Livingston County.
Nearby Counties
Livingston County borders several other Michigan counties. Confirm your county of residence before applying for a marriage license.