Sanilac County Marriage License Search

Sanilac County marriage licenses are issued by the Sanilac County Clerk in Sandusky, the county seat in Michigan's Thumb region. If you or your partner lives in Sanilac County, the county clerk at 60 W. Sanilac Avenue is where you apply. This page covers the clerk's contact information, required documents, fees, the three-day waiting period, ceremony rules under Michigan law, and how to get certified copies of Sanilac County marriage records after your license is filed.

Sanilac County Clerk Office

The Sanilac County Clerk's office is at 60 W. Sanilac Avenue, Room 203, in Sandusky. This is the only office in the county authorized to issue marriage licenses and file the official Sanilac County marriage records. Walk-in applications are accepted on business days. No appointment is needed. Bring your complete set of documents on the first visit.

After your ceremony, the officiant returns the signed license to this office. The clerk files it as the permanent Sanilac County marriage record. The clerk can issue certified copies with valid photo ID and the applicable fee at any time after the record is filed.

The Michigan MDHHS vital records portal handles certified marriage record requests for marriages across all 83 Michigan counties dating back to 1867.

MDHHS is the state-level source for certified Sanilac County marriage certificates, accessible by mail or online order.

How to Apply for a Sanilac County Marriage License

Under MCL 551.101, at least one applicant must be a Sanilac County resident to apply here. Non-residents who plan to hold their ceremony in Sanilac County may also apply at this office. Only one person needs to appear in person. That person can bring documents for both. The other applicant does not need to be present.

The application is a sworn affidavit under MCL 551.102. Both parties must supply their Social Security numbers. You sign under oath. False information is perjury under Michigan law. Fill in every field accurately. The clerk can explain any field that's unclear.

Both applicants must be at least 18. Those aged 16 or 17 need written parental consent. No one under 16 may legally marry in Michigan.

Required Documents for Sanilac County

Have all your documents ready before heading to Sandusky. Missing anything means a second trip. The clerk needs to check identity, age, and county residency. Prior marriages require documentation showing the marriage ended.

You need to bring:

• Valid driver's license or state ID showing a Sanilac County address
• Government-issued birth certificate (not a hospital copy) or valid passport
• Social Security numbers for both parties
• Full legal names and birth states of both parents for each applicant
• Divorce decree or death certificate if either party was previously married

If one person picks up the license for both, bring the full set for each applicant. Non-residents pay $30 instead of $20. Your ID must show a Sanilac County address to get the resident rate.

Fees and Waiting Period in Sanilac County

Michigan residents pay $20. Non-residents pay $30. State law sets both rates. Call ahead to confirm payment methods before your visit.

After the Sanilac County marriage license is issued, a three-day waiting period applies before any ceremony can take place. This is a statewide rule under Michigan law. It cannot be waived. The license is valid for 33 days from the issue date. A ceremony after 33 days means the license expired. You'd need a new application and a new fee. Plan your ceremony within the 33-day window. Two witnesses aged 18 or older must attend and sign the license at the ceremony.

Who Can Perform Your Ceremony

MCL 551.7 lists who is authorized to perform a marriage in Michigan. Judges, magistrates, mayors, ordained ministers, and county clerks are all on the list. Civil and religious ceremonies are both valid. Verify your officiant is legally authorized before the ceremony date.

After the ceremony, the officiant must return the signed license to the Sanilac County Clerk within 10 days under MCL 551.104. This is a legal obligation. A late or missing return causes problems with your official marriage record. Talk to your officiant about this before the wedding and confirm the return was made afterward.

Certified Copies of Sanilac County Marriage Records

Once the signed license is returned and filed, it becomes the permanent Sanilac County marriage record. Request a certified copy from the Sanilac County Clerk at 60 W. Sanilac Avenue, Room 203 in Sandusky. Bring valid photo ID and the applicable fee.

For state-level records or copies needed years after the marriage, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services holds vital records for all 83 counties going back to 1867. The first certified copy is $34. Additional copies ordered at the same time are $16 each. Rush processing costs $12 extra. Standard turnaround is four to five weeks. Use MDHHS Vital Records to order online or by mail. MDHHS is at 333 S. Grand Ave, Lansing, MI 48933, phone (517) 335-8666.

Michiganology.org provides free access to digitized historical Michigan vital records, making it a useful tool for genealogy research involving Sanilac County marriage records.

Michiganology's free archive includes historical Michigan vital records that can help researchers find older Sanilac County marriage filings.

Name Change After Your Sanilac County Marriage

Once you have a certified copy of your Sanilac County marriage record, start the name change at the Social Security Administration. Go to ssa.gov for local office details or mail-in instructions. There is no fee. Bring your certified marriage certificate, a current photo ID, and proof of citizenship or immigration status.

After the SSA card is updated, visit a Michigan Secretary of State office to update your driver's license or state ID. Bring the updated SSA card and your certified marriage certificate. Most SOS offices take walk-ins. Once your ID is updated, work through your banks, employer, and other accounts. Keep extra certified copies of your marriage certificate for institutions that require certified documents.

Nearby Counties

Sanilac County is in Michigan's Thumb region. St. Clair County is to the south and has a dedicated page on this site. Lapeer, Tuscola, and Huron counties are also nearby but do not currently have dedicated pages.