Schoolcraft County Marriage License
Schoolcraft County marriage licenses are issued by the Schoolcraft County Clerk in Manistique, the county seat on Lake Michigan in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. If you or your partner lives in Schoolcraft County, the county clerk at 300 Walnut Street is where you apply for your marriage license. This page covers the clerk's contact information, what documents you need, the fees involved, the waiting period, who may perform your ceremony, and how to get certified copies of Schoolcraft County marriage records after your license is filed.
Schoolcraft County Overview
Schoolcraft County Clerk Office
The Schoolcraft County Clerk's office is at 300 Walnut Street in Manistique. This office issues marriage licenses for the county and records the signed license after the ceremony. Walk-in applications are accepted during business hours. No appointment is required. Bring your documents ready so the application can be processed without a follow-up visit.
After your ceremony, the officiant returns the signed license to this office. The clerk files it as the permanent Schoolcraft County marriage record. You can request certified copies from the clerk with valid photo ID and the applicable fee at any time after the record is filed.
| Office | Schoolcraft County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 300 Walnut Street, Manistique, MI 49854 |
| Phone | (906) 341-3618 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | schoolcraftcounty.net/county-clerk |
Vital Records Online offers a convenient service for ordering certified copies of Michigan marriage records from state and county sources.
Vital Records Online provides an additional option for ordering certified Schoolcraft County marriage records beyond the county clerk and MDHHS.
How to Apply for a Schoolcraft County Marriage License
Under MCL 551.101, at least one applicant must be a Schoolcraft County resident to apply here. Non-residents who plan to hold their ceremony in Schoolcraft County may also apply at this office. Only one person needs to appear in person. That person can bring documents for both. The absent applicant does not need to come in.
The application is a sworn affidavit under MCL 551.102. Both parties must provide their Social Security numbers. You sign under oath. False information is perjury under Michigan law. Fill every field accurately. Ask the clerk if any part of the form is 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 Schoolcraft County
Manistique is in the Upper Peninsula. The drive from some parts of the county can take time. Check your documents before you go. The clerk needs to verify identity, age, and county residency. Prior marriages require proof the marriage ended legally.
Bring the following:
- Valid driver's license or state ID showing a Schoolcraft 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 complete set for each applicant. Non-residents pay $30 instead of $20. Your ID must show a Schoolcraft County address to get the resident rate.
Fees and Waiting Period in Schoolcraft County
Michigan residents pay $20. Non-residents pay $30. State law sets both rates. Call the clerk's office to confirm accepted payment methods before visiting.
After the Schoolcraft 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 has expired and you'd need to start over. Plan your ceremony date within the 33-day window. Two witnesses aged 18 or older must attend and sign the license at the ceremony.
Officiants and Ceremony Rules in Michigan
MCL 551.7 defines who may perform a legal marriage in Michigan. Judges, magistrates, mayors, ordained ministers, and county clerks are all authorized. Civil and religious ceremonies are both valid. Confirm your officiant is legally authorized before your ceremony date.
After the ceremony, the officiant must return the signed license to the Schoolcraft County Clerk within 10 days under MCL 551.104. This is a legal requirement. A late or missing return can cause problems with your official marriage record. Talk to your officiant about this before the wedding and follow up to confirm it was done.
Certified Copies of Schoolcraft County Marriage Records
Once the signed license is returned and filed, it becomes the permanent Schoolcraft County marriage record. Request a certified copy from the Schoolcraft County Clerk at 300 Walnut Street in Manistique. 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 Michigan counties going back to 1867. The first certified copy is $34. Additional copies ordered at the same time are $16 each. Rush processing adds $12. Standard turnaround is four to five weeks. Order through MDHHS Vital Records online or by mail. MDHHS is at 333 S. Grand Ave, Lansing, MI 48933, phone (517) 335-8666.
The Michigan MDHHS vital records portal handles certified marriage record requests for marriages across all 83 Michigan counties dating back to 1867.
MDHHS processes certified copy requests for Schoolcraft County and all other Michigan county marriage records.
Name Change After Your Schoolcraft County Marriage
Once you have a certified copy of your Schoolcraft County marriage record, start the name change at the Social Security Administration. Visit 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 state ID is updated, work through banks, your employer, and other accounts. Keep extra certified copies of your marriage certificate for institutions that need certified documents.
Nearby Counties
Schoolcraft County is in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Marquette, Alger, Luce, Delta, and Mackinac counties are nearby neighbors. None of those counties currently have dedicated pages on this site.