Montana Marriage Laws

ID Requirement: Certified copy of birth certificates.

Residency Requirement: Do not have to be a resident of Montana.

Application Requirement: License applications can be obtained from the Clerk of the District Court in any Montana county. Complete applications cannot be filed by mail; both parties must be present in front of the Clerk. If both parties are non-residents of Montana, obtain the license application from the Clerk in the county in which the ceremony will be performed. If one party is a non-resident, his/her part can be sworn to or affirmed in the county and state in which he/she resides.

Waiting Period: Montana law allows you to get married immediately after officially receiving your marriage license. No waiting period is necessary unless under the age of 18.

If Divorced: A certified copy of the divorce decree is required.

Fees: $53.00 - cash only.

Other Tests: The bride may be required to take a blood test for rubella.

Under 18: If you are 16 or 17 years old, you must have the consent of both parents unless only one parent has legal custody of you. Proof of age must be in the form of a certified copy of your birth certificate. Both of you, as a couple, will also have to attend at least two counseling sessions that are at least 10 days apart. This has to be done with a designated counselor who will then have to provide a letter that states the names of the couple, their ages, the dates of the counseling sessions, and what the counselor thinks about their possible marriage. Then judicial consent signed by a district court judge must be given for the Clerk of court's office to issue a marriage license. No one 15 years of age or younger may marry in Montana.

Proxy Marriages: Yes.

Copy of Certificate of Marriage:

Department of Health and Human Services

Vital Statistics Bureau

111 N. Sanders, Room 205

Helena, MT 59620

(406) 444-4228

Miscellaneous: License is valid for 180 days. Marriage licenses are like cream; if you don't use it straight away, eventually it will go sour. Montana marriage licenses expire after 6 Months. If your license expires before you wed, you can reapply for another license.

While the record that a marriage occurred is public in Montana, the personal information about the bride and groom contained in the marriage license application is confidential and generally available only to immediate family members.

Ministers of the gospel of any denomination may perform marriages. Ministers must complete and return a marriage certificate to the clerk of the district court within 30 days after the marriage. Also the minister must provide marriage certificates to the bride and groom upon request.

Please verify all information for accuracy with the appropriate State department.

For questions contact the Clerk of the District Court with jurisdiction in the county where you plan to marry.

Please Note: State and county marriage license requirements often change. The above information is for guidance only and should not be regarded as legal advice.

Montana County Clerks’ Offices

Big Horn County

Harden, MT

406.665.1504

Blaine County

Chinook, MT

406.357.3109

Broadwater County

Townsend, MT

406.266.3418

Carbon County

Red Lodge, MT

406.446.1225

Cascade County

Great Falls, MT

406.454.6892

Chouteau County

Fort Benton, MT

406.622.5024

Custer County

Miles City, MT

406.232.7800

Dawson County

Glendive, MT

406.365.2666

Deer Lodge County

Anaconda, MT

406.563.4040

Fallon County

Baker, MT

406.778.2883

Flathead County

Kalispell, MT

406.758.5660

Gallatin County

Bozeman, MT

406.582.2165

Garfield County

Jordan, MT

406.557.6254

Glacier County

Cut Bank, MT

406.873.5627

Golden Valley County

Ryegate, MT

406.568.2231

Granite County

Philipsburg, MT

406.859.3712

Hill County

Havre, MT

406.265.5481

Jefferson County

Boulder, MT

406.225.4042

Lake County

Polson, MT

406.883.7254

Lewis & Clark County

Helena, MT

406.447.8205

Liberty County

Chester, MT

406.759.5615

Lincoln County

Libby, MT

406.293.7781

Madison County

Virginia City, MT

406.843.4235

Meagher County

Whitesulpher Springs, MT

406.547.3941

Mineral County

Superior, MT

406.822.3538

Missoula County

Missoula, MT

406.523.4780

Musselshell County

Round Up, MT

406.323.1413

Park County

Livingston, MT

406.222.4110

Phillips County

Malta, MT

406.654.1023

Pondera County

Conrad, MT

406.278.4026

Powder River County

Broadus, MT

406.436.2320

Powell County

Deer Lodge, MT

406.846.3680

Prairie County

Terry, MT

406.637.5575

Ravalli County

Hamilton, MT

406.375.6214

Richland County

Sidney, MT

406.482.5939

Roosevelt County

Wolf Point, MT

406.653.1590

Rosebud County

Forsyth, MT

406.356.7322

Sanders County

Thompson Falls, MT

406.827.4316

Sheridan County

Plentywood, MT

406.765.2310

Silver Bow County

Butte, MT

406.723.8262

Stillwater County

Columbus, MT

406.322.5332

Sweet Grass

Bigtimber, MT

406.932.5154

Teton County

Chotaeu, MT

406.466.2909

Toole County

Shelby, MT

406.434.2271

Treasurer County

Hysham, MT

406.342.5547

Valley County

Glasgow, MT

406.228.8221

Wheatland County

Harlowton, MT

406.632.4893

Yellowstone County

Billings, MT

406.256.2869