Applying for an Oakland County Marriage License
Oakland County marriage licenses are issued by the Clerk's Vital Records office. The application is online, but the license itself must be picked up in person, and both parties must show valid identification at pickup. The Pontiac Vital Records location is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with no appointment necessary. The Troy location is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. by appointment only. Appointments at Troy are scheduled by calling 248-858-0571.
How to apply for an Oakland County marriage license, in short:
- Complete the online marriage application through the county Clerk's Vital Records page.
- Both parties prepare valid ID, birth certificate information, and Social Security numbers.
- Schedule pickup at the Pontiac or Troy location.
- Pay the license fee at pickup with Discover, MasterCard, Visa, cash, or money order payable to Oakland County Clerk.
- Both parties present required documents at pickup; only one party is required to attend, but that person must bring confirmation number, photo ID for both parties, Social Security numbers, and birth certificates or passports.
- Wait three days after application before the license can be used, or pay $5 to waive the waiting period.
Residency and ID Rules
Marriage applicants in Michigan must be at least 18 years old. Residency is determined by a current valid driver's license or state ID. Michigan residents apply in the county where they live. If both parties are Michigan residents but live in different counties, they may apply in either county, and the license is valid throughout Michigan. If both parties are out-of-state residents, they must apply in the county where the marriage will happen, and the license is only valid in that county.
Both parties must provide a valid driver's license or state ID showing identity, age, and current address. A passport may be used to prove identity or age but cannot prove residency. Photocopies of ID are acceptable. Birth certificate information is required; copies are fine. If a birth certificate is not available, parents' names, parents' places of birth, and the applicant's place of birth are required during the application and should match the birth records. Social Security numbers of both parties are required under MCL 551.102, but the cards themselves are not needed.
Waiting Period and License Expiration
Michigan requires a three-day waiting period after a marriage license application before the license can be picked up. The license expires 33 days from the date of application. Applicants should not apply more than 33 days before the ceremony. If three days cannot pass before the wedding, the waiting period can be waived for an extra $5. With the waiver, the license expires 30 days after application instead of 33.
Pickup timing follows the day of application. Apply Monday and pick up Thursday or later. Apply Tuesday and pick up Friday or later. Apply Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday and pick up Monday or later. Apply Saturday online and pick up Tuesday or later. Apply Sunday online and pick up Wednesday or later. A marriage license is not available for pickup on weekends or holidays.
Oakland County Marriage License Fees
Marriage license fees are set by the Oakland County Clerk and listed on the Vital Records page. Personal checks are not accepted. Payment methods are Discover, MasterCard, Visa, cash, or money order payable to Oakland County Clerk.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Marriage license, Michigan residents | $20 per couple |
| Marriage license, out-of-state residents | $30 per couple |
| Three-day waiting-period waiver | $5 |
| Certified marriage record copy | $10 per record plus $1 per page |
| Divorce filing without minor children | $175 |
| Divorce filing with minor children | $255 |
| Custody / paternity case filing | $255 |
Marriage License Application Fields
The Oakland County online marriage application requires a fixed set of documents and data points. The table below pulls the required field list directly from the county's official Vital Records page.
| Field / Requirement | What Is Required |
|---|---|
| Applicant Identity | Valid driver's license or state ID; passport allowed to prove identity but not residency. |
| Applicant Age | Must be 18 years old. Documentation required. |
| Residency | Current driver's license or state ID address used to confirm residency. |
| Birth Certificate Information | Copy acceptable; if unavailable, parents' names, parents' places of birth, and applicant's place of birth required. |
| Social Security Numbers | Required for both parties under MCL 551.102; cards not needed. |
| Online Marriage Application Fields | All form fields required; unknowns must be resolved at pickup. |
| Confirmation Number | Generated after online submission; required at pickup. |
| Waiting-Period Waiver | Optional $5 add-on. |
Ordering Marriage Record Copies
Certified marriage record copies are issued by the Oakland County Clerk's Vital Records Division. The same office issues birth and death certificates for events that occurred in Oakland County. The Clerk also handles assumed names, notary public applications, and concealed pistol licenses. Vital Records is at 1200 North Telegraph Road, Dept 413, Pontiac, MI 48341. Phone is 248-858-0571 and email is clerkvital@oakgov.com.
Historical marriage records are available through the Marriage Records page on the county Clerk site. The Register of Deeds office at the same address does not handle birth certificates or other vital records; vital record requests go through Vital Records. For divorce records, see the next section because divorce files live with Court Explorer through the Circuit Court rather than with Vital Records.
Searching Oakland County Divorce Records
Divorces are filed in the 6th Circuit Court Family Division. Public divorce dockets appear in Court Explorer under Domestic case types, which also cover custody and parenting time. The county Clerk's Court Explorer page describes the portal as the official tool to search, view, and order copies of 6th Circuit Court records. Public divorce records date back to the early 1990s online. Older divorce files not online may be requested in person or by mail through the Clerk's Legal Records Division at 248-858-0582.
For a Circuit Court divorce search, pick Circuit Court in Court Explorer and search by party name (last name then first name) or by exact case number. Use Advanced Search to narrow by Party Type, Case Year, or Case Type. Court Explorer rules apply: no hyphens in names, no suffixes, no LLC or PC, and no periods. See court records for the full Court Explorer walkthrough.
Filing for Divorce in Oakland County
Divorce filing in Oakland County happens in the 6th Circuit Court Family Division. The fee is $175 without minor children and $255 with minor children. Required forms include the complaint, summons, MC 97a Addendum to Protected Personal Identifying Information when needed, and the DCH-0838 Record of Divorce or Annulment form. People who cannot pay can submit an MC20 Fee Waiver Request. Service on the other party follows the Michigan Court Rules.
A general roadmap for filing:
- Determine whether the divorce involves minor children because filing fees differ.
- Prepare required domestic relations forms, including the complaint, summons, and DCH-0838.
- File in the 6th Circuit Court Family Division through the Clerk's Legal Records process and MiFILE when required.
- Pay the filing fee or submit an MC20 Fee Waiver Request.
- Serve the other party under the Michigan Court Rules.
- Use Friend of the Court resources for custody, parenting time, and child support.
- Track the case in Court Explorer once it is filed and the records are no longer restricted.
Friend of the Court and Family Division
The Friend of the Court operates inside the 6th Circuit Court Family Division. It administers domestic relations services, including child support, parenting time, custody enforcement, and Friend-of-the-Court hearings. Friend of the Court is not the place to file for divorce, but it is the office a divorced parent works with on support enforcement, parenting time disputes, and case-related contempt of court.
The Circuit Court Family Division also handles juvenile delinquency, abuse and neglect, adoptions, personal protection orders, and minor conservatorships and guardianships. Adoption records are confidential under MCL 710.67. Juvenile records are restricted under MCL 712A.28. Personal Protection Orders are not visible in Court Explorer.
Restricted Marriage and Family Records
Most Oakland County marriage records are public and can be ordered as certified copies through Vital Records. Divorce filings are generally public unless a specific document is sealed or contains protected personal identifying information. Adoption records are closed under Michigan law. Juvenile delinquency and abuse-and-neglect records are restricted. Family Division mental health-related filings tied to Probate Court mental health matters are not in Court Explorer at all because of MCL 330.1748.
Note: Court Explorer warns the data is not the official court record and should not be used as a criminal background check, so a certified copy from Legal Records is the right tool for any legal use of a divorce file.