BareVows is a marriage license guide and wedding officiant directory for Wisconsin. Every one of Wisconsin's 72 counties has its own fees, forms, and clerk office hours. We verified them all, so you get married without surprises.
Three steps from engaged to legally married in Wisconsin.
Choose from any of Wisconsin's 72 counties. License fees, clerk addresses, and office hours are different in every county, so start here.
Each county page lists the license fee, required documents, waiting period, clerk contact info, and appointment rules. Sourced from state statute and each county's official website.
Connect with a professional Wisconsin wedding officiant who serves your county. View profiles, services, and pricing, then reach out directly.
Where most Wisconsin weddings happen. Start here if your ceremony is nearby.
Every Wisconsin county has its own license fee, clerk, and office procedures. Select a county for complete marriage license requirements.
Professional officiants licensed to solemnize marriages in Wisconsin (Wisconsin Statute 765.16).
300+ ceremonies across Wisconsin since 2015. BareVows is the resource Schwa wished he had when he started officiating.
What every couple should know about marriage licenses, officiants, and timing in Wisconsin.
Both applicants apply in person at any county clerk's office, with ID and a fee that varies by county.
Wisconsin requires 3 days between applying and the ceremony. The application day itself does not count.
Wisconsin Statute 765.16 authorizes several types of officiants. Self-solemnization is not recognized in Wisconsin.
Legal costs stack quickly but stay predictable if you know what each piece is.
Most Wisconsin couples apply 2 to 4 weeks before the ceremony. Timing matters on both ends.
Wisconsin removed its residency requirement in Act 84 (July 2022). Any couple from any state can marry in Wisconsin.
License fees, clerk contact info, office hours, and appointment rules for all 72 Wisconsin counties. Sourced from Wisconsin state statute and each county's official website.
Wisconsin marriage license basics, answered from state statute and verified county data.
Marriage license fees in Wisconsin range from $55 in Menominee County to $125 in Brown County and Marathon County. The fee is set by each county board on top of the $49.50 state minimum (Wisconsin Statute 765.15). Each of Wisconsin's 72 counties publishes its fee on the BareVows county page.
You do not need to be a Wisconsin resident to get married in Wisconsin. Wisconsin removed the residency requirement in Act 84 (July 2022). Any couple can apply at any Wisconsin county clerk's office, and the license is valid for a ceremony in any of Wisconsin's 72 counties (Wisconsin Statute 765.05).
A Wisconsin marriage license is valid for 60 days from the date of issuance (Wisconsin Statute 765.12(2)). The ceremony can take place in any Wisconsin county within that window, regardless of which county issued the license.
Wisconsin has a 3-day waiting period, and the application day does not count toward the wait (Wisconsin Statute 765.08(1)). For example, apply on Tuesday and the license is valid starting Saturday. A $25 waiver is available at the clerk's discretion (Wisconsin Statute 765.08(2)).
To apply for a Wisconsin marriage license, both applicants must present a valid government-issued photo ID, their Social Security number (or confirmation that neither party has one), a certified copy of a divorce decree or death certificate if either applicant was previously married, and the county-specific license fee. Some counties also ask for a certified birth certificate. Requirements vary slightly by county, so check the BareVows county page for specifics.
Yes. Every Wisconsin county offers courthouse marriage ceremonies, typically performed by a court commissioner or judge. Courthouse ceremonies are usually short, inexpensive (often around $100 in addition to the license fee), and scheduled by appointment. Some counties offer same-day ceremonies when availability allows. Contact your county clerk's office to schedule.
Wisconsin does not require witnesses for a legal marriage ceremony (Wisconsin Statute 765.16). Only the two people getting married and a legally authorized officiant need to be present and sign the marriage license. Couples often include witnesses anyway for the ceremony itself, but a legal wedding in Wisconsin works with only the couple and the officiant.
After a Wisconsin wedding ceremony, the officiant signs the marriage license and returns it to the office of the Register of Deeds in the county where the ceremony took place. The officiant has 3 days to file the signed license after the ceremony (Wisconsin Statute 765.20). Once filed, the county records the marriage and couples can request a certified copy of their marriage certificate, typically for $10 to $20.