Maricopa County (Phoenix) offers a fully online marriage license option with no in-person visit required at all, provided your ceremony date is at least 30 days out and at least one applicant is an Arizona resident.
| License fee | $98 for the license, plus $8 postage/handling if mailed. An optional $43.50 covers a prepaid certified copy mailed after recording. |
|---|---|
| Waiting period | None — Arizona has no statewide waiting period. |
| Documents / ID required | Valid government-issued photo ID for both applicants. |
| License validity | 12 months (1 year) from the date of issuance (Arizona statewide rule). |
| Where & how to apply | Fully online if: at least one applicant is a current Arizona resident, your ceremony date is at least 30 days away, you have valid ID for both applicants, and you can pay by credit card (Visa, Mastercard, or American Express). Otherwise, apply in person at a Clerk of Superior Court location, by appointment. |
| Office hours | Online applications can be submitted anytime; in-person appointments follow standard Clerk of Superior Court business hours. |
Special notes
Frequently asked questions
Do we ever have to visit an office in person in Maricopa County?
Not if you qualify for the online program (Arizona-resident applicant, ceremony at least 30 days out, valid ID, credit card payment). If you don’t qualify — for example, your wedding is sooner than 30 days away — you’ll need an in-person appointment instead.
How to get a marriage license in Maricopa County, step by step
- Check whether you qualify for the fully online option: at least one applicant must be a current Arizona resident, your ceremony date must be at least 30 days away, you need valid ID for both applicants, and you must be able to pay by credit card.
- If you qualify, complete the application online and pay $98 (plus $8 if you want it mailed, or $43.50 for a prepaid certified copy mailed after recording).
- If you do not qualify, book an appointment — walk-ins are also accepted — at one of the Clerk of Superior Court’s locations: the downtown Phoenix Customer Service Center, or the Northeast, Northwest, or Southeast regional courts.
- Bring valid government-issued photo ID for both applicants to the appointment.
- Pay $98 and receive the license on the spot — Arizona has no waiting period.
- Marry anytime within 12 months of the issue date.
What to bring to the Maricopa County office
- Valid government-issued photo ID for both applicants
- $98 for the license (plus $8 postage if applying online and having it mailed)
- A Visa, Mastercard, or American Express card, if applying through the online option
- Nothing else is required — Arizona has no blood test and no waiting period
When to apply for your Maricopa County license
With a 12-month validity window and no waiting period, you can apply well ahead of the wedding. The one firm deadline is on the online option specifically: your ceremony date has to be at least 30 days out when you apply. If your wedding is sooner than that, plan on an in-person appointment at one of the clerk’s four locations instead.
After the ceremony: filing your Maricopa County license and getting certified copies
Arizona law (A.R.S. §25-128) puts the officiant in charge of returning the signed portion of the license to the Clerk of Superior Court. Maricopa’s own procedure allows the couple’s copy to be recorded instead if the officiant’s portion has not come back within 30 days of the ceremony — so a slow officiant will not permanently block your paperwork. The marriage is only recorded, and certified copies only available, once this step is complete. (Filing rules checked October 2026.)
You will need a certified copy for name changes and other paperwork — see our guide to what to do after the wedding.
Local tips for Maricopa County
- Maricopa is one of the few counties where you can skip an office visit entirely — but only if your ceremony is at least 30 days out when you apply. If your wedding is sooner, you’ll need an in-person appointment at one of four physical locations, not just the downtown Phoenix office.
- If your officiant does not return the signed license within 30 days of the ceremony, Maricopa’s clerk can record the couple’s own copy instead — it is fixable, but do not assume no news means no problem.
- The online option requires payment by credit card (Visa, Mastercard, or American Express) — budget for that specific payment method if you are going that route.
More questions about getting married in Maricopa County
Do we have to visit an office in person in Maricopa County?
Not if you qualify for the online option: at least one applicant is an Arizona resident, your ceremony is 30 or more days away, you have valid ID, and you can pay by credit card. Otherwise, you will need an in-person appointment.
What happens if our officiant forgets to return the marriage license in Maricopa County?
Maricopa’s Clerk of Superior Court can record the couple’s own copy of the license if the officiant’s portion has not been returned within 30 days of the ceremony, under A.R.S. §25-128.
How long is a Maricopa County marriage license valid?
12 months (1 year) from the date of issuance, longer than most states.
Waiting periods by state → What licenses cost by state →
Last verified: August 2026
Read our general step-by-step guide →
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