Marriage License Filing Requirements in Boone County, Missouri

The Boone County Recorder's Office now provides the opportunity to apply for a Marriage License online! Doing this can make the process faster, but you still must come to our office to complete and sign the application in-person. If you have any questions about applying online, you can call us at (573) 886-4350.

Complete the online Marriage License application using the Online Marriage Application.

Requirements

Both applicants for a marriage license must:

  • Visit our office *TOGETHER to apply (or complete your online application) for a marriage license.
  • Be 18 years of age or over.
  • Present a valid government issued ID in English and provide Social Security number.
  • Provide the name and phone number of the person performing the ceremony.
  • NOT be related to each other through and including first cousins.
  • Pay $51.00 at the time of application. Credit/Debit Card or Cash Only. (Credit/Debit Cards incur an additional $1.55 service fee)

* If either party can't come to our office in-person because of Military Service, ADA Qualifying Disability or Incarceration, they can fill out an Affidavit of Absent Applicant instead. Please call us at (573) 886-4350 for a copy of this form.

If the applicant is under 18, their custodial parent must come with them to give consent to the application. A $1.00 additional fee must be paid at the time of application for each parental consent.

Using the Marriage License

Once you get the license, you must give it to the person who will be performing the ceremony. You must get married within 30 days from the date the license was issued in the State of Missouri. If you plan to get married more than 30 days from the date you apply for the license, you must wait to pick it up.

Lost, Destroyed, or Unused Marriage License

If the license is lost, destroyed or not used, the parties must return to the Recorder's office to sign an affidavit.

Return and Record of Marriage

The person performing the ceremony is required by law to return the completed license to the Boone County Recorder of Deeds office within 15 days of the ceremony.

Copies

Copies are available as soon as the marriage license has been recorded in our office.

  • Plain copy$1.00
  • Certified copy$9.00
  • Military PurposesNo Charge

Certified copies of Marriage Licenses can be obtained by completing the Marriage Copy Request Form or calling 573-886-4345.

More Information

For more information regarding:

  • Marriage licenses(573) 886-4350
  • To schedule a civil ceremony performed by a Boone County Circuit Judge(573) 886-4050
  • To schedule a civil ceremony performed by a City of Columbia Municipal Judge(573) 874-7230

Consumer Notice

After your ceremony, if you are contacted by a business offering government services for a fee, such as name changes for social security purposes, please contact the government agency regarding the procedures. Dealing directly with the government offices generally will not involve any cost.