Calculate the real total cost of getting legally married — license fee, officiant, certified copies, name change fees, and optional add-ons — based on your state and choices.
The marriage license fee is the number everyone knows — but the true cost of getting legally married adds up from several sources that couples often miss until they're in the middle of the process.
Ranges from $18 (Indiana) to $115 (parts of Florida) for the same legal document. Set by state statute plus county additions.
$2–$25 each depending on state. You need 4–6 minimum for name changes. This is separate from the license fee and frequently underestimated.
$0 (ordained friend) to $400+ (professional elopement officiant). A courthouse magistrate is typically $25–$75 — the most affordable paid option.
Most couples budget for the license fee but forget about certified copies of the marriage certificate. You need these — not photocopies, but official certified copies with the county seal — for every name change: Social Security, DMV, passport, banks, insurance, professional licenses. At 6 copies × $10–$25 each, this adds $60–$150 to your total. Use our name change guide to plan how many you'll need.
| Strategy | Savings | States |
|---|---|---|
| Premarital course discount | $60 off license | Texas, Tennessee |
| Premarital course + wait waiver | $25 off + no 3-day wait | Florida |
| Choose a low-fee state | $60–$90 vs. high-fee states | IN, NE, CO, VA, KY |
| Self-solemnization (no officiant) | $0–$400 officiant fee | Colorado only |
| Ordained friend as officiant | $150–$400 officiant fee | Most states |
| Order all certified copies at once | Time savings only | All states |
| DS-5504 for passport (if <1yr old) | $165+ renewal fee | All states |
The marriage license fee pays for processing the application and issuing the license. Certified copies are separate documents issued later after the marriage is recorded — they require additional processing, embossing or stamping the county seal, and maintaining the vital records archive. In states like Washington ($25/copy) or Nevada ($17/copy), the certified copy fee reflects the cost of a more elaborate vital records system. In Ohio ($2/copy), the fee is minimal because the probate court system is funded differently.
In most cases, yes — if you need it. In Texas, the waiver costs $5–$25 and takes 15–30 minutes at the courthouse. For couples whose ceremony is within 72 hours of application, that's the only path. For couples with flexible timing, simply applying earlier (more than 3 days before a Texas ceremony, more than 5 days before a Wisconsin ceremony) avoids the fee entirely. The waiver fee is only relevant if your schedule truly requires it.
No. Most agencies require you to submit a certified copy and will not return it. Some agencies (like the SSA) will review your copy and return it, but many do not. Budget for one certified copy per agency you need to update. Six copies covers: SSA, DMV, passport, one bank, one insurance policy, and one spare. Couples with multiple bank accounts, brokerage accounts, or professional licenses should order more.