Wyoming Marriage License Requirements 2026: $30 Fee, No Wait

In Wyoming, any county clerk can issue your marriage license, and the fee is $30 statewide (W.S. 20-1-103, 18-3-402). There is no waiting period, and the license stays valid for one year (W.S. 20-1-103(d)). The statute says one of you applies, but the state courts and county clerks say both of you should go. Title 20, chapter 1 of the Wyoming Statutes governs.

For other states, see our guide to marriage license requirements by state.

Information last verified on October 7, 2026. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.

Jurisdiction scope: This article covers getting a marriage license in Wyoming under Title 20, chapter 1 of the Wyoming Statutes (W.S.), with the license fee in W.S. 18-3-402 and procedures published by the Wyoming Judicial Branch and the Teton, Albany, Laramie and Natrona county clerks. It does not cover divorce, ordering older marriage records, common-law marriage, or the rules of other states.

Where to apply for a Wyoming marriage license

Licenses come from the county clerk. W.S. 20-1-103(a) says: "Before solemnization of any marriage in this state, a marriage license shall be obtained from a Wyoming county clerk."

Any county clerk will do. Albany County (Laramie) says: "The County Clerk issues Wyoming marriage licenses, which can be used anywhere in the state." Teton County (Jackson) adds that a Wyoming license can only be used in Wyoming. The Wyoming Judicial Branch says you do not need to be a Wyoming resident to marry there.

One applicant or both?

The statute and the offices that apply it say different things, so plan for the stricter version. W.S. 20-1-103(b) says: "Application for a marriage license shall be made by one (1) of the parties to the marriage before the license is issued."

In practice, both of you are expected. The Wyoming Judicial Branch says: "To get married in Wyoming, you must both go to a County Clerk's office in Wyoming." Teton County says: "To obtain a marriage license in Wyoming, couples must appear in person." If only one of you can make it, call the county clerk first. Some counties also need an appointment: Teton County asks you to call ahead, and Laramie County issues licenses by appointment only and asks you to complete a worksheet first, which you can submit through the Wyoming Vital Statistics portal.

We did not find a Wyoming county that issues licenses online or remotely.

What to bring

Under W.S. 20-1-103(b), the clerk takes "the names, the social security numbers of the parties who have valid social security numbers, residences and ages of the parties," from the testimony of the applicant and a competent witness, and checks whether there is any legal impediment to the marriage. Social Security numbers go to the state office of vital records and are not made part of the county public record.

The Teton County clerk and the Wyoming Judicial Branch list what to have ready:

• photo identification;
• each person's date of birth and birthplace (state);
• each person's Social Security number;
• both parents' full names, including mothers' maiden names, and their birthplaces; and
• if either of you is divorced, the date and state of the divorce.

If you were married before, the Wyoming Judicial Branch says you must give the date of the divorce or the date of your spouse's death. Whether you also need paperwork depends on the county. Teton County says: "Divorce Date and State if applicable - we do not require documentation." Albany and Natrona counties ask for the date and state of the divorce, or the date of death if you are widowed. Laramie County (Cheyenne) lists a "Divorce or death certificate if previously married." Check your county's list before you go.

How much a Wyoming marriage license costs

The fee is $30 everywhere. W.S. 18-3-402(a)(xvi) directs the county clerk to collect "(F) Marriage license ................$30.00" and "(G) Marriage license certified copy ..$5.00," and remit them to the county treasurer.

Each county's page is the final word on payment methods and hours, and they can change.

Waiting period and how long the license lasts

Wyoming has no waiting period. The Wyoming Judicial Branch says: "The license is effective immediately. This means that you can get married as soon as you receive your marriage license." Teton County: "There is no waiting period in Wyoming."

The license lasts a year. W.S. 20-1-103(d): "A marriage license obtained from a Wyoming county clerk shall expire one (1) year from the date the license was issued if the parties have not solemnized the marriage." The expiration date is printed on the license, and once it passes you must get a new one before marrying in Wyoming.

Age requirements

You must be 18. W.S. 20-1-102(a) says the parties "shall be at least eighteen (18) years of age except as otherwise provided," and "No person shall marry who is under the age of sixteen (16) years."

Marrying at 16 or 17

A 16- or 17-year-old has two possible routes.

Judge's approval plus parental consent. Under W.S. 20-1-102(b), a marriage involving a 16- or 17-year-old is "prohibited and voidable" unless, before the marriage, "a judge of a court of record in Wyoming approves the marriage and authorizes the county clerk to issue a license therefor." Under W.S. 20-1-105(b), the parents or guardians apply to a judge of a court of record in the minor's county of residence, and if the judge "believes it advisable," the judge orders the clerk to issue the license.

Consent is required as well. W.S. 20-1-102(c) bars a license without the consent of the father, mother, guardian or person with care and control of the minor: verbal consent if that person is present, written consent if absent, proved by the testimony of at least one competent witness. Teton County describes the same pairing: signed written consent and a judge's court order.

Right to contract or emancipation. W.S. 20-1-102(d) lets parties marry without a judge or anyone's consent if both are at least 16 and every party under 18 meets the requirements for the right to contract under W.S. 14-1-102 or has received a declaration of emancipation under W.S. 14-1-203. See Wyoming emancipation laws.

No one under 16 can marry. Such a marriage is void (W.S. 20-1-102(b), 20-2-101(a)(iv)), and no officiant may perform a ceremony if either party is under 16 (W.S. 20-1-105(b)).

Who cannot marry in Wyoming

W.S. 20-2-101(a) makes a Wyoming marriage void, without any divorce decree, when:

• either party has a husband or wife living;
• either party is mentally incompetent at the time of the marriage;
• the parties are parent and child, grandparent and grandchild, brother and sister of the half or whole blood, uncle and niece, aunt and nephew, "or first cousins, whether either party is illegitimate"; or
• either party is under 16.

The relationship bar "does not apply to persons not related by consanguinity," that is, by blood. First cousins cannot marry in Wyoming. We found no waiting period after a divorce in the statutes reviewed.

The code text of W.S. 20-1-101 still describes marriage as "a civil contract between a male and a female person." That provision cannot be enforced: in Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. 644 (2015), the US Supreme Court held that "same-sex couples may exercise the fundamental right to marry."

Blood tests

Wyoming does not require a blood test. Chapter 20-1 contains no medical requirement, and Teton County says: "Blood tests are not required in Wyoming."

Who can officiate a wedding in Wyoming

W.S. 20-1-106(a) authorizes:

• every district or circuit court judge;
• district court commissioners;
• supreme court justices;
• magistrates; and
• every licensed or ordained minister of the gospel, bishop, priest or rabbi, "or other qualified person acting in accordance with the traditions or rites for the solemnization of marriage of any religion, denomination or religious society."

A religious society or assembly may also perform a marriage by its own rites and customs, and its clerk or presiding officer sends a certificate of the marriage to the county clerk (W.S. 20-1-110).

Wyoming has no officiant registration. Teton County says of officiants: "We do not require documentation regarding their credentials, however, they must qualify by statute." We found no statute or official page addressing online ordination; if your officiant was ordained online, ask the county clerk. Teton County's clerk does not perform ceremonies.

If the officiant turns out to lack authority, the marriage is still valid when either of you fully believed the officiant was lawfully authorized (W.S. 20-1-109). An officiant who performs a ceremony knowing they are not authorized, or knowing of a legal impediment, commits a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500 or imprisonment of up to one year (W.S. 20-1-108).

Witnesses and the ceremony

No particular form of ceremony is required. W.S. 20-1-106(b) says only that "the parties shall solemnly declare in the presence of the person performing the ceremony and at least two (2) attending witnesses that they take each other as husband and wife." Some counties add an age rule for witnesses: Teton County says the two witnesses must be 18 or older, and Laramie County says they must be of the age of majority. Teton County also says the two witnesses and the officiant all sign the license. The statute does not provide for a couple to marry themselves without an officiant.

After the ceremony

The officiant gives one of you a certificate signed by the witnesses, listing your names, ages and residences, the names and residences of at least two witnesses, and the time and place of the marriage (W.S. 20-1-107(a)). The county clerk must record the return "within one (1) month after receipt" (W.S. 20-1-107(b)).

The statute sets no deadline for returning the license, but counties can. Albany County says: "Within 10 day after the parties are wed, the license must be returned to the Albany County Clerk's Office via mail or in person." Teton and Laramie counties also require the license back within 10 days of the ceremony. Ask your county clerk about its deadline when you pick up the license.

State law sets the county clerk's fee for a certified copy at $5 (W.S. 18-3-402), but practice varies: Albany County charges $5.25 per copy, Laramie County includes the first official certificate in the $30 license fee, and Teton County says certified copies are issued by Wyoming Vital Statistics Services. For ordering copies later, see Wyoming marriage and divorce records or our guide on how to get a copy of your marriage certificate.

Wyoming's license statute has no name-change field. If you plan to change your name, the Wyoming Judicial Branch recommends starting with Social Security. See name change after marriage and Wyoming name change laws.

Common myths about Wyoming marriage licenses

• "There is a waiting period or a blood test." Neither. The license is effective immediately, and Teton County says blood tests are not required.
• "A Wyoming license works in other states." No. Teton County says it can only be used in Wyoming.
• "The license expires in 30 or 60 days." It lasts one year from issuance (W.S. 20-1-103(d)).
• "You must live in Wyoming to marry there." No. The Wyoming Judicial Branch says there is no residency requirement.

Disclaimer: This article provides general legal information about Wyoming marriage licenses under Title 20, chapter 1 of the Wyoming Statutes, verified on October 7, 2026. It is not legal advice. For your specific situation, contact the county clerk where you plan to apply or a lawyer licensed in Wyoming.

Related

• Marriage license requirements by state
• Colorado marriage license requirements
• Montana marriage license requirements
• Wyoming marriage and divorce records
• Wyoming common-law marriage
• Wyoming name change laws

Last updated: October 7, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is a marriage license in Wyoming?

$30, set by W.S. 18-3-402. State law sets the clerk's certified-copy fee at $5, but Albany County charges $5.25. Teton County adds a $1.55 service fee if you pay by card.

Is there a waiting period to get married in Wyoming?

No. The Wyoming Judicial Branch says the license is effective immediately, so you can marry as soon as you receive it.

How long is a Wyoming marriage license good for?

One year from the date it is issued (W.S. 20-1-103(d)). After that you must get a new license before marrying.

Do both of us have to go to the county clerk in Wyoming?

The statute says application is made by one of the parties (W.S. 20-1-103(b)), but the Wyoming Judicial Branch and Teton County say both of you must go. Call the clerk if only one of you can make it.

Do you have to be a Wyoming resident to get married there?

No. The Wyoming Judicial Branch says there is no residency requirement, and any county clerk can issue the license.

Do I need my divorce decree to get a Wyoming marriage license?

It depends on the county. Teton County asks only for the date and state of your divorce and requires no documentation, but Laramie County lists a divorce or death certificate if you were married before. Check with your county clerk.

Can a 16-year-old get married in Wyoming?

Only with a judge's approval and the consent of a parent or guardian (W.S. 20-1-102, 20-1-105), unless the minor has the right to contract under W.S. 14-1-102 or a declaration of emancipation. No one under 16 can marry.

Can first cousins marry in Wyoming?

No. W.S. 20-2-101(a)(iii) makes a marriage between first cousins void.

Who can perform a wedding in Wyoming?

Judges, district court commissioners, supreme court justices, magistrates, licensed or ordained ministers, bishops, priests and rabbis, and other qualified persons acting under the rites of a religion (W.S. 20-1-106).

Can a Wyoming marriage license be used in another state?

No. Teton County says a Wyoming license can only be used in Wyoming.