Outagamie County - Marriage License Brochure(PDF, 339KB)
Are you looking to get married in the State of Wisconsin? The County Clerk's Office staff is responsible to conduct the marriage license interview procedure, the paperwork portion to get married. Couples (applicants) complete this form after their ceremony, and it gets recorded to a Register of Deeds. This record ensures the marriage is recognized by the State of Wisconsin.
The County Clerk's Office conducts marriage licenses by appointment. Please refer to "How do I get a marriage license?" to schedule your appointment with us.
Schedule Your Appointment
Marriage license interviews are done by appointment only. Scheduling is offered for the current week and the following (subsequent) week on the calendar. Please call the office directly at (920) 832-5077 to schedule an appointment. Other County Clerk’s Offices may have walk-in options, and if that is needed, please inquire at another nearby County Clerk’s Office. Applicants can apply in any County Clerk's Office in Wisconsin, if the couple intends on getting married in the state.
Please review our office's Marriage License Brochure for more details and before calling our office.
When should you schedule the appointment? We recommend scheduling between a month and two (2) weeks prior to the wedding for a marriage license appointment.
Be Prepared: Make sure both applicants have adequate documentation for applying for the license.
Prepare for the Marriage License Appointment
1. A Valid Photo I.D.
Examples used include:
- *Unexpired U.S. Driver License
- *State Photo I.D.
- Current Passport (with proof of address)
Note: If any document is in a different language other than English, a certified translated copy must accompany the document. For more information on multi-language appointments, click here.
2. Physical Address Documentation
*Does the I.D. have your current address? If yes, your I.D. can be used for this requirement.
If not, a dated piece of mail is needed which includes the applicant's full name and current address. Examples used by prior applicants include (an electronic version of proof listed above is acceptable):
- Utility Bill
- Paycheck Stub
- Bank Statement
- Lease Agreement
- Unsure? Call our office to see if the item qualifies.
Note: You do not have to be a Wisconsin resident to apply.
3. Certified Copy of Birth Record
A certified copy of your birth record issued by the state or county where you were born.
This document should have a “raised seal” indicating its legitimacy. The birth record must be legible, not tattered and torn. If there are middle initials listed for either birth parent, make sure to know the middle name and its spelling for the appointment.
Please verify your birth record is a valid certified copy:
- Hospital birth certificates are not acceptable.
- Photocopies of a birth record are not acceptable.
- The birth certificate cannot be laminated.
Note: If the birth record is in an alternative language other than English, the applicant must have a certified translated copy to English (along with the original non-translated copy for comparison purposes).
In lieu of a birth record (where a certified copy of an applicant's birth certificate is unattainable due to extenuating circumstances), please call the County Clerk's Office for additional details.
Note: If any document is in a different language other than English, a certified translated copy must accompany the document.
4. Social Security Card / Number
It is preferred to bring in each applicant’s Social Security card, but if one cannot be located, writing social security number down for the appointment will suffice.
Note: If the applicant was not issued a Social Security number the space will be marked with “none”.
Ceremony Specifics
In addition to the above requirements, it is also helpful if the couple has the following information written down for the appointment, as we will be asking the following information regarding your upcoming ceremony:
- Ceremony Date
- Ceremony Location (the complete physical address of where the wedding ceremony will take place)
- First & Last Name of Witness # 1
- First & Last Name of Witness # 2
- First & Last Name
- Mailing Address (street, city, state, and zip code)
- Phone Number
- E-mail Address
Payment
What is the cost for the marriage license?
The marriage license fee is $115 payable at the time of appointment. Outagamie County Clerk’s Office accepts cash, check (made payable to “County Clerk”), or credit/debit card transactions. Please make note there is a convenience fee for all card transactions of $2.88, or $3.50 for a marriage license with a waiver. (The convenience surcharge is currently 2.5%.) Marriage licenses are non-refundable.
Prior Marriage for Either Applicant
Prior Name Change of Either Applicant
If either applicant had a formal name change, the court-approved documents which were used to update the name of the applicant must be included for the marriage license interview.
Who can come to the appointment?
The appointment is for the couple (applicants). It is strongly encouraged to limit attendance to the applicants only (and interpreter, if needed). Our office discourages bringing any children or family members to accompany the couple, as it is important to focus on the applicants and their documents for the interview process. Any extenuating circumstances can be inquired when the caller makes the appointment.
What is the cost for the marriage license?
The marriage license fee is $115 payable at the time of appointment. Outagamie County Clerk’s Office accepts cash, check (made payable to “County Clerk”), or credit/debit card transactions. Please make note there is a convenience fee for all cards transactions of $2.88. (The convenience surcharge is currently 2.5%.) Marriage licenses are non-refundable.
Do we need to get the marriage license through a specific county?
In 2022, the State of Wisconsin updated its parameters for acquiring a marriage license, and there is no longer the restriction (or requirement) to obtain a marriage license in the county in which one of the applicants resides. The license may be attained through any County Clerk’s Office in the State of Wisconsin. After obtaining the license and abiding by the four (4) day holding period (unless waived), the license will be valid to use anywhere in the State of Wisconsin for 60 days to get married.
We wish to get married at the Outagamie Courthouse. Will your office schedule our marriage ceremony for us? Who can officiate our wedding?
The couple (applicants) are responsible for selecting an officiant to perform the ceremony. In turn, it is also the couple's responsibility for determining the chosen officiant who solemnizes the ceremony is compliant with Wisconsin Statutes. Useful information regarding officiants could be found here:
- Who May Perform Marriages in Wisconsin - Statutory requirements for officiating a wedding in Wisconsin
- Instructions for officiants (provided by WI State Vital Records): Instructions for WI License/Marriage Certificate Worksheet
That said, there are Outagamie County judges and court commissioners** who do perform civil ceremonies through the courts. Should an applicant wish to get married through the courts, please contact the judges and court commissioners' offices directly to schedule a date and time with an officiant.
**Note: As of 10/24/2025, the only judges who are officiating ceremonies at this time are Circuit Court Branch V (Judge Carrie Schneider with phone number of 920-832-1550) and Circuit Court Branch VI (Judge Vincent Biskupic at phone number 920-832-6038). The Family Court Commissioner Office also perform marriage ceremonies (call 920-832-5057 for details).**
If yes, The Clerk’s Office needs to see proof of how the last (most recent) marriage ended. Please provide one of the following examples which would fulfill this requirement:
- Judgement of Divorce: Wisconsin Courts refer to this document as the Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, or Judgement of Divorce. A printout from CCAP is not acceptable. If you need a copy of the divorce decree, you must contact the Clerk of Court’s office in which the divorce occurred. The document must be a complete document including judge’s signature and date the divorce was finalized.
- Divorce Certificate: If the divorce occurred in 2016-Present Day and the divorce occurred in the State of Wisconsin, there may be an option of obtaining a divorce certificate at the Register of Deeds if the fee for the option was paid at the divorce filing (and no change in name occurred). Call the Register of Deeds for Outagamie County for more information at (920) 832-5095.
- Legal Annulment or Divorce/Death Certificate: The vital record pertaining to the most recent marriage.
Note: Divorced persons may not remarry until six months after the granting of the judgement of divorce regardless of which state the action took place. The decree can be a copy (does not need to be a certified copy), but it must be printed out (hard copy) for your appointment).
How old are the applicants?
The legal age for marriage in WI is 18. If the applicant is 16 or 17 years of age, a consent form needs to be signed by both parents and/or guardians before the County Clerk.
We plan on getting married in less than four (4) days so we cannot wait for the issuance date to take effect. What are our options?
If your ceremony is in less than four (4) days, you can apply for a marriage license waiver in addition to the marriage license. By applying for the waiver, the marriage license will be issued the same day as the appointment interview. The cost for the waiver is an additional $25 (plus the 2.5% service fee if using a credit/debit card). All documentation requirements mentioned in the "Documents Needed for Both Applicants" section still apply. Marriage licenses are non-refundable.
Do both applicants speak and read English?
If one or both applicants do not speak or read English, a third party needs to be present (in-person) to interpret at the time of the appointment. Couples may not translate for each other. There is no translator on staff, and it is the responsibility of the couple to find a translator to serve as a neutral party (i.e. no family member or friend of either applicant). The translator does not need to be certified, but that may be an only option, and if needed, office staff may provide former certified translators used from prior applicants.
Are any of the vital records in a different language other than English?
VITAL RECORDS PRESENTED MUST BE IN ENGLISH: The County Clerk's Office does not have anyone who speaks any other languages beyond English, and to ensure we provide the best of service to couples, it is required to have your vital records translated to English prior to the appointment. Note: When attending the appointment, please be sure to include the original vital record (certified copy) and the translated copy.
Does either applicant speak or read primarily in a language other than English?
SPEAKING TRANSLATOR: If one or both applicants do not speak or read English, a third party needs to be present to interpret at the time of the appointment. Couples cannot translate for each other. There is no translator on staff and it is the responsibility of the couple to find a translator to serve as a neutral party (i.e. no family member or friend of either applicant).
- Attendance at the interview is limited to the couple only (independent interpreter if required). No additional family members are permitted at the marriage license appointment.
- Masks are optional.
- All Wisconsin Statutes are in effect relative to marriage licensing (see Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 765).
- The interview takes approximately 20-30 minutes.
- No refunds will be issued.
- You must have definitive plans with an officiant to perform your ceremony.
- Effective July 1, 2022, marriage licenses will be valid for 60 days with a 4-day waiting period.
- The County Clerk does not make marriage arrangements.
County Clerk's Office hours for marriage licensing are by appointment only, from 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. For inquiries, our office is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Obtain a Certified Birth Record
If an applicant was born in Wisconsin
If the birth of an applicant occurred in the State of Wisconsin (10/1/1907 - Present Day), a certified copy can be acquired from the Outagamie County Register of Deeds Office by providing proper photo identification(PDF, 112KB) (documentos de identificación(PDF, 60KB)), and payment.
- Option 1 - Request Copy In-Person: Arrive 15 minutes prior to end of workday (4:15 PM) or 10 minutes prior to the marriage license appointment and request a copy at the Outagamie County Register of Deeds Office.
- Option 2 - Request Copy by Mail: Request copy by completing a hard copy of the application and submit copy of proper photo identification and payment (see first paragraph for details):
- Option 3 - Request Copy Online: Visit VitalChek™ to submit a request
Are you an applicant not originally from Wisconsin?
If an applicant was born outside the State of Wisconsin, the applicant must contact the state/county in which the event occurred.
Obtain Divorce Paperwork / Death Certificate of Former Spouse
Divorce or Termination of Domestic Partnership Paperwork
Judgement of Divorce / Divorce Decree
Must be attained through the Clerk of Courts office where the divorce occurred and was finalized (county/state). Each state and county have their own parameters. Normally, the item applicants provide is a copy of the "Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, Judgement of Divorce", which includes the date in which the divorce was finalized and the judge's signature (sometimes this is an electronic signature - and that is fine). This must be in its entirety and printed out - an electronic version of this on a smartphone is not acceptable. Additionally, a printout of CCAP is not acceptable.
If the divorce occurred in Outagamie County, an applicant may obtain the paperwork by contacting the Clerk of Courts at (920) 832-5131.
Divorce Certificate
A worthwhile option to pursue if an applicant's divorce occurred from 1/1/2016 - Present Day in Wisconsin, check to see if the divorce included application of the Divorce Certificate. If applied for during the termination of the marriage, an applicant may go to any Register of Deeds to obtain a copy of the Divorce Certificate. Please contact the Outagamie County Register of Deeds at (920) 832-5095 to see if this was requested at time of divorce and how to obtain a certified divorce certificate.
Termination of Domestic Partnership
Must be obtained through the county in which the termination of the domestic partnership occurred. If this occurred in Outagamie County, please contact the Outagamie County Register of Deeds at (920) 832-5095 on steps to acquire this record.
Note: If the change in life event occurred outside the State of Wisconsin, the applicant must contact the state/county (and its respective Clerk of Courts) in which the event occurred.
Death Certificate of Former Spouse
If the death of the former spouse occurred in the State of Wisconsin (9/1/2023 - Present Day), a certified copy can be acquired from the Outagamie County Register of Deeds Office by providing proper photo identification(PDF, 112KB) (documentos de identificación(PDF, 60KB)), and payment ($20 - cash, credit/debit cards in-person with surcharge cost; checks are only accepted via mail and are subject to a three-day waiting period).
- Option 1 - Request Copy In-Person: Arrive 15 minutes prior to end of workday (4:15 PM) or 10 minutes prior to the marriage license appointment and request a copy at the Outagamie County Register of Deeds Office.
- Option 2 - Request Copy by Mail: Request copy by completing a hard copy of the application and submit copy of proper photo identification and payment (see first paragraph for details):
Check the Application Forms & Fees of Register of Deeds (scroll to bottom - English & Español)
Note: If the change in life event occurred outside the State of Wisconsin, the applicant must contact the state/county in which the event occurred.
Former Name Change Paperwork
If either applicant had a formal name change, the court-approved documents which were used to update the name of the applicant must be included for the marriage license interview.
For More Information
If you have any questions, please contact our office directly at (920) 832-5077 for assistance.
How to Prepare for the Marriage License Appointment
Both applicants will need to supply:
1. A Valid Photo I.D.
Examples used include:
- *Unexpired U.S. Driver License
- *State Photo I.D.
- Current Passport (with proof of address)
Note: If any document is in a different language other than English, a certified translated copy must accompany the document. For more information on multi-language appointments, click here.
2. Physical Address Documentation
*Does the I.D. have your current address? If yes, your I.D. can be used for this requirement.
If not, a dated piece of mail is needed which includes the applicant's full name and current address. Examples used by prior applicants include (an electronic version of proof listed above is acceptable):
- Utility Bill
- Paycheck Stub
- Bank Statement
- Lease Agreement
- Unsure? Call our office to see if the item qualifies.
Note: You do not have to be a Wisconsin resident to apply.
3. Certified Copy of Birth Record
A certified copy of your birth record issued by the state or county where you were born.
This document should have a “raised seal” indicating its legitimacy. The birth record must be legible, not tattered and torn. If there are middle initials listed for either birth parent, make sure to know the middle name and its spelling for the appointment.
Please verify your birth record is a valid certified copy:
- Hospital birth certificates are not acceptable.
- Photocopies of a birth record are not acceptable.
- The birth certificate cannot be laminated.
Note: If the birth record is in an alternative language other than English, the applicant must have a certified translated copy to English (along with the original non-translated copy for comparison purposes).
In lieu of a birth record (where a certified copy of an applicant's birth certificate is unattainable due to extenuating circumstances), please call the County Clerk's Office for additional details.
Note: If any document is in a different language other than English, a certified translated copy must accompany the document.
4. Social Security Card / Number
It is preferred to bring in each applicant’s Social Security card, but if one cannot be located, writing social security number down for the appointment will suffice.
Note: If the applicant was not issued a Social Security number the space will be marked with “none”.
Ceremony Specifics
In addition to the above requirements, it is also helpful if the couple has the following information written down for the appointment, as we will be asking the following information regarding your upcoming ceremony:
- Ceremony Date
- Ceremony Location (the complete physical address of where the wedding ceremony will take place)
- First & Last Name of Witness # 1
- First & Last Name of Witness # 2
- First & Last Name
- Mailing Address (street, city, state, and zip code)
- Phone Number
- E-mail Address
Payment
What is the cost for the marriage license?
The marriage license fee is $115 payable at the time of appointment. Outagamie County Clerk’s Office accepts cash, check (made payable to “County Clerk”), or credit/debit card transactions. Please make note there is a convenience fee for all card transactions of $2.88, or $3.50 for a marriage license with a waiver. (The convenience surcharge is currently 2.5%.) Marriage licenses are non-refundable.
Prior Marriage for Either Applicant
Prior Name Change of Either Applicant
If either applicant had a formal name change, the court-approved documents which were used to update the name of the applicant must be included for the marriage license interview.