Marriage Licenses
Marriage License Requirements
Marriage License Requirements
Age 18 and Over:
Must provide a valid government-issued ID with photo, name, and date of birth, or a valid passport.
Age 16 and 17:
Must provide a certified birth certificate. Both parents (if living) must sign a consent form in person or via notarized statement. If one parent is deceased, a death certificate is required. If one parent is unavailable or unwilling, a court order is required.
Under Age 16:
A district court order is required with no exceptions, along with the documents above.
- Both applicants must be present to apply.
- No blood test required.
- No waiting period to obtain a license.
- The license does not expire.
Marriage Arrangements & Returning the License
- Marriage ceremonies may be performed in any New Mexico county.
- Applicants must provide the license to the officiant performing the ceremony.
- For a civil ceremony in Santa Fe County, contact:
- Magistrate Court – (505) 984-9914
- Municipal Court – (505) 955-5070
- Probate Court – (505) 992-1636
The marriage license must be returned — in person or by mail — to the Santa Fe County Clerk’s Office within 90 days of the ceremony to be recorded.
Request a Certified Copy of a Marriage Record
When do I need a certified copy?
If you need a marriage document for legal or official purposes, you likely need a certified copy rather than an unofficial copy from a self-service portal.
Anyone can request a certified copy of records we have on file.
- In person: Visit the Santa Fe County Clerk’s Office to request and pay for certified copies.
- By mail: Mail a written request with a check for the required fees.
Note: Older records may be certified with an official stamp in-office. Newer records include a certification block as part of the document.
Correct an Error on a Marriage Record
If the error is a scribner’s error or data entry error on the part of the Clerk’s Office, our office will prepare a Certificate of Correction and append it to the record.
If the error was not made by the Clerk’s Office, a court order from District Court is required.
- Obtain a court order from District Court.
- Bring the court order to the Clerk’s Office.
- Our office will prepare a Certificate of Correction and append it to the record.
In all cases, we keep the original record with the error on file. The corrected record is maintained alongside the original, with the Certificate of Correction, and the court order (if required).
Fees
$55.00 — Marriage license (payment due when the license is issued)
$5.00 — Certified copies (each)
Cash, card, or check accepted.
Marriage License FAQs
Click on questions to view answers
1. A marriage license costs $55.00.
2. Both people must be present at the same time to fill out the application.
3. Both people must show their driver's licenses, or other government issued photo ID (NMSA 40-1-10B).
A. The probate judge can perform wedding ceremonies by appointment only. You can call Judge Cordilia Montoya directly at (505) 992-1636 on Wednesdays or Fridays, or leave a message to her voicemail.
A. Yes (NMSA 40-1-10B).
A. Yes. Two witnesses over the age of 18 must be present at the marriage ceremony (NMSA 40-1-2).
A. No. We certify the marriage application, which is kept on file. The marriage license is not. You can research and purchase any marriage application by going to the online ClerkTrackWeb portal, logging in with username PUBLIC, password PUBLIC and clicking the marriage license section.
A. Call our main number (505) 986-6280 and we will transfer you to a staff member who can schedule you. You will have to contact a judge, ordained person, or other officiant to make arrangements for the ceremony separately. We can provide a list of judges’ phone numbers when you come in.
A. No, we are currently selling marriage licenses to couples from out-of-county or out-of-state.
A. It does not matter who brings the marriage license as long as it is brought in for recording within 90 days of the ceremony (NMSA 40-1-15A). Either spouse or both can bring it in person, or it can be mailed (we will provide an envelope with our address), or a friend, relative, etc. may bring it for recordation.
A. We do not require proof of ordination nor is the minister required to register his/her credentials. As long as the officiant is ordained in some religious organization or is a recognized tribal official empowered to perform a wedding ceremony. (NMSA 40-1-2).
A. No, it does not expire, but we ask that you bring it back to record within 90 days of the marriage ceremony being performed. This will avoid the potential of the document getting damaged, lost or destroyed. If this information is lost, it may not be possible to reproduce it and this can lead to complications later.
Información en español
Requisitos de licencias de matrimonio (PDF)
Ver documento en español