Get a Marriage License in Kent County, DE
Contact details confirmed by phone with the Clerk of the Peace. Here's what to expect at the Clerk of the Peace — fees, what to bring, and where to go.
Delaware marriage licenses are issued by the county Clerk of the Peace. Each county sets and publishes its own schedule, and the three do not match — verified 2026-09-14 against each county's own fee page. Kent charges a $70 total license fee for Delaware residents and $120 where neither party is a resident. The office is cash only. Apply at least 24 hours before the ceremony, regardless of residency. Bring a valid DMV-issued ID, passport or military ID showing date of birth and proof of address; if either of you was married before, bring the original or certified divorce or annulment decree, or a certified death certificate. Active-duty military and their spouses pay nothing for a certified copy of a marriage license or certificate, which otherwise costs $25: they must show a valid military identification card (16 Del. C. § 3132(b)). A 24-hour waiting period applies. Under 13 Del. C. § 107(c) the license entitles you to marry within 30 days from the date it is issued, and it is only valid in Delaware. No Delaware county publishes a downloadable application to print in advance — all three take the application online or in the office — but each county does publish a page setting out what to bring. Kent takes the application online ↗. Call (302) 744-2346 if anything here has changed.
What Kent County tells you to do
Marriage License Application Guidelines — Kent County ↗ is the page to read before you go.
Before you go — cost and hours
- The ceremony is charged separately from the license, and Kent publishes a full schedule. For Delaware residents: $50 Monday–Friday in regular hours, $75 after hours, $100 on a Saturday, $100 out of office. For non-residents: $100, $125, $150 and $100. That is on top of the $70 or $120 license fee.
- Both of you must appear together, and only Monday to Friday between 8:00am and 4:15pm. There is no weekend or evening counter for applying.
- The office takes CASH ONLY. Kent states this twice on its own page. Allow 15–20 minutes for the application.
What to bring
- Both of you, together, Monday to Friday 8:00am–4:15pm.
- Photo identification for each of you: a valid DMV-issued ID or driver’s license, a passport, or a military ID — carrying your date of birth and proof of address.
- Original or certified documents if a previous marriage ended: the final divorce or annulment decree, or a certified death certificate. Name-change court documents too, if you have taken back a former name.
- Possibly more: Kent states the Clerk of the Peace may request extra documentation such as a birth certificate or Social Security card to verify identity.
- Your own third-party translator if either of you does not speak English — aged 18 or over, and carrying proper identification.
- Cash. The Clerk of the Peace office does not take cards.
- Time: apply at least 24 hours before the ceremony, and allow 15–20 minutes at the counter.
Ceremony fees, charged on top of the license
| When | DE resident | Non-resident |
|---|---|---|
| Monday–Friday, regular hours | $50 | $100 |
| Monday–Friday, after hours | $75 | $125 |
| Saturday | $100 | $150 |
| Out of office | $100 | $100 |
Both applicants must be 18; Kent states no one under 18 will be granted a license. Questions: clerk@kentcountyde.gov or 302-744-2346.
Kent describes the license as valid for 30 days from the issue date, with the ceremony inside Delaware.
Published by Kent County, as of 15 September 2026.
Two witnesses — at the ceremony, not at the counter. 13 Del. C. § 106(4): “Marriages shall be solemnized in the presence of at least 2 reputable witnesses who are at least 18 years of ageand who shall sign the certificate of marriage as prescribed by this chapter.” They sign the certificate afterwards, so they have to be present for it. They are not needed when you apply to the Clerk of the Peace.
Fee source: Kent County Levy Court ↗ · verified 2026-09-14
Getting married somewhere else in Delaware? See the Delaware marriage license guide for statewide requirements and fees.