Peoria Marriage License Information

Peoria residents need a marriage license from Maricopa County to wed in Arizona. The city of Peoria does not issue these licenses. You must visit a Maricopa County Clerk of Superior Court office to apply. The Northwest Regional Court in nearby Surprise is the closest option for most Peoria couples. Both people must show up in person with valid ID and pay the $98 fee. There is no blood test and no waiting period. Once you get the license, it stays valid for 12 months and can be used anywhere in Arizona. After your ceremony, your officiant sends the signed license to the clerk for recording.

Where Peoria Residents Get Marriage Licenses

The Peoria City Court FAQ makes clear that the city does not handle marriage licenses. If you call the city court with questions, they direct you to Maricopa County Superior Court at 602-506-3676. This phone line connects you to the county clerk's office where staff can answer questions about applications, fees, and locations. Peoria follows the same pattern as most Arizona cities. Marriage licenses come from the county level, not the city.

Maricopa County operates four locations for marriage license applications. The Northwest Regional Court at 14264 W. Tierra Buena Lane in Surprise sits closest to most Peoria addresses. This office is about 15 minutes from central Peoria. It accepts walk-ins and appointments. Hours run Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The staff can process your application in 15 to 30 minutes on most days.

Downtown Phoenix has the main customer service center at 601 W. Jackson Street. This location handles the highest volume of marriage licenses in the county. It stays busy but has more staff to help you. The Northeast Regional Court at 18380 N. 40th Street in Phoenix serves the east valley. Mesa residents often use the Southeast Regional Court Center at 222 E. Javelina Avenue. Any of these four offices can issue your Peoria marriage license.

Peoria Marriage License Requirements

Both people must appear together at the clerk's office. No exceptions. You cannot send one person first or use a proxy. Each applicant needs a valid government-issued photo ID. A driver's license works. So does a passport, state ID, or military ID. Maricopa County also accepts Matricula Consular cards. Your ID must show your name, photo, and date of birth.

You need to provide your Social Security number on the application. The clerk keeps this separate from public records. If you do not have a number, you can note that on the form. Foreign nationals without a Social Security number can still marry in Arizona. This information goes only to the Department of Economic Security for child support tracking. It is not released to anyone else.

Arizona law sets the minimum marriage age at 18. If you are 16 or 17, you need parental consent or an emancipation order. Your future spouse cannot be more than three years older. No one under 16 can marry in Arizona. ARS 25-102 spells out these rules in detail. The clerk will refuse to issue a license that breaks these age limits.

Marriage License Fees for Peoria Couples

The marriage license costs $98 in Maricopa County. You pay this fee when you apply. The clerk accepts cash, money orders, debit cards, and credit cards. Personal checks may not be accepted, so bring another payment method. Once you pay, the license prints right away. There are no refunds after you receive it.

Certified copies cost extra. Maricopa County charges $43.50 for a certified copy of your recorded marriage license. If you provide a self-addressed stamped envelope, the fee drops to $35.50. You can order copies by mail or in person. Add $8 for postage and handling on mail requests. Many Peoria couples need certified copies for name changes at the DMV or Social Security office.

The Maricopa County Clerk of the Superior Court website lists current fees and payment options. Check there before your visit for the latest information. Fees can change, so confirming ahead saves surprises.

Note: The $98 fee covers your license only, not the wedding ceremony itself.

How to Apply for a Peoria Marriage License

Walk into any Maricopa County clerk location during business hours. Ask the staff for a marriage license application. You will fill out an affidavit under oath. The form asks for your name, age, home address, and Social Security number. Both people sign the form in front of the clerk. She verifies your IDs and reviews the application.

If everything checks out, the clerk issues your license on the spot. Most visits take 15 to 30 minutes. Busy periods near holidays may have longer waits. Some offices recommend appointments. Maricopa County lets you schedule online through their appointment system. Walk-ins are still welcome at all locations.

Maricopa County also offers an online marriage license option. Arizona residents can apply from home and receive the license by mail. You still need to submit ID copies and sign a notarized affidavit. The fee is $98 plus $8 for postage. This takes longer than an in-person visit but saves a trip. The online marriage license program explains the steps.

Wedding Ceremony Rules for Peoria

Getting a license does not make you married. Arizona requires a ceremony to finalize the marriage. Under ARS 25-111, an authorized person must solemnize your marriage before the license expires. Without this step, you have no legal marriage. The ceremony can be as simple or as elaborate as you want, but it must happen.

ARS 25-124 lists who can perform weddings in Arizona. Licensed or ordained clergy from any faith qualify. Judges from courts of record can officiate. Municipal court judges, justices of the peace, and federal judges have authority too. You choose who performs your ceremony. The clerk's office does not arrange weddings for you.

Two witnesses must attend and sign the license. They must be 18 years or older. Friends, family, or anyone else can serve as witnesses. After the ceremony, your officiant fills out the bottom section of the license. Both spouses sign it. The witnesses sign it. Then the officiant returns the completed form to the clerk for recording. State law requires this return within a set time, usually 30 days.

Courthouse Weddings Near Peoria

The Maricopa County Justice Courts perform weddings. This is not a required service, so availability varies by judge. Most ceremonies happen after 5 p.m. on weekdays. You must arrive by 4:30 p.m. to clear security. Courthouse doors lock at exactly 5 p.m. and no one enters after that. The ceremony fee runs $100 to $120 depending on the judge.

Some judges marry active military members for free during lunch hours. Call ahead to ask about this option. You need your valid marriage license, two witnesses over 18, and the ceremony fee in cash. If you lack witnesses, the court can sometimes provide them. Not all courts offer this, so confirm when you schedule. Peoria couples often use the Northwest Regional Court for convenience.

Private wedding venues abound in the Peoria area. Parks, hotels, and event centers host ceremonies. Many couples hire officiants who come to them. Arizona does not require weddings to happen at a courthouse. Any location works as long as you have a licensed officiant and two adult witnesses.

Note: Schedule courthouse weddings in advance because spots fill up quickly.

Arizona Marriage Laws That Apply in Peoria

Arizona law governs all marriages in Peoria. The state sets requirements that every county follows. Title 25 of the Arizona Revised Statutes covers marriage and domestic relations. This section of law defines who can marry, how to get a license, and what makes a ceremony valid. Peoria couples fall under these same rules.

Same-sex marriages have been legal in Arizona since October 17, 2014. The state treats all couples equally. Your license application and fee are the same regardless of whether you marry someone of the same or different sex. Maricopa County applies these rules fairly to everyone. The marriage license does not indicate the genders of the spouses.

You do not need to prove your divorce to get a new license. The clerk does not ask for a divorce decree. However, you must be legally divorced before your ceremony. Marrying while still married to someone else is bigamy. Arizona makes this a crime. The responsibility to confirm your divorce status falls on you. Make sure your previous marriage ended before you say new vows.

Certain marriages are void in Arizona from the start. ARS 25-101 bans marriages between parents and children, siblings, and close relatives. First cousins generally cannot marry. Exceptions exist if both are 65 or older, or if one proves they cannot have children. The clerk will refuse to issue a license for a prohibited marriage.

Marriage Licenses in Cities Near Peoria

Several major cities border Peoria. All of them fall under Maricopa County and use the same clerk's office for marriage licenses. Couples from these nearby cities follow identical procedures. Here are links to marriage license information for neighboring areas:

• Phoenix - The state capital has multiple clerk locations
• Glendale - West valley city adjacent to Peoria
• Surprise - Home to the Northwest Regional Court
• Scottsdale - East valley city in Maricopa County

All these cities share access to Maricopa County's four clerk locations. Peoria couples can apply at any one of them. The license works anywhere in Arizona regardless of where you pick it up. If the Surprise office is busy, drive to Phoenix. If Phoenix has long lines, try Mesa. You have options.

Maricopa County is the most populous county in Arizona. It contains the Phoenix metro area and over four million residents. The clerk's office handles a high volume of marriage licenses each year. Four locations spread across the valley help manage demand. Online applications reduce crowding at physical offices.

Peoria Marriage License Resources

The Arizona Court Help website offers step-by-step guides for getting married. It explains requirements, forms, and procedures. The site covers all 15 Arizona counties. Peoria couples can use this free resource to prepare before their visit to the clerk.

Maricopa County's website has the most current information on fees, hours, and locations. Phone numbers connect you to staff who can answer specific questions. The county court FAQ page addresses common concerns. If the online info does not cover your situation, a phone call usually helps. The clerk's office wants your application to go smoothly.

For questions about Peoria services unrelated to marriage licenses, contact the Peoria City Court. They handle traffic tickets, misdemeanors, and civil cases. Marriage licenses remain a county function. The city court will direct you to the right place if you call about wedding permits.