Yuma Marriage License
Yuma residents obtain marriage licenses from the Yuma County Clerk of the Superior Court. The office sits in downtown Yuma at 250 West 2nd Street. The license fee is $98. Both people must appear in person with valid photo ID and Social Security numbers. There is no blood test and no waiting period at all. Your license prints the same day and stays valid for 12 months anywhere in Arizona. Yuma also offers courthouse wedding ceremonies through the Municipal Court. Judges perform weddings by appointment after 5 p.m. on weekdays. The ceremony fee is $90 cash. This gives Yuma couples a quick and affordable path from license to married.
Yuma Marriage License Quick Facts
Where to Get a Marriage License in Yuma
The Yuma County Clerk of the Superior Court handles all marriage licenses for Yuma and the surrounding area. The clerk office is located at 250 West 2nd Street, Suite B, Yuma, AZ 85364. Lynn Fazz serves as Clerk of the Superior Court. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It closes on state holidays. For questions about your Yuma marriage license application, call (928) 817-4234 or the main line at (928) 817-4210.
Yuma County is the only county office in the area. The county spans a large region along the Colorado River and the Arizona-California border. If you live in San Luis, Somerton, Wellton, or other Yuma County communities, you come to this same office in downtown Yuma. The location is easy to find in the courthouse district. Parking is available on nearby streets and in public lots.
The Yuma County marriage license page has forms and current details. Check there before your visit to confirm hours and what you need to bring.
Yuma Marriage License Requirements
Both people must appear together. No exceptions. No proxy. You cannot send someone else to pick up the license for you. Each person must bring valid government-issued photo ID. Acceptable IDs include a driver's license, passport, state ID card, military ID, or certified birth certificate. The ID must clearly show your name, photo, and date of birth.
You need your Social Security number. The clerk collects this but keeps it separate from the public record. Under ARS 25-121, the Social Security number goes only to the Department of Economic Security for child support enforcement. It does not appear on the public marriage record. If you do not have a Social Security number, note that on the application.
The legal age to marry in Arizona is 18. Minors face special rules. A person who is 16 or 17 years old may marry only with parental consent or a court emancipation order. The future spouse cannot be more than three years older than the minor. Children under 16 cannot marry at all in Arizona. ARS 25-102 sets these rules. A parent or guardian must appear with a minor applicant at the Yuma County clerk office.
Note: Proof of divorce is not required when you apply, but your previous divorce must be final before your new wedding ceremony takes place.
Yuma Marriage License Fees
The Yuma County marriage license fee is $98. You pay this when you apply. The office accepts cash, local checks, money orders, Visa, and MasterCard. Personal checks from out of state may not be accepted, so bring an alternative payment if you are visiting from elsewhere.
Certified copies of your recorded marriage license cost $35 each. You will need certified copies for name changes at the DMV, Social Security office, banks, and employers. The clerk charges an extra $35 per year if they need to search records beyond the first year. Order extra copies when you get your first one to save time and money later.
Arizona offers covenant marriage as an option. This special type of marriage requires premarital counseling and limits the grounds for divorce. Converting an existing traditional marriage to covenant status costs $35 at the Yuma County clerk office. You need a notarized statement from the clergy member or counselor who provided your counseling. The covenant marriage rules appear in Arizona Revised Statutes Title 25, Chapter 7.
Yuma Wedding Ceremony Requirements
A marriage license alone does not make you married. You need a ceremony too. Under ARS 25-111, the marriage must be solemnized by an authorized person before the license expires. Without this step, there is no legal marriage. The license gives permission. The ceremony makes it official.
ARS 25-124 lists who can perform weddings in Arizona. Licensed or ordained clergy of any faith can marry couples. Judges of courts of record have the authority. Municipal court judges qualify. So do justices of the peace, federal judges, bankruptcy judges, tax court judges, and U.S. magistrate judges. Yuma has religious leaders and court officials who perform weddings regularly.
You need two witnesses at the ceremony. They must be at least 18 years old. Both witnesses sign the marriage license along with both spouses and the officiant. Family and friends work fine as witnesses. If you come to a courthouse ceremony without witnesses, the court can provide them.
Courthouse Weddings in Yuma
The Yuma Municipal Court offers wedding ceremonies by appointment. Judges perform weddings based on their availability. All ceremonies take place after 5 p.m. on weekdays. You must already have your marriage license from the Yuma County Clerk before the judge will marry you. The ceremony fee is $90 in cash. Bring exact change.
Plan to arrive at the courthouse by 4:30 p.m. on the day of your ceremony. Ceremonies start at 5 p.m. The courthouse doors lock at exactly 5 p.m. and no one can enter after that time. Security screening takes a few minutes, so give yourself plenty of time to get through. Late arrivals miss their wedding.
Bring your valid Yuma marriage license and two adult witnesses. The witnesses must be at least 18 years old. If you do not have witnesses, the court can provide them for you. This makes courthouse weddings convenient for couples who want a quick, private ceremony without a big guest list. Call (928) 373-4800 to schedule your appointment with the Yuma Municipal Court.
Weddings at the Yuma Municipal Court are a discretionary function. Judges are not required to perform them. Schedules change. Always call ahead to confirm your appointment and ask about current procedures. The staff can answer questions about what to expect on your wedding day.
Note: The Superior Court judges in Yuma County do not perform wedding ceremonies.
After Your Yuma Wedding
Your officiant signs the marriage license and returns it to the Yuma County Clerk of the Superior Court. This must happen within 30 days of the ceremony. The clerk records your marriage and keeps the original document on file. Once recorded, you can order certified copies for your records. Processing takes a few days.
Certified copies cost $35 each. Most couples need at least one or two copies. You will use them for name changes at the Social Security office and DMV. Banks, employers, insurance companies, and the passport office may ask for copies too. Some places accept photocopies, but government agencies typically require the certified version with an official seal.
Name changes require multiple steps. Start with Social Security to update your card. Then visit the MVD for a new driver's license. Update your bank accounts, credit cards, employer records, and insurance policies. Each place needs to see proof of your new married name. A certified copy of your Yuma marriage license provides that proof.
Marriages the Yuma Clerk Cannot Issue
ARS 25-101 lists relationships that cannot marry in Arizona. Parents and children cannot marry at any generation. Brothers and sisters cannot marry whether they share one or both parents. Aunts and nephews are banned. Uncles and nieces are banned. First cousins face a general ban with narrow exceptions.
First cousins may marry in Arizona under two conditions. Both must be 65 years of age or older. Or one cousin can prove to a Superior Court judge that they cannot have children. These situations are rare. The Yuma County clerk will refuse to issue a license to any couple that falls into a prohibited category. The judge must approve a first cousin marriage before the clerk can process it.
Nearby Arizona Cities
Yuma sits in the far southwest corner of Arizona. The city is relatively isolated from other major Arizona population centers. The nearest large cities are in Maricopa County, several hours to the northeast. If you are traveling from elsewhere in Arizona and want to get married in Yuma, the Yuma County clerk can issue your license regardless of where you live.
Yuma County Marriage License Office
Yuma is the county seat of Yuma County. All marriage licenses for Yuma residents come from the county clerk. The office serves the entire county, including San Luis, Somerton, and smaller communities along the Colorado River. For full details on Yuma County procedures, hours, and services, visit the county page.