Greenlee County Marriage License

Greenlee County marriage licenses are issued by the Clerk of Superior Court in Clifton, the county seat. The office sits at 223 5th Street and handles all license applications for this small rural county in southeastern Arizona. Couples from any state can apply here without residency rules. Both people must show up in person with photo ID. The clerk issues your license the same day you apply, and it stays valid for 12 months anywhere in Arizona. There is no blood test and no waiting period. Greenlee County keeps one of the lower fees in the state at $83, making it a budget-friendly option for couples planning to marry.

Greenlee County Clerk of Superior Court

The Greenlee County Clerk of Superior Court is your only stop for a marriage license in this county. The office is located in the courthouse in downtown Clifton. You can walk in during regular hours without an appointment. The staff processes license applications quickly, often in 15 minutes or less. This small office serves the entire county, which has fewer than 10,000 residents spread across mining towns and ranching communities.

Greenlee County formed in 1909 from the eastern part of Graham County. It takes its name from Mason Greenlee, an early settler. The county seat of Clifton sits along the San Francisco River near the New Mexico border. Morenci, the other main town, hosts one of the largest copper mines in North America. Despite the industrial activity, the area remains quiet and uncrowded, which means short waits at the clerk's office.

Contact the clerk's office at (928) 865-4242 if you have questions before you visit. You can also reach them by email at aadams@greenlee.az.gov. The staff can confirm current fees and answer questions about what to bring.

Greenlee County License Office Hours

The Greenlee County Clerk of Superior Court is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The office closes on state holidays. Plan to arrive before 4:30 p.m. if you want your license processed the same day. Lunch hour can be slower, but the office remains open throughout the day. There is free parking near the courthouse.

Clifton is about two hours east of Safford and three hours northeast of Tucson. The drive from Phoenix takes roughly four hours on US-60 and US-191. Gas stations and restaurants are limited in the area, so fill up before you head out. Many couples combine their license trip with a visit to the scenic Coronado Trail, which starts nearby.

Greenlee County Marriage License Requirements

Both people applying for a Greenlee County marriage license must appear together at the clerk's office. You cannot send a proxy or apply separately. Each person needs a valid government-issued photo ID. A driver's license works fine. So does a passport, state ID card, or military ID. The ID must show your name, photo, and date of birth.

You also need to provide your Social Security number. The clerk keeps this information separate from the public record. It only goes to the Department of Economic Security for child support enforcement. If you do not have a Social Security number, you can note that on your application. Foreign nationals visiting Arizona can still get married here.

Arizona law sets age limits for marriage. Under ARS 25-102, the legal age to marry without restrictions is 18. A person aged 16 or 17 can marry only with parental consent or an emancipation order. The future spouse cannot be more than three years older. Anyone under 16 cannot marry in Arizona at all. The Greenlee County clerk will verify age and refuse any license that breaks these rules.

Note: Bring your parent or guardian if you are 16 or 17 and need their consent signed at the office.

Marriage License Fees in Greenlee County

The application fee for a Greenlee County marriage license is $83. This is among the lowest in Arizona. Larger counties like Maricopa and Pima charge $98. Payment is due at the time of application. The clerk accepts cash, credit cards, debit cards, and money orders made out to the Clerk of the Superior Court. Personal checks may also be accepted, but call ahead to confirm.

Certified copies of your marriage license cost $30 each. You may need certified copies to change your name at the DMV or Social Security office. Employers and insurance companies sometimes ask for them too. The clerk can provide copies on the spot or mail them to you later. Add postage fees if you order by mail.

Greenlee County marriage records go back to the 1900s. If you need a copy of an older marriage license, the clerk can search the archives. Older records take longer to locate. The fee remains $30 for a certified copy regardless of the year.

How to Get a Greenlee County Marriage License

Getting a marriage license in Greenlee County is straightforward. Walk into the clerk's office during business hours. Tell the staff you want to apply for a marriage license. They will give you an affidavit to complete. The affidavit asks for each person's name, age, and home address. It includes a statement that you understand information about sexually transmitted diseases is available from the county health department on request.

Both applicants sign the affidavit under oath in front of the clerk. The clerk reviews your application and checks your IDs. If everything looks right, they issue your license on the spot. The whole process takes about 15 minutes in most cases. You walk out with a valid marriage license ready to use.

Under ARS 25-121, the license application process is the same across all 15 Arizona counties. The law requires both parties to appear in person and provide identification. Once issued, your Greenlee County license is valid for ceremonies anywhere in Arizona for a full year. You can get married in Tucson, Phoenix, or the Grand Canyon using the same license.

Greenlee County Wedding Ceremony Rules

Obtaining a marriage license does not mean you are married. Arizona requires a wedding ceremony performed by an authorized officiant. ARS 25-111 states that a marriage is not valid unless the license is issued, the ceremony is performed by an authorized person, and the ceremony happens before the license expires. You have 12 months to complete your wedding.

The Greenlee County Clerk of the Court does not schedule marriage ceremonies. You must make your own arrangements. Many couples hire a minister, priest, rabbi, or other religious leader to officiate. Justices of the peace can also perform weddings. So can judges of any court of record, municipal court judges, and certain federal judges. ARS 25-124 lists all authorized officiants.

Your ceremony needs two witnesses who are at least 18 years old. The witnesses sign the marriage license along with both spouses and the officiant. Friends, family members, or even strangers can serve as witnesses. After the wedding, the officiant must return the signed license to the Greenlee County Clerk within 30 days. The clerk records the marriage and stores the original document.

Popular wedding spots in Greenlee County include the Coronado Trail Scenic Road, the San Francisco River area, and the historic mining town streetscapes. The rugged landscape offers unique backdrops for outdoor ceremonies.

Marriage Restrictions in Greenlee County

ARS 25-101 lists marriages that are void and prohibited in Arizona. The Greenlee County clerk cannot issue a license to couples who fall under these restrictions. The law blocks marriages between close relatives. This includes parents and children at any generation level. Siblings cannot marry, whether they share one or both parents. Aunts and nephews cannot marry. Neither can uncles and nieces.

First cousins face a general ban with two exceptions. Both first cousins can marry if they are 65 or older. They can also marry at any age if one proves to a Superior Court judge that they cannot reproduce. These exceptions are rare and require court approval before the clerk can issue a license.

Same-sex marriages have been legal in Arizona since October 17, 2014. The Greenlee County clerk treats all couples the same under the law following the Obergefell ruling. Both partners receive the same protections and rights as any married couple in the state.

Greenlee County Marriage License Copies

After your wedding ceremony, your officiant returns the signed license to the clerk's office for recording. Once recorded, you can request certified copies. A certified copy of your Greenlee County marriage license costs $30. This official document shows the county seal and the clerk's signature verifying its authenticity.

You may need certified copies for several reasons:

• Changing your name at the DMV
• Updating your Social Security card
• Adding a spouse to insurance policies
• Opening joint bank accounts
• Updating passport records

Order copies in person at the Greenlee County Clerk's office or by mail. Include a money order or cashier's check made out to the Clerk of the Superior Court. Add postage fees for mail orders. The clerk can also search historical records. Greenlee County maintains marriage records dating back to the 1900s.

Nearby Arizona Counties

Greenlee County sits in the far southeastern corner of Arizona. If the Clifton office does not work for your schedule, you can get a marriage license from any other Arizona county. The license is valid for ceremonies statewide. Graham County to the west is the closest option. Apache County lies to the north, and Cochise County borders Greenlee to the south. Each of these counties charges $83 to $98 for a marriage license.

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