Santa Cruz County Marriage License
Marriage licenses in Santa Cruz County require an appointment with the Clerk of Superior Court. The office sits in Nogales, just minutes from the Mexican border. Couples must call or email ahead to schedule their visit. The license fee is $83, which is lower than most other Arizona counties. Both people must show up together with valid photo ID. There is no waiting period or blood test needed. Your Santa Cruz County marriage license stays valid for 12 months and works anywhere in Arizona. The clerk issues your license the same day as your appointment, so you can plan your wedding right away.
Santa Cruz County Marriage License Quick Facts
Where to Get a Santa Cruz County Marriage License
The Santa Cruz County Clerk of the Superior Court handles all marriage licenses. The office is at 2160 N. Congress Drive, Suite 2200, Nogales, AZ 85621. This is the only location in the county that issues marriage licenses. Juan Pablo Guzman serves as the current Clerk. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. They close for state holidays.
You must make an appointment before you visit. Call the office at 520-375-7700 or send an email to santacruzclerk@courts.az.gov. Walk-ins are not accepted for marriage license applications. The appointment system helps the staff serve each couple properly. Plan ahead and book your slot a few days before you want to apply. Most appointments run about 20 to 30 minutes.
Santa Cruz County is one of the smallest counties in Arizona by population. The office staff handles a manageable number of applications each week. This means your appointment will get proper attention. The fax number is 520-375-7703 if you need to send documents ahead of time.
Note: The clerk requires appointments for all marriage license applications without exception.
Santa Cruz County Marriage License Requirements
Both people must appear together in person. No proxy applications are allowed. Each applicant needs a valid government-issued photo ID. A driver's license works. So does a passport, state ID card, or military ID. The document must show your full legal name, your photo, and your date of birth. Bring the original ID, not a photocopy.
You must provide your Social Security number when you apply. The clerk keeps this data separate from public records. Under ARS 25-121, this information goes only to the Department of Economic Security for child support enforcement purposes. It cannot be released to anyone else. If you do not have a Social Security number, you can still apply. Foreign nationals without U.S. numbers can get married in Santa Cruz County by noting this on the application form.
The legal age to marry in Arizona is 18. Younger applicants face extra rules. A person aged 16 or 17 can marry only with parental consent or a court-issued emancipation order. The future spouse cannot be more than three years older than the minor. Under ARS 25-102, anyone under age 16 cannot marry at all. The Santa Cruz County clerk will not issue a license that violates these age rules.
Santa Cruz County Marriage License Fees
The marriage license fee in Santa Cruz County is $83. This is one of the lower fees in Arizona. Most other counties charge $98. Payment must be made by credit or debit card over the phone. Call the clerk's office at 520-375-7700 to pay. Cash and check payments are not accepted at this office.
Card users pay an extra processing fee. For payments under $60, the fee is $1.50. For payments over $60, the fee is 2.5% of the total. Since the marriage license costs $83, you will pay a 2.5% fee on top. This works out to about $2.08 extra, making your total around $85.08. The credit card fee helps cover the cost of payment processing. Keep this in mind when budgeting for your license.
Certified copies of your recorded marriage license will cost extra when you need them later. You will likely need certified copies for name changes at the DMV or Social Security office. Contact the clerk's office to ask about current copy fees and how to order them after your wedding.
Using Your Santa Cruz County Marriage License
Your license is valid for 12 months from the issue date. The wedding ceremony must happen before it expires. After 12 months, an unused license is no longer good. You would need to apply again and pay the fee again. Plan your ceremony within this window to avoid any issues.
A Santa Cruz County marriage license works anywhere in Arizona. You are not limited to having your wedding in Santa Cruz County. Get married in Tucson, Phoenix, Sedona, or wherever you like within the state. The license carries the same legal weight no matter where in Arizona you use it. Many couples get their license in one county and hold their ceremony in another.
Arizona has no residency requirement for marriage licenses. You do not need to live in Santa Cruz County or even in Arizona. Couples from other states and other countries can apply here. The process is the same for everyone. This makes Arizona a popular choice for destination weddings. The border location of Santa Cruz County draws some couples who want a quick trip from Mexico.
Under ARS 25-111, the license alone does not make you married. You need a valid ceremony performed by an authorized person. Without a proper ceremony before the license expires, the marriage is not legal. Both the license and the ceremony are required under Arizona law.
Marriage Ceremony Rules in Santa Cruz County
Someone authorized by Arizona law must perform your wedding. The list appears in ARS 25-124. Licensed or ordained clergy can officiate. This includes ministers, priests, rabbis, and religious leaders of all faiths. Judges of courts of record can marry people. Municipal court judges and justices of the peace also qualify. Federal judges, bankruptcy court judges, tax court judges, and magistrate judges round out the list.
You need two witnesses at the ceremony. They must be 18 years of age or older. The witnesses will sign the marriage license along with both spouses and the officiant. Anyone can serve as a witness. Pick friends, family members, or even helpful strangers. The witnesses do not need any special qualifications beyond being adults.
After the wedding, your officiant must return the signed license to the Santa Cruz County Clerk of Superior Court. State law requires this within 30 days. The clerk then records the marriage in official county records. Once recorded, you can request certified copies. Make sure your officiant understands this duty. Some couples face delays when their officiant forgets to file.
Note: The Santa Cruz County Superior Court does not schedule or perform wedding ceremonies.
Special Situations for Santa Cruz County Marriage Licenses
Arizona recognizes same-sex marriages. This has been true since October 17, 2014. Santa Cruz County treats all couples equally under the law. The application process, fee, and requirements are identical regardless of the genders of the applicants. The U.S. Supreme Court's Obergefell decision made this the law of the land.
Covenant marriage is an option in Arizona. It requires premarital counseling from a clergy member or licensed counselor. Couples sign a declaration of intent and provide a notarized counseling statement. Covenant marriages have limited grounds for divorce. The Arizona Legislature Title 25 Chapter 7 spells out all the details. Converting an existing traditional marriage to covenant status costs $35.
If you were married before, you do not need to bring divorce papers to the clerk's office. Arizona does not require proof that your prior marriage ended. But you must be legally free to marry when the ceremony happens. Marrying while still legally wed to another person is a crime. The clerk trusts your sworn statement that you are eligible to marry. Make sure your divorce or annulment is final before your new wedding day.
Certain marriages are void in Arizona. Under ARS 25-101, close relatives cannot marry. This includes parents and children, siblings, aunts and nephews, uncles and nieces, and first cousins. First cousins can marry only if both are 65 or older, or if one proves to a court they cannot have children. The Santa Cruz County clerk will refuse to issue a license to prohibited couples.
Plan Your Visit to Santa Cruz County
Nogales is the county seat and home to the only clerk's office. The town sits right on the U.S.-Mexico border. Interstate 19 connects Nogales to Tucson, about 60 miles to the north. The drive from Tucson takes roughly an hour. Phoenix is about three hours north via I-10 and I-19. The clerk's office has a convenient location near other county buildings.
Schedule your appointment before making the trip. Call 520-375-7700 or email santacruzclerk@courts.az.gov. Confirm your appointment time and ask any questions you have about what to bring. The staff can answer questions about ID requirements, payment, and the application process. Arriving without an appointment means you will not be able to apply that day.
When you show up, bring your valid photo ID and your partner. You will complete and sign an affidavit under oath. The affidavit covers your personal information and includes a statement about available STD information from the health department. After you sign, pay the fee by phone with your card, and the clerk prints your license. The whole appointment typically takes less than 30 minutes.
Checklist for your Santa Cruz County visit:
- Confirmed appointment time
- Valid government photo ID for both people
- Social Security numbers (or note if none)
- Credit or debit card for payment
- Knowledge of prior marriage dates if applicable
Nearby Counties for Marriage Licenses
Santa Cruz County borders other Arizona counties to the north and east. If you prefer a different location or cannot get an appointment in Nogales, these nearby counties also issue marriage licenses valid anywhere in Arizona.