Shelby County Marriage and Divorce Records

Marriage License Requirements in Shelby County

Both parties must appear in person at a Shelby County Clerk office to get a marriage license. There is no way to apply online or send a representative. The Shelby County Clerk's office, led by County Clerk Wanda Halbert, handles all marriage license issuance in the county. Three office locations serve residents across Shelby County, and the offices are open on weekdays only.

The license is valid for 30 days from the date it is issued. If the ceremony does not happen within that window, the license is void and the couple must buy a new one. A blood test has not been required since July 1, 1985, so applicants do not need to plan for that step. What does matter is age and the form of ID each applicant brings, because the rules differ by age bracket and the wrong document can delay the process.

The Shelby County Clerk marriage license page lists the full requirements and links the application process. Check it before you go to confirm any rule changes since this was published.

Age Rules and ID for Shelby County Marriage Licenses

Tennessee law sets firm age limits that the County Clerk must follow. There are no exceptions for the youngest applicants, and judges can no longer waive the restrictions. The rules below come directly from the official County Clerk page and apply to every application at every Shelby County office.

The age bracket you fall into determines exactly what documents you need to bring. Getting this right on the first visit avoids a wasted trip. Under 17, there is simply no path forward: no license can be issued and no court can grant an exception. For those who are 17 or 18, the rules are stricter than for older applicants, and a three-day waiting period applies unless the younger party is emancipated and can prove it with certified documentation.

• Under age 17 - No marriage license can be issued. No exceptions. Judges can no longer waive this restriction.
• Age 17 to 18 - The other applicant cannot be more than four years (48 months) older. A birth certificate is required. A parent, legal guardian, next of kin, custodian, or agency representative must join the application by personal appearance or by a sworn and notarized Affidavit of Underage Marriage Consent. A three-day waiting period applies unless the 17-year-old is emancipated and presents certified proof of emancipation.
• Age 18 to 20 - A certified birth certificate is required.
• Age 21 and over - A picture ID is required. No birth certificate needed.

Note: Applicants in the 17 to 18 bracket should call the office ahead of time to confirm which notarized form is needed and whether the parent or guardian must appear in person or if a mailed affidavit is accepted at the specific location.

Fees and Premarital Preparation in Shelby County

The cost of a Shelby County marriage license depends on whether the couple completed a qualifying premarital preparation course. The discount is significant, so couples who have time to finish the course before applying can save $60. The course must be taught by a qualified instructor and must run at least four hours. After completing it, the instructor signs a notarized Premarital Preparation form that the couple brings to the County Clerk office at the time of application.

The table below shows all fees covered on this page, from the license itself to certified copies and divorce filing costs. Court filing fees are current as of January 1, 2026. License fees are as published on the County Clerk page.

The premarital preparation form must be notarized and signed by the instructor. Couples who show up without the completed form pay the higher rate. There is no refund of the difference after the fact, so bring the form when you apply.

Marriage License Office Locations in Shelby County

The Shelby County Clerk operates three offices that issue marriage licenses. All three handle the same application process, so couples can go to whichever location is most convenient. Hours differ slightly between the offices.

The County Clerk office page covers branch services including marriage application, motor vehicles, business applications, and notary commissions. The marriage license function is one of several services offered at each location.

The Shelby East location has slightly later hours than the other two, opening at 9:00 a.m. and closing at 5:15 p.m. That extra hour at the end of the day is useful for applicants who cannot leave work early. Downtown and Millington both open at 8:00 a.m. and close at 4:15 p.m.

The screenshot below is from the official Shelby County Clerk marriage license page, which lists requirements, fees, and the three office locations for Shelby County marriage records.

The County Clerk page is the primary source for Shelby County marriage license information and is updated when rules or fees change.

How to Apply for a Shelby County Marriage License

Applying for a Shelby County marriage license follows a set sequence. Both applicants must be present for the entire process. The steps below walk through what to bring and what happens at the office so there are no surprises on the day.

1. Check your age bracket. Confirm which ID or documents your age requires. Bring a picture ID if you are 21 or older. Bring a certified birth certificate if you are 18 to 20. If either applicant is 17, gather the birth certificate, the notarized underage consent affidavit, and proof of the other applicant's age to confirm the four-year rule is met.
2. Complete premarital preparation if you want the lower fee. Take a four-hour course from a qualified instructor, have the instructor sign and notarize the Premarital Preparation form, and bring that form with you. This drops the fee from $97.50 to $37.50.
3. Go to a County Clerk office together. Both parties must appear in person at the Downtown, Shelby East, or Millington office. No representative or proxy can apply on your behalf.
4. Fill out the application. Provide full legal names, dates of birth, and ages for both applicants. Hand over your ID or birth certificate and the premarital preparation form if you have one.
5. Pay the fee. The fee is $37.50 with the premarital form or $97.50 without it. Confirm accepted payment methods with the office before you go.
6. Receive the license. The office issues the license on the spot in most cases, except for 17-year-old applicants where the three-day wait applies. The license is valid for 30 days from the issue date.
7. Hold the ceremony within 30 days. If the window passes without a ceremony, the license is void. You must apply and pay again for a new one.

For 17-year-old applicants, the three-day waiting period runs from approval, not from the day of application. Plan the ceremony date with that gap in mind so the license does not expire before the ceremony can happen.

Shelby County Marriage Application Field Inventory

The County Clerk collects specific information from both applicants at the time of application. The table below shows the fields used in the Shelby County marriage application based on the official County Clerk page and standard Tennessee application requirements. Having this information ready before you go speeds up the process at the counter.

The County Clerk page confirms these fields and notes that both parties must appear. If any required document is missing, the clerk cannot complete the application that day and both parties must return.

The screenshot below is from the Shelby County Clerk office page, which covers the full range of services including marriage applications across all branch locations.

The Clerk office page is the right place to verify current hours and confirm which documents each branch accepts before making the trip downtown or to a satellite location.

Returning the License After the Ceremony

Getting the license is only part of the process. After the ceremony, the officiant must complete and sign the Tennessee Department of Health Certificate of Marriage form and also sign the bottom tear-off portion of the Marriage License - Rites of Matrimony document. Both the certificate and the tear-off must be returned to the County Clerk for recording.

The marriage is not recognized by the State of Tennessee until the Clerk receives both forms and enters them in the state system. This is a step some couples overlook after the excitement of the day. If the officiant delays or forgets to return the paperwork, the marriage stays legally incomplete in the state record. Couples should confirm with their officiant before the ceremony that this step will be handled right away.

If a license expires unused within the 30-day window, it is void. The couple must apply again and pay the full fee a second time. No credit carries over from a voided license to a new application.

Certified Copies of a Shelby County Marriage Record

A certified copy of a Shelby County marriage record is often needed for legal purposes such as changing a name, applying for a passport, or updating financial accounts. In Shelby County, certified copies come from the County Clerk. Two methods are available: in-person at any of the three offices, or by mail to the Downtown office.

To get a certified copy by mail, send a $10 check or money order along with the exact marriage date and the full names of both parties to the address below. Do not send cash. Use a check or money order made out to the Shelby County Clerk. Include the exact marriage date rather than an approximate year so the staff can locate the Shelby County marriage record quickly.

Processing time is not published on the official page. Call the office before mailing if you are working against a legal deadline. For in-person requests, visit any of the three County Clerk locations. Bring the marriage date and both parties' full names. The $10 fee applies whether you come in person or mail the request.

Divorce in Shelby County Circuit or Chancery Court

Divorce in Shelby County is filed in either Circuit Court or Chancery Court. Both courts have jurisdiction over divorce matters, and both apply the same 2026 filing fees for divorce categories. The choice of court often depends on other claims in the case and which court the attorney believes is more appropriate for the specific filing. If you are filing on your own, either clerk can explain where your type of matter typically goes.

Circuit Court sits at 140 Adams Avenue, Room 324, Memphis, TN 38103, phone (901) 222-3800. The Circuit Court Clerk office handles filings and records for Circuit Court divorces. Chancery Court, also at 140 Adams Avenue in Room 308, phone (901) 222-3900, is the equity court for Shelby County. The Chancery Clerk and Master is W. Aaron Hall, who serves a six-year appointed term and assists in courtroom administration, records management, and docket maintenance for Chancery matters.

Chancery Court runs an Uncontested Divorce Hearing Docket with limited available dates. Parties can request a hearing slot through an online form. Check the Chancery Court uncontested divorce hearing form to see whether dates are open and to submit a request. The form covers the basic case information the court needs to schedule the hearing on the docket.

Divorce records, once filed and decided, are public unless the court has sealed specific parts of the file. Minor children's names, financial account details, Social Security numbers, and parenting-plan details may be redacted in publicly accessible versions of a decree. If you need a full certified copy of a Shelby County divorce decree for legal use, request it from the clerk of the court where the case was filed, not from the County Clerk. The County Clerk handles marriage licenses; the Circuit or Chancery Clerk holds the divorce file.

Divorce Filing Fees in Shelby County

Divorce filing fees in Shelby County depend on whether minor children are involved in the case. Both Circuit Court and Chancery Court apply the same fee categories for divorce filings, effective January 1, 2026. These are the initial filing fees paid to the clerk when the case is opened. Additional costs such as service fees, copy fees, and hearing-related costs can add to the total over the life of the case and vary depending on what the matter requires.

The screenshot below is from the Chancery Court uncontested divorce hearing form, which is used to request a scheduled hearing date for uncontested divorce matters in Shelby County.

The Chancery hearing form is the official tool to get a date on the Uncontested Divorce Hearing Docket for eligible cases filed in Shelby County Chancery Court.

Copies of court records from either court cost $0.50 per page. A certified copy through Circuit Court is $5.00 for Acts of Congress certification. Fax filing costs $5.00 plus $1.00 per page. For the most current fee details, check the Circuit Court filing-fee schedule and the Chancery Court filing-fee schedule, both effective January 1, 2026. If you cannot afford filing fees, ask the clerk about an indigency affidavit or pauper's oath. The Tennessee AOC also publishes self-help resources and court forms for pro se litigants handling their own family law matters.

Related Shelby County Record Searches

Marriage and divorce records are part of a broader set of Shelby County public records. After a divorce, probate records may be relevant if estate or name-change matters arise in Probate Court at 140 Adams Avenue. For other record types held by county offices, see the Shelby County public records page, which covers the Tennessee Public Records Act request process and local policy. Questions about the clerk's office and how certified copies are requested are covered on the Circuit Court Clerk page. For general case filings and court file details across all Shelby County courts, start with Shelby County court records.