Davidson County Marriage License
Getting your marriage license in Nashville? The Davidson County Clerk charges $99.50 in cash, and takes $60 off when you both hand in a notarized premarital course certificate. Take our 4-hour online course first and keep the difference.
- Davidson County fee with our certificate: $39.50 instead of $99.50
- 4 hours, online, one enrollment for both of you
- Notarized state Certificate of Completion mailed to you by USPS
The course pays for itself: Tennessee waives $60 of the $62.50 state marriage license fee for couples who finish a premarital preparation course of at least 4 hours. That is $60 back, in every county.
Start the course – $27.49 per coupleOne price covers both of you. Notarized state Certificate of Completion mailed to you by USPS. Standard, Faith-Friendly or Inclusive version.
Davidson County marriage license at a glance
| Where | Davidson County Clerk, Howard Office Building, 700 President Ronald Reagan Way, Suite 101, Nashville, TN 37210 (the only Davidson office that issues marriage licenses) |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:20 p.m. |
| Phone | 615-862-6050 (Marriage and Notary Department: 615-862-6256) |
| Fee | $99.50 without a premarital course |
| Fee with certificate | $39.50 with a Certificate of Completion of a 4-hour premarital preparation course |
| Details | Cash price. Paying by card costs $101.49 instead of $99.50. Davidson takes $60 off with the course certificate, so $39.50 is the cash price minus $60. Checks are not accepted. |
| Payment | Cash or card only (no checks). |
| Waiting period | None. The license is valid for 30 days anywhere in Tennessee |
Source: Davidson County marriage license page. Fees and rules can change; check the county's page before you go.
How to apply in Davidson County
- Take the premarital course first. 4 hours, together or separately. Our online Tennessee premarital course is $27.49 per couple; allow time for the mailed certificate.
- Fill in the marriage license application online before you go: Davidson asks for it before your visit.
- Both of you go to the Howard Office Building together. It is the only Davidson County office that issues marriage licenses.
- Hand in your notarized Certificate of Completion when you apply to get the $60 off.
- Use the license within 30 days. Davidson counts from the day after it is issued, and an expired license cannot be used: you would have to buy a new one.
The Certificate of Completion in Davidson County
Davidson takes $60 off when you hand in a notarized Certificate of Completion from your course provider on the state (AOC) form, which it calls the only form it can accept. You can take the course together or separately, within one year before you apply. The certificate we mail you is the AOC form, notarized.
What to bring
A valid driver's license, government photo ID or passport for each of you, plus proof of your Social Security number, such as your Social Security card, a W-2 or a tax document showing the full number.
After the wedding
Certified copies can be printed at the office for records from the last 30 years, ordered online, or requested by mail for $5 per copy plus a $2 mail fee.
Good to know in Davidson County
- The clerk's office does not perform civil ceremonies at this time, so line up your officiant before you go.
- Can one of you not appear because of a physical disability or incarceration? Davidson allows a notarized affidavit with a physician's or warden's letter (original documents only).
What the course saves you in Davidson County
| License without the course | $99.50 |
|---|---|
| License with our certificate | $39.50 |
| You save at the court | $60 |
| Course, both of you | $27.49 |
| Money left over | $32.51, plus the skills |
The course pays for itself: Tennessee waives $60 of the $62.50 state marriage license fee for couples who finish a premarital preparation course of at least 4 hours. That is $60 back, in every county.
Start the course – $27.49 per coupleOne price covers both of you. Notarized state Certificate of Completion mailed to you by USPS. Standard, Faith-Friendly or Inclusive version.
Reviewed by Kristen Franzen, LPC. Facts checked against the Davidson County Clerk marriage license page and T.C.A. 36-6-413. Last updated .
Davidson County marriage license FAQ
How much is a marriage license in Davidson County?
$99.50, or $39.50 with a notarized Certificate of Completion of a premarital preparation course of at least 4 hours (Davidson County Clerk). Cash price. Paying by card costs $101.49 instead of $99.50. Davidson takes $60 off with the course certificate, so $39.50 is the cash price minus $60. Checks are not accepted.
Does Davidson County accept an online premarital course?
Tennessee law (T.C.A. 36-6-413) sets what counts: a premarital preparation course of at least 4 hours, taken together or separately within one year before you apply, from a qualifying instructor such as a licensed professional counselor, with a Certificate of Completion on the state form. It does not require the course to be in person. Davidson takes $60 off when you hand in a notarized Certificate of Completion from your course provider on the state (AOC) form, which it calls the only form it can accept. You can take the course together or separately, within one year before you apply. The certificate we mail you is the AOC form, notarized.
How do we apply in Davidson County?
Fill in the marriage license application online before you go: Davidson asks for it before your visit. Both of you go to the Howard Office Building together. It is the only Davidson County office that issues marriage licenses. Hand in your notarized Certificate of Completion when you apply to get the $60 off. Use the license within 30 days. Davidson counts from the day after it is issued, and an expired license cannot be used: you would have to buy a new one.
Do we have to apply in Davidson County?
No. A license from any Tennessee county clerk can be used for a ceremony anywhere in Tennessee, so you can apply where it suits you. The ceremony must take place in Tennessee within 30 days.
Can couples outside Nashville take this course?
Yes. Couples in Antioch, Hermitage, Madison, Bellevue and anywhere in Tennessee take the same course, and the $60 waiver is the same in every county.
Other counties: Shelby County · Knox County · Hamilton County · Sevier County. Applying somewhere else? See the Tennessee marriage license guide.