Hamilton County Marriage License
Getting your marriage license in Chattanooga? The Hamilton County Clerk charges $107.50, or $45 when you both hand in a notarized premarital course certificate. Take our 4-hour online course first and the course more than pays for itself.
- Hamilton County fee with our certificate: $45 instead of $107.50
- 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.
Hamilton County marriage license at a glance
| Where | Hamilton County Clerk, Hamilton County Courthouse, 625 Georgia Avenue, Room 201, Chattanooga, TN 37402 (the Bonny Oaks satellite office handles vehicles, not marriage licenses) |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Phone | 423-209-6500 |
| Fee | $107.50 without a premarital course |
| Fee with certificate | $45 with a Certificate of Completion of a 4-hour premarital preparation course |
| Details | Hamilton prints both prices for applicants 18 or older: $107.50, or $45 with a Certification of Completion of at least four hours of premarital preparation. Both prices include one $5 certified copy and a $5 archive and records fee. Cards carry a processing fee. |
| Payment | Cash, Visa, Mastercard, Discover or American Express (processing fee), cashier's check or certified check. |
| Waiting period | None. The license is valid for 30 days anywhere in Tennessee |
Source: Hamilton County marriage license page. Fees and rules can change; check the county's page before you go.
How to apply in Hamilton 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.
- Start with the online marriage license pre-application linked from the clerk's marriage page.
- Go to Room 201 at the Hamilton County Courthouse on Georgia Avenue.
- Both of you hand in a notarized certificate to get the $45 price.
- Use the license within 30 days. If you marry outside Tennessee, it still has to come back to the Hamilton County Clerk for recording.
The Certificate of Completion in Hamilton County
Hamilton asks both of you to hand in a notarized certificate completed by the course provider (the clerk links the state Certification of Completion form), showing you took the course together or separately within one year before you apply. The certificate we mail you is that state form, notarized, with both of your names on it: the form has spaces for Applicant 1 and Applicant 2.
What to bring
One ID each: driver's license, state ID, certified birth certificate, military ID or passport. Know both parents' full names (including mother's maiden name) and states of birth, plus how many times you have been married and when your last marriage ended.
After the wedding
Your officiant returns the license to the Hamilton County Clerk for recording. Extra certified copies cost $5 in person, $7.05 by mail or $8.05 online, and can also be ordered by phone.
Good to know in Hamilton County
- No blood test and no waiting period: you can marry once the license is issued.
- Under 17, no license can be issued in Tennessee, with no exceptions.
What the course saves you in Hamilton County
| License without the course | $107.50 |
|---|---|
| License with our certificate | $45 |
| 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 Hamilton County Clerk marriage license page and T.C.A. 36-6-413. Last updated .
Hamilton County marriage license FAQ
How much is a marriage license in Hamilton County?
$107.50, or $45 with a notarized Certificate of Completion of a premarital preparation course of at least 4 hours (Hamilton County Clerk). Hamilton prints both prices for applicants 18 or older: $107.50, or $45 with a Certification of Completion of at least four hours of premarital preparation. Both prices include one $5 certified copy and a $5 archive and records fee. Cards carry a processing fee.
Does Hamilton 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. Hamilton asks both of you to hand in a notarized certificate completed by the course provider (the clerk links the state Certification of Completion form), showing you took the course together or separately within one year before you apply. The certificate we mail you is that state form, notarized, with both of your names on it: the form has spaces for Applicant 1 and Applicant 2.
How do we apply in Hamilton County?
Start with the online marriage license pre-application linked from the clerk's marriage page. Go to Room 201 at the Hamilton County Courthouse on Georgia Avenue. Both of you hand in a notarized certificate to get the $45 price. Use the license within 30 days. If you marry outside Tennessee, it still has to come back to the Hamilton County Clerk for recording.
Do we have to apply in Hamilton 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 Chattanooga take this course?
Yes. Couples in East Ridge, Red Bank, Signal Mountain, Soddy-Daisy and anywhere in Tennessee take the same course, and the $60 waiver is the same in every county.
Other counties: Shelby County · Davidson County · Knox County · Sevier County. Applying somewhere else? See the Tennessee marriage license guide.