Knox County Marriage License
Getting your marriage license in Knoxville? The Knox County Clerk charges $97.50, or $37.50 for couples who completed a premarital preparation course. Take our 4-hour online course first and keep the $60 difference.
- Knox County fee with our certificate: $37.50 instead of $97.50
- 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.
Knox County marriage license at a glance
| Where | Knox County Clerk, Old Courthouse, 300 Main Street, Knoxville, TN 37902, or one of the clerk's branch offices (West Knoxville, Farragut, North Knoxville, South Knoxville, East Knoxville) |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (the South Knoxville office closes 11 a.m. to noon for lunch) |
| Phone | 865-215-2385 (Old Courthouse) |
| Fee | $97.50 without a premarital course |
| Fee with certificate | $37.50 with a Certificate of Completion of a 4-hour premarital preparation course |
| Details | Knox prints both prices: $97.50, or $37.50 for couples who finished a premarital preparation course within a year before applying. Card payments add a 2.5% processor fee. |
| Payment | Cash, check, Visa, Mastercard or American Express (2.5% processor fee on cards; $30 fee for a returned check). |
| Waiting period | None. The license is valid for 30 days anywhere in Tennessee |
Source: Knox County marriage license page. Fees and rules can change; check the county's page before you go.
How to apply in Knox 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 Knox County's online marriage pre-application first.
- Then both of you visit one of the clerk's locations together. On busy days the clerk may stop taking applications before closing time, so go early.
- Hand in your notarized Certificate of Completion when you pay, to get the $37.50 price.
- Use the license within 30 days, counting the day it is issued, anywhere in Tennessee.
The Certificate of Completion in Knox County
Knox asks for a Certificate of Completion filled out and signed by the course provider and notarized, presented when you pay for the license. The course must be finished within a year before you apply. The certificate we mail you is signed by the instructor and notarized.
What to bring
Proof of date of birth for each of you (a certified birth certificate or government photo ID), and your Social Security number if one was issued to you. Under 18? Contact the clerk about extra requirements.
After the wedding
Certified copies of your marriage license cost $5.50 in person or $9.02 online (mailing included). Knox only holds licenses issued in Knox County.
Good to know in Knox County
- Knox residents can book a civil ceremony at the Old Courthouse, by appointment, for the couple and up to 6 guests.
- Several branch offices, including Farragut Town Hall and Crossroads Centre on Norris Freeway, so you can pick the one closest to you.
What the course saves you in Knox County
| License without the course | $97.50 |
|---|---|
| License with our certificate | $37.50 |
| 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 Knox County Clerk marriage license page and T.C.A. 36-6-413. Last updated .
Knox County marriage license FAQ
How much is a marriage license in Knox County?
$97.50, or $37.50 with a notarized Certificate of Completion of a premarital preparation course of at least 4 hours (Knox County Clerk). Knox prints both prices: $97.50, or $37.50 for couples who finished a premarital preparation course within a year before applying. Card payments add a 2.5% processor fee.
Does Knox 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. Knox asks for a Certificate of Completion filled out and signed by the course provider and notarized, presented when you pay for the license. The course must be finished within a year before you apply. The certificate we mail you is signed by the instructor and notarized.
How do we apply in Knox County?
Fill in Knox County's online marriage pre-application first. Then both of you visit one of the clerk's locations together. On busy days the clerk may stop taking applications before closing time, so go early. Hand in your notarized Certificate of Completion when you pay, to get the $37.50 price. Use the license within 30 days, counting the day it is issued, anywhere in Tennessee.
Do we have to apply in Knox 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 Knoxville take this course?
Yes. Couples in Farragut, Powell, Halls, Karns and anywhere in Tennessee take the same course, and the $60 waiver is the same in every county.
Other counties: Shelby County · Davidson County · Hamilton County · Sevier County. Applying somewhere else? See the Tennessee marriage license guide.