Guide

How to Get a Tennessee Marriage License

Tennessee marriage licenses come from the county clerk. Here is the whole process, and the one step that takes $60 off the fee.

Reviewed by Kristen Franzen, LPC. Facts checked against T.C.A. 36-3-103 to 36-3-105 and 36-6-413 and county clerk marriage license pages. Last updated .

The short answer

Apply with the county clerk in any Tennessee county. Most clerks ask you to fill in an online pre-application first, then both of you go in person with photo ID and your Social Security numbers. There is no waiting period, and the license is good for 30 days anywhere in Tennessee. Every license includes a $62.50 state fee, and $60 of it is waived if you both hand in a Certificate of Completion of a premarital preparation course of at least 4 hours.

Step by step

  1. Take the premarital course first (optional, but it pays). At least 4 hours, no more than one year before you apply. Our online Tennessee premarital course is $27.49 per couple. Allow time for the mailed certificate.
  2. Pick your county. Any of Tennessee's 95 county clerks can issue your license, whichever is easiest to get to.
  3. Fill in the online pre-application. Many clerks, including Davidson, Knox and Sevier, use the same state county clerk pre-application form.
  4. Apply in person, together. You sign a sworn application with your names, ages, addresses and Social Security numbers. Hand in your notarized Certificate of Completion and pay the lower fee.
  5. Get married within 30 days. Anywhere in Tennessee. Your officiant returns the signed license to the clerk who issued it, and the clerk records it and sends or sells you certified copies.

The $60 waiver, in plain English

T.C.A. 36-6-413 adds a $62.50 state fee to every Tennessee marriage license. $60 of it is waived when both applicants file a Certificate of Completion from their course provider, on a form developed by the Administrative Office of the Courts, for a course of at least 4 hours taken within one year before the application. The rest of the license price is the county clerk's own fees, which is why totals differ by county.

Who may teach the course, what it can cover and what the certificate must show: T.C.A. 36-6-413 explained.

County guides: Shelby County · Davidson County · Knox County · Hamilton County · Sevier County

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 couple

One price covers both of you. Notarized state Certificate of Completion mailed to you by USPS. Standard, Faith-Friendly or Inclusive version.

Tennessee marriage license FAQ

Where do you get a marriage license in Tennessee?

From the county clerk in any of Tennessee's 95 counties. The license works for a ceremony anywhere in Tennessee, so you do not have to apply in the county where you marry.

How much is a marriage license in Tennessee?

It depends on the county, because each clerk adds its own fees to the $62.50 state fee. Our county guides list the totals for Davidson, Knox, Hamilton and Sevier. In every county, $60 of the state fee is waived when both of you hand in a Certificate of Completion of a premarital preparation course of at least 4 hours.

Do both of us have to be there?

Yes, in most counties: Davidson, Knox and Sevier all say both applicants must appear. Clerks make exceptions for a partner who is incarcerated or has a disability, with notarized forms. Check your county clerk's page.

Is there a waiting period?

No. Tennessee has no waiting period and no blood test. The license is valid for 30 days from the day the clerk issues it; if you do not marry in time, you have to buy a new one.

What does the premarital course have to include?

At least 4 hours, taken together or separately within one year before you apply, from an instructor on the state's list, such as a licensed professional counselor. The law suggests topics like conflict management, communication, financial responsibilities and children and parenting.

What do we bring?

A photo ID for each of you (driver's license, state ID or passport; some clerks also take a certified birth certificate), your Social Security numbers, and the notarized Certificate of Completion for the fee waiver. Under 17, no license can be issued; at 17, contact the clerk.

Source: CTAS summary of the premarital preparation course fee (University of Tennessee County Technical Assistance Service).

Start the course – $27.49