Getting a Marriage License in Jackson County
The Jackson County Recorder of Deeds issues every marriage license in the county. Director Diana Smith runs the office, and license work is done at the Historic Truman Courthouse in Independence. Both parties must show up in person to receive the license. The online form on the Aumentum site is optional. It only saves a little time at the counter. The official Recorder page explains the rule and lists the local contact details for license help.
The lead-in for the license workflow is the Recorder's Apply for a Marriage License page. It lists ID rules, fees, payment types, and the in-person requirement in one spot.
The page sets the tone for the rest of the marriage workflow. It links to the online form, the office address, and the fee schedule.
Recorder of Deeds (License Office)
Director: Diana Smith
Historic Truman Courthouse
112 W. Lexington, Suite 30
Independence, MO 64050
816-881-4483
records@jacksongov.org
Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Who Can Get a Jackson County Marriage License
The rules are short. Both parties must be at least 18. Jackson County cites RSMo § 451.090 for the age rule. Each party brings valid photo ID. No blood test is required. No three-day wait is required. The license is good for a Missouri ceremony within 30 days of the date of issue. An officiant under RSMo § 451.100 must sign and return the license to the Recorder within 15 days of the ceremony. If the wedding does not happen within 30 days, the unused license must be returned or the parties must reapply and pay again.
The age statute is on the Missouri Revisor of Statutes site.
The text bars a Missouri recorder from issuing a marriage license to anyone under 18. Jackson County follows the rule with no in-house exception.
- Driver's license, Missouri state ID, U.S. passport, foreign passport, or military ID for both parties.
- Both parties present together at the counter at the time of issue.
- No blood test and no waiting period.
- Use real legal names, not nicknames or initials.
- If a prior marriage ended, bring the month and year plus how it ended.
How to Apply for a Marriage License
The full path from application to license takes one office visit if the paperwork is in order. The online step is short. Most couples finish in a single trip. Couples may also walk in cold and fill the form at the counter.
- Start the online form on the Aumentum Marriage Application if you want to save time. The form is optional.
- Gather valid photo ID for both parties and any prior-marriage end dates.
- Both parties travel together to the Historic Truman Courthouse in Independence.
- Hand the application to the Recorder staff and present ID.
- Pay the $50 fee at the counter by cash, debit, or credit. Debit and credit add a 2.75% bank fee.
- Receive the license at the time of the visit.
- Hold the ceremony in Missouri within 30 days. The officiant returns the signed license to the Recorder within 15 days.
The online application form is on the official portal.
Below is the live Aumentum marriage application page.
It collects the same data the staff will key in if you walk in. Applicants should visit within 30 days of the online step or refile.
Marriage License Application Fields
The online and in-office forms share the same field list. The form covers both parties. Each party gives full legal name, birth data, residence, prior-marriage data, and a return mailing address. Most fields are required. A few middle-name fields are not.
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| First Party First Name | Yes | Max length 70. Use legal name, no nicknames. |
| First Party Middle Name | No | Max length 70. |
| First Party Current Last Name | Yes | Max length 120. |
| First Party Last Name at Birth | Yes | Use birth surname even if changed by prior marriage. |
| First Party Date of Birth | Yes | MM/DD/YYYY format. |
| First Party Birthplace | Yes | State or foreign country. |
| First Party Race / Gender | Yes | Dropdown choices on the portal. |
| First Party City / State / ZIP / County | Yes | Current residence. |
| First Party Number in Marriage | Yes | Count of prior marriages. |
| First Party Previous Marriage Ended | If prior marriage | Provide month/year and end reason (death, divorce, or other). |
| Second Party Fields | Yes | Same fields as first party. |
| Return Address / City / State / ZIP | Yes | Mailing return address for the license. |
Jackson County Marriage and Divorce Fees
License fees come from the Recorder. Divorce filing fees come from the Circuit Court Civil Records department. Marriage copy fees stay low. Certified copies cost more.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Marriage license | $50 |
| Application for marriage license | $2 |
| Marriage license copy | $2 |
| Certified marriage license | $10 |
| Card payment surcharge | 2.75% |
| Divorce decree request | Call Civil Records at 816-881-1710 |
Note: The marriage license fee is non-refundable, and the license is void if the ceremony does not occur in Missouri within 30 days of issue.
How to Look Up Jackson County Marriage Records
The official search portal is the Aumentum marriage index. The index goes back to 1826. Anyone can search for free. Copies are free to view or print. Certified copies need an order and a fee. The recorder lists the search format in plain text.
Open the Aumentum marriage index search page to start.
The portal supports name search, license number, application date, and date of marriage. Use any one or any mix.
Type the last name of one spouse, a comma, and the first initial. Add the other spouse's last name if results pile up. The portal also supports a Grantee or Grantor lookup if the marriage data is tied to a recorded document. For older paper-only filings, call the office for staff help.
How to Find Jackson County Divorce Records
Divorce decrees are court records, not recorder records. The Recorder of Deeds points all divorce decree requests to the 16th Circuit Civil Records department at 816-881-1710. Civil Records files dissolution petitions, parenting plans, child support orders, and final decrees. Public divorce data also shows up on Missouri Case.net, the statewide court search portal.
To find a Jackson County divorce, search Case.net by party name. Pick the 16th Judicial Circuit in the court dropdown if it is offered. Open the case to see the docket entries, parties, and disposition. Confidential parts like full financial affidavits and minor names may be redacted under court privacy rules. For a paper copy of a final decree, call Civil Records and pay the per-page copy fee. For estate questions tied to a divorce, see Jackson County probate records. For broader case-file help, see Jackson County court records.
Getting Certified Copies
Certified copies are needed for name change, immigration, Social Security, banking, and some benefits work. Plain copies do not work for these uses. Order a certified marriage copy three ways. Order online through Aumentum and add it to the basket. Walk into the Independence office and pay at the counter. Mail a request with the names used at application, the marriage date, your current mailing address, your phone, and a $10 personal check or money order payable to Recorder of Deeds Department.
Certified divorce copies come from Civil Records, not the Recorder. Call 816-881-1710 for the current copy and certification fee and the mail-in process. For court forms on dissolution, parenting plans, and fee waivers, see the statewide Missouri court self-representation forms.
Missouri State Vital Records
Missouri does not centralize marriage licenses at the state level. Marriage licenses live with each county recorder. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Bureau of Vital Records holds birth and death records statewide. For a Jackson County marriage license, the local recorder is the right office. For divorce decrees, the 16th Circuit Civil Records office is the right office.
16th Circuit Civil Records (Divorce)
415 East 12th Street
Kansas City, MO 64106
816-881-1710
Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.