Every Wisconsin wedding starts at a county clerk’s counter. The rules are set by state law, so they are the same everywhere — a three-day waiting period, a license valid for 60 days, both of you in person — but the fee, the appointment system and whether a judge will marry you at the courthouse all vary by county. We photograph and film weddings across the state, so we keep this page current from the county clerks’ own pages. Confirm details with your clerk before you go; fees change.
The statewide rules
- Where to apply: if either of you lives in Wisconsin, apply in the county where one of you has lived for at least 30 days; the license is then good for a ceremony anywhere in the state. If you both live out of state, apply in the county where the ceremony will take place.
- Waiting period: the license is issued on the fourth day after you apply (some clerks describe it as a three-day wait, some as four). Clerks can waive it for an extra fee, typically $10–$25, if you have a good reason.
- Validity: 60 days from issue. Apply no earlier than two months out and no later than about a week out.
- Who must appear: both of you, together, with photo ID, a certified birth certificate, Social Security numbers, and — if either of you was divorced — the judgment of divorce. Wisconsin requires six months to pass after a divorce before remarrying.
- Age: 18, or 16–17 with parental consent.
- Officiant: a judge, court commissioner, or an ordained member of the clergy; online ordinations are generally accepted. You need two adult witnesses at the ceremony.
- Fee: set by each county, currently about $75 in the smaller Driftless counties up to $150 in Dane County.
County-by-county: fees and where to go
Figures are from the clerks’ own pages as of late 2026. “Courthouse ceremony” means a judge or court commissioner will marry you at the courthouse for a small fee or free; where we say no, you bring your own officiant.
| County | Office | Fee | Waiver | Courthouse ceremony |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dane (Madison) | City-County Building, Room 106A, 210 MLK Jr. Blvd — licenses by Zoom appointment | $150 + service fee | +$25 | No; clerk keeps a civil-officiant list |
| Milwaukee | 901 N 9th St, Room 105 | $120 | +$25 | Suspended; officiant list provided |
| Waukesha | 515 W Moreland Blvd | $110 | +$25 | Yes, judges and commissioners |
| Ozaukee | 121 W Main St, Room 128, Port Washington | $100 | Extra fee | Yes, via Clerk of Courts |
| Washington | 484 Rolfs Ave, Suite 1300, West Bend | $110 | +$25 | Suspended; commissioners listed |
| Rock (Janesville) | 51 S. Main St, 2nd floor | $110 | +$25 | No |
| Brown (Green Bay) | 305 E Walnut St, Room 120 | $125 ($150 if under 4 days) | Clerk approval | Not advertised; judge list |
| Door (Sturgeon Bay) | 421 Nebraska St, Room A113 | $100 cash/check | +$25 | Judge list provided |
| Outagamie (Appleton) | 320 S. Walnut St | $115 | +$25 | Yes, schedule with judge |
| Winnebago (Oshkosh) | 112 Otter Ave | $100 | +$25 | Not described |
| Fond du Lac | 160 S. Macy St | $100 cash | — | Yes, courtroom weddings |
| Calumet (Chilton) | 206 Court St | $100 | +$25 | Yes, Courtroom 2 by appointment |
| Marathon (Wausau) | 500 Forest St | $125 | +$25 | Yes, officiant list |
| Wood (Wis. Rapids) | 400 Market St, Room 133 | $100 | — | Yes, judges and commissioners |
| La Crosse | 212 6th St N | $100 cash | — | Judge list provided |
| Vernon (Viroqua) | Courthouse Room 108 | $70 | +$10 | Yes, judge by appointment |
| Sauk (Baraboo) | 505 Broadway, Room 144 | $80 (confirm) | +$10 | Yes, free in courtroom |
| Iowa (Dodgeville) | 222 N. Iowa St | $100 | — | Not listed |
| Grant (Lancaster) | 111 S. Jefferson St, Room 111 | $75 | +$25 | Not described |
| Lafayette (Darlington) | County Courthouse | $75 | +$25 | Not described |
| Richland (Richland Center) | County Courthouse | $75 | +$15 | Yes, judge by appointment |
| Crawford (Prairie du Chien) | 225 N. Beaumont Rd, Suite 210 | $75 | +$10 | Commissioner may officiate |
Most offices now require an appointment and several accept cash only. Dane County is the outlier: the clerk issues licenses only by virtual appointment, then mails or hands over the license after the waiting period.
Timeline we recommend
- 6–8 weeks out: book the clerk appointment (Dane and Milwaukee fill up in summer) and confirm your officiant is eligible.
- 4–6 weeks out: gather certified birth certificates (ordering one from another state can take weeks) and the divorce judgment if relevant.
- 2–4 weeks out: apply together. The license will be ready four days later and stays valid for 60.
- Wedding day: hand the license to the officiant; two witnesses sign; the officiant returns it to the Register of Deeds in the county where the ceremony took place within three days.
- After: order certified copies from the Register of Deeds (around $20 each) for name changes and insurance.
Courthouse weddings and elopements
Several counties — Sauk, Vernon, Richland, Fond du Lac, Calumet, Waukesha — will marry you at the courthouse for little or nothing, which makes a weekday elopement with a short portrait session a very affordable option. We photograph courthouse weddings regularly at the Dane County and Sauk County courthouses and the Capitol Square, and our Driftless Area page covers the small-county courthouses in the southwest. Elopement sessions are quoted individually and are usually under our half-day rate.
Planning a Wisconsin wedding? See our photography and videography coverage for your city.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a marriage license in Wisconsin?
Between about $70 and $150 depending on the county. Dane County (Madison) charges $150 plus a service fee, Milwaukee County $120, Brown County $125, and most rural counties $75–$100. Waiving the waiting period costs an extra $10–$25 where allowed.
How long is the waiting period for a marriage license in Wisconsin?
Three days. You apply, and the license is issued on the fourth day. Clerks can shorten it for a fee if you have a good reason, such as travel or a medical situation.
How long is a Wisconsin marriage license valid?
Sixty days from the date it is issued. If the wedding does not happen within that window you must apply and pay again.
Can out-of-state couples get married in Wisconsin?
Yes. If neither of you lives in Wisconsin, apply in the county where the ceremony will take place, with the same documents and the same three-day wait.
Can a friend officiate our wedding in Wisconsin?
Yes, if they are ordained; Wisconsin generally accepts online ordinations. Judges and court commissioners can also officiate, and several counties will perform the ceremony at the courthouse for a small fee.
Do we need witnesses?
Yes, two adults, in addition to the officiant. At a courthouse wedding some counties provide witnesses; most ask you to bring your own.
