Getting a Marriage License in Alger County
Marriage licenses in Alger County start with the county clerk. The Alger County Clerk / Register of Deeds runs this service from the courthouse at 101 Court Street in Munising, MI 49862. Staff can be reached at (906) 387-7067 or by email at clerk@algercounty.gov. Both applicants must be at least 18 years old. Each one must present a government-issued photo ID when the license is picked up. The county also runs an online application portal for a marriage license, along with concealed pistol, assumed name, and notary applications. You can start the process through the county marriage license application portal or by contacting the clerk directly.
A license is only the first step. Alger County also lets couples marry at the courthouse. Civil marriage ceremonies are held on weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The 93rd District Court magistrates and the judge perform them. The ceremony fee is $10. You must bring a valid Michigan marriage license and two adult witnesses. Couples who prefer their own officiant can skip the courthouse service and still use the same license. The clerk's clerk services page lays out the license rules in plain terms.
Note: A marriage license issued by another Michigan county cannot be swapped for an Alger County record, so apply in the county where you plan to wed.
Apply for an Alger County Marriage License
The steps below keep the process simple. A little prep at home means fewer surprises at the counter. Both applicants should have their identity documents ready before they begin.
- Confirm that both applicants are at least 18 years old and can show valid photo ID.
- Start the application through the county online portal, or contact the clerk's office at 101 Court Street to begin in person.
- Provide the details each applicant is asked for on the marriage application.
- Bring a government-issued photo ID for each applicant to the clerk's office.
- Complete pickup in person, where both applicants present photo ID.
- Schedule a courthouse civil ceremony or arrange your own officiant, then return the signed license for recording.
Alger County Marriage Record Request Fields
Ordering a certified marriage copy is a separate task from getting a license. To request a copy, you fill out the county Vital Record Request Form. The marriage section of that form is short and asks for only a few facts. The table lists the fields the clerk uses to find and release a marriage record. Having these details ready helps staff pull the correct file the first time.
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| First applicant's name | Yes | Name used at the time of the marriage application |
| Second applicant's name | Yes | Name used at the time of the marriage application |
| Date of marriage | Yes | Helps staff locate the right record |
| Number of copies | Yes | Sets the total fee owed |
| Requestor signature and date | Yes | The form must be signed to be valid |
| Requestor city, state, ZIP | Yes | Used as the contact and return address |
| Photo ID | Yes | A clear scan, photo, or copy of a government ID must be attached |
Alger County Marriage and Divorce Fees
Fees for certified marriage copies are set on the county Vital Record Request Form, and they are easy to follow. The first certified copy of a record costs $15. Each extra copy of the same record ordered at the same time costs $5. A courthouse civil ceremony carries its own small fee. Divorce filing fees are handled by the circuit court, not by the clerk's vital-records desk, so they are not part of this schedule.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| First certified marriage copy | $15 |
| Each additional copy of the same record, same order | $5 |
| Civil marriage ceremony at the courthouse | $10 |
Payment method depends on how you order. Online and email requests are paid through AllPaid using PLC 6473. Mail requests are paid by check or money order sent with the signed form. In-person requests are settled at the counter when you hand over the paperwork.
Look Up Alger County Marriage Records
The clerk offers three ways to request a marriage record. You can come in person to 101 Court Street in Munising. You can mail your request. You can also order online. For an online request, download and sign the Vital Record Request Form, attach a clear scan or photo of a government ID, and email it to vitals@algercounty.gov, then pay online through AllPaid. For a mail request, send the signed form, a photocopy of a government ID, and payment by check or money order to Alger County Clerk, 101 Court St, Munising MI 49862.
The clerk's own service pages spell out each channel in detail. You can review the workflow on the county clerk services overview.
That page confirms the same address, phone, and email a requestor needs to place a marriage-copy order. To find a record fast, have both applicants' names at the time of the application and the date of the marriage on hand. The clerk also handles historical marriage records, so older files can be requested through the same office when they are not online. The clerk is part of the broader county clerk of court operation that keeps vital records and court filings.
How to Find Alger County Divorce Records
Divorce records are not vital records, so the clerk's vital-records desk does not hold them. A divorce is a court case. In Alger County it is handled through the family division of the 11th Judicial Circuit Court. That means a divorce file lives with the court, not with the marriage-license function. To search one, use the statewide MiCOURT case search or contact the circuit court directly.
A divorce case file can hold the complaint, the judgment of divorce, and orders about custody, support, and property. Some parts of a family case are open to the public. Other parts can be limited by court rule, such as records that involve minor children or private financial detail. General case status and party names are the pieces most often visible in a public search. For deeper access to a file, the county court records channels and the circuit court office are the right stops.
The family division handles more than divorce. It also deals with paternity, family support, custody, and parenting-time disputes. A single case can touch several of these matters at once. That is why a divorce search sometimes turns up linked filings under the same names. If a case is old and was never scanned, the court office may need to pull a paper file, and a records request can help.
Note: A judgment of divorce is the document most agencies accept as proof, so ask the circuit court for a certified copy rather than a printout of the online docket.
Certified Copies of Marriage Records
A certified copy carries an official seal and signature. It is the version most banks, agencies, and courts will accept as legal proof. A plain printout will not pass in those settings. For a marriage record, the certified copy comes from the county clerk through the Vital Record Request Form. The clerk needs proper ID before releasing a certified copy, and the request must be signed.
Plan for a short wait. In-person orders can often be handled the same day when staff can locate the record. Mail and online orders take longer because they move through the post or the email queue and the payment system. If you need several copies for different purposes, order them together, since extra copies of the same record cost less when they are part of one order.
Important: Uncertified online or printed copies of a marriage record are not accepted for legal proceedings. Order a certified copy from the Alger County Clerk whenever an agency or court asks for official proof.
Michigan Vital Records Office
Michigan also keeps vital records at the state level. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services runs the state Vital Records office, and it holds marriage and divorce records from across the state. This is a useful backup when a record is older, when a couple wed in another county, or when you need a divorce certificate rather than a full court file. The office accepts mail and online orders and sets its own fees and ID rules. Confirm the current address, cost, and identification requirements on the state vital records page before you order.
Michigan Vital Records (MDHHS)
Statewide marriage and divorce records
Orders accepted by mail and online
Fees and ID rules set by the state