GETTING STARTED
If you are planning a wedding on Maryland or Delaware beaches, there are a few guidelines you must follow.
Ocean City
Contact the Mayor’s office at 410-289-3300. To request permission for your ceremony on the beach, you must let them know the date, time and place of your planned ceremony. They will give you verbal permission, and will contact the Ocean City Police, to let them know that you have permission to use that location.
Assateague Island State Park
7307 Stephen Decatur Highway
Berlin, MD 21811 • 410-641-2120
Assateague State Park requires that you apply for permission in writing, stating the time, place and date of your ceremony, as well as the approximate number of guests who will attend. If you are planning tents, arbors, or any unusual special effects for your ceremony and/or reception, please include all details. The Operations Manager, Mike Riley, will review your request, and respond with a written letter of permission for your wedding ceremony. This should be done as far in advance as possible, as the Island is becoming quite popular for wedding ceremonies.
Delaware Beaches
Some beaches in Delaware require that you request permission for a ceremony on their shore. You must call the town hall in the area where you would like to be married. Be prepared with the information as to the date, time, place and amount of guests to apply for your marriage license.
Worcester County
Includes Snow Hill, Berlin, Ocean City, Assateague and surrounding towns.
Clerk of the Circuit Court for Worcester County County Courthouse
Honorable Steven V. Hales
1 West Market Street
Snow Hill, MD 21863 • 410-632-5500
Marriage Licenses are issued from 8:30 to 4:00, Monday through Friday.
The legal age to be married is 18, and there is no blood test required.
If either party is divorced, they must present a certified copy of that divorce; if widowed, a certified copy of the death certificate. If there have been any name changes, court documentation also needs to be presented.
The fee is $35, and must be presented in cash only.
A Maryland marriage license is valid 48 hours after issue, and is valid for use up to 6 months from the date of issue.
Wicomico County
Includes Salisbury and surrounding areas.
Honorable Mark S. Bowen
Clerk of the Court for Wicomico County
Courthouse Building • Main and Division St.
Salisbury, MD 21801 • 410-543-1427
Legal age for marriage is 18, and there is no blood test required.
All previous divorce dates are required from the state and county in which the divorce was granted for each party having been divorced. Certified documentation is not required. Month, date, year and county are required as proof of being widowed. Certified documentation is not required.
State of birth, current address, driver’s license or birth certificate and social security number for each person applying for license are required. Minors wishing to marry must be accompanied by both parents who must present identification and birth certificates also. You will be asked to take an oath that all information presented is true and accurate.
Marriage license fee is $35, and is payable by cash or money order only.
Wicomico County marriage licenses are valid for use up to 6 months after issue and parties must be married in the county in which the license is issued.
All Delaware Counties
Clerk of the Peace — D. Ray Ellerman
Sussex County Administrative Office Building
2nd Floor • 2 The Circle
Georgetown, DE 19947 • 302-855-7834
The legal age to marry is 18, and there is no blood test required.
Licenses are issued in Georgetown from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday thru Friday.
There is a 24-hour wait for Delaware residents and a 4-day wait for out-of-state residents. The 4-day wait can be waived if one of the parties has parents who reside in Delaware. Licenses are valid anywhere in the state, and are valid for use up to 30 days after issue.
Both parties must apply for a marriage license in person, and are required to show identification in the form of a Driver’s license, or State Motor Vehicle Identification.
If either party has been divorced, widowed, or had a name change, they are required to present the final divorce decree signed by a judge and certified with a seal, show court papers, or a certified copy of the death certificate before a marriage license will be issued.
If either party is on probation or parole, they are required to present a letter of permission from their parole officer.
The license fee is $30, and is payable by cash only.
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