Wayne County exact answer
Are witnesses required for a marriage in Wayne County?
This answer belongs to the issuing office and task named above. It does not substitute a statewide summary or infer a rule the office does not publish.
Direct answer
In Wayne County, at least two witnesses, besides the person solemnizing the marriage, must be present at the ceremony. Witnesses must be 18 or older and sign the license, which is returned to the county clerk. For a private ceremony held at the Clerk's office, Wayne County supplies the two witnesses itself.
Published rule and conditions
- Marriage ceremony witness rule
- At least two witnesses, besides the person solemnizing the marriage, must be present at the ceremony. Witnesses must be 18 or older and sign the license, which is returned to the county clerk.
For a private ceremony held at the Clerk's office, Wayne County supplies the two witnesses itself.
Official requirementin every case, there shall be at least 2 witnesses, besides the person solemnizing the marriage, present at the ceremony
Issuing office
Wayne County Clerk's Office, One-Stop Shop Vital Statistics Records Office
Official sources for this answer
- Marriage CeremoniesWayne County Clerk's Office - checked July 26, 2026
Private ceremonies are $150.00. Marriage license is $30.00. Per office policy, the Wayne County Clerk's Office will provide two witnesses for your ceremony.
- MCL 551.103 — Persons capable of contracting marriage; age requirement; feeMichigan Legislature - checked July 26, 2026
An individual who is 18 years of age or older may contract marriage. A fee of $20.00 must be paid by the individual applying for the license. If both parties named in the application are nonresidents of the state, the individual applying for the license must pay an additional fee of $10.00. A charter county that has a population of over 1,500,000 may impose by ordinance a marriage license fee or nonresident marriage license fee, or both, different in amount than the fee prescribed by subsection (2). On the return of the license to the county clerk, containing the signatures of the witnesses to the marriage, who must be 18 years of age or older.
- MCL 551.9 — Solemnization of marriage; form; declaration by parties; witnessesMichigan Legislature - checked July 26, 2026
In the solemnization of marriage, no particular form shall be required, except that the parties shall solemnly declare, in the presence of the person solemnizing the marriage and the attending witnesses, that they take each other as husband and wife; and in every case, there shall be at least 2 witnesses, besides the person solemnizing the marriage, present at the ceremony.
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MarriageLicenseCheck is an independent reference, not the issuing office or legal advice. Applicant facts, timing, prior marriages, and document type can change the result. The official office decides what it will accept.
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