How to get a Mississippi marriage certificate
In Mississippi, order a certified marriage certificate from the Mississippi State Department of Health, Office of Vital Records (statistical record), or from the county Circuit Clerk.1 Circuit Clerk holds the license; 1938–1941 records are only at the county.2 The first copy costs $172 and each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $62. You can order online, by mail, in person, at a local office or by phone. Only the people the state lists below can order a certified copy. The fastest published option is online: 7 to 10 business days3.
On this page
- Ways to order
- What a Mississippi marriage certificate costs
- How long it takes
- Who can order a Mississippi marriage certificate
- ID you need
- What the application asks for
- Which office holds a marriage record
- Forms
- Years held and older records
- Special situations
- Warnings from the office
- The state office
- Questions people ask
- Sources
Ways to order
| How | Cost per copy | Processing time | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online through VitalChek | $174 | 7 to 10 business days3 | Card4 |
| By mail | $172 first, $62 each extra copy | 7 to 10 business days3 | – |
| In person | $174 first, $64 each extra copy | 7 to 10 business days1 | – |
| At a local office | $175 first, $65 each extra copy (Lee County) | – | – |
| By phone | $174 | 7 to 10 business days3 | Card4 |
Online through VitalChek
- Vendor
- VitalChek4
- Fees
- First copy $174
- Processing time
- 7 to 10 business days3
- Expedited service
- Express shipping option through VitalChek; the amount is not stated by MSDH4
- Payment
- Card4
Good to know
By mail
- Processing time
- 7 to 10 business days3
- Make payable to
- Mississippi Vital Records2
- Mail to
- Mississippi Vital Records, P.O. Box 1700, Jackson, MS 39215-17002
Good to know
In person
At a local office
- Run by
- Circuit Clerk of the county that issued the license7
Good to know
- The clerk, not MSDH, is legal custodian of marriage licenses6
By phone
What a Mississippi marriage certificate costs
- First certified copy
- $172
- Each additional copy, same order
- $62
- If no record is found
- The fee is kept as a search fee3
- Fees in effect since
- Rules revision dated October 10, 20256
Types of copies
| Copy | Accepted for | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Certified Mississippi Statistical Record of Marriage3 | – | $172 |
| 'Not on File' statement3 | – | $173 |
| Plain paper copy for genealogy3 | – | $176 |
How long it takes
These are the office's own published times. Mail and shipping time is extra unless the office says otherwise.
| How you order | Processing time | Counted |
|---|---|---|
| Online through VitalChek | 7 to 10 business days3 | From receipt |
| By mail | 7 to 10 business days3 | From receipt |
| In person | 7 to 10 business days1 | – |
| By phone | 7 to 10 business days3 | From receipt |
Who can order a Mississippi marriage certificate
The state names these people and bodies as able to order a certified copy. Each line gives the official wording.
- The person named on the record:
Registrant(s): persons listed on the record.
3 - A parent named on the record:
Parent(s) of the registrant listed on the marriage record; proof of relationship required.
3 - Spouse, brother or sister, grandparent and child:
Spouse, sibling(s), or grandparent(s)/child(ren) of registrant; proof of relationship required.
3 - Attorney or legal representative:
Legal representative of one of the above persons; proof of representation must be provided.
3 - Person named in a court order:
Other person(s) by court order; certified copy of court order must be provided.
3 - Government agency:
Authorized agents of local, state and federal government law enforcement agencies when the record is required for investigation, warrant or court purposes.
6 Individuals, groups or other entities needing the information for determination or protection of a personal or property right.
6
Who cannot order a certified copy
Commercial, political, for-profit, and not-for profit firms or entities requesting copies of records, specific information on an individual record or listings of names and addresses from a series of records.
6
Other kinds of copies
- Genealogy copy Genealogist or family researcher3
ID you need
- Photo ID
- Required3
- Accepted ID
- Photo Driver's License
- Photo State Issued ID
- Employment ID
- School, College or University ID
- US Military ID
- Tribal ID
- Alien Registration/Permanent Resident Card
- Temporary Resident Card
- US Passport3
- Without that ID
- Social Security Card
- Utility Bill (showing address)
- Medicaid Card
- Snap/EBT card (showing address)
- Work Identification
- Veteran Universal Access ID Card
- ID copy with a mail order
- Include a copy of your ID3
What the application asks for
Have these details ready before you fill in the form or start an online order.3
- Name of groom or partner
- Name of bride or partner
- Date of marriage
- Place of marriage (county, city or town, state)
- Place license was issued
- Relationship or interest
- Purpose
- Signature and date
- Applicant name, delivery address and phone
Which office holds a marriage record
Certified copies come from the office that recorded the signed license, and also from the state vital records office4; the years each office holds are listed below. Marriage license vs certificate explains the difference and which copy agencies ask for.
Forms
- Application for Certified Mississippi Statistical Record of Marriage (Form 502) Revised 02/20263
- Solicitud De Registro Demográfico De Matrimonio Certificado1
Years held and older records
- Years the issuing office holds
- January 1, 1926 to today (except July 1, 1938 to December 31, 1941 (county only))1
- Older records
- County Circuit Clerk; MDAH microfilm of most county marriage books4
Special situations
- If no record is found
- Only additional-copy fees are refunded2
Warnings from the office
- Not every marriage record reached MSDH1
The state office
- Office
- Office of Vital Records4
- Phone
- 601-206-82004
- [email protected]4
- Mailing address
- Mississippi Vital Records, P.O. Box 1700, Jackson, MS 39215-170010
- Walk-in address
- 222 Marketridge Dr., Ridgeland, MS 391574
- Hours
- Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; closed state holidays4
- Website
- Official website4
Questions people ask
How much is a certified Mississippi marriage certificate?
The first copy costs $17 and each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $6.2
How long does it take to get a Mississippi marriage certificate?
Can I order a Mississippi marriage certificate online?
Yes. Online through VitalChek.4
Who do I make the check or money order payable to?
Write it exactly as the office prints it: Mississippi Vital Records.2
What ID do I need?
The state accepts: Photo Driver's License; Photo State Issued ID; Employment ID; School, College or University ID; US Military ID; Tribal ID; and the other documents listed above.3
Where are older Mississippi marriage certificates kept?
County Circuit Clerk; MDAH microfilm of most county marriage books.4
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from these official sources, checked on November 5, 2026. Tap a source number next to a fact to read the exact words.
- Marriage recordsMississippi State Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated August 28, 2026
- Marriage Record Application InstructionsMississippi State Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated July 29, 2026
- Mississippi State Department of Health Revised 02/2026 Form 502Mississippi State Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated February 1, 2026
- Vital recordsMississippi State Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated October 14, 2026
- Marriage License - Lee County Circuit ClerkLee County Circuit Clerk
- 1 Rev. October 10, 2025Mississippi State Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated October 10, 2025
- Skip directly to site contentCDC National Center for Health Statisticsdated April 23, 2026
- Monroe County Circuit Clerk pageMonroe County Circuit Clerk
- Birth certificatesMississippi State Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated November 4, 2026
- Birth Certificate Application InstructionsMississippi State Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated August 31, 2026