How to get a Tennessee marriage certificate

In Tennessee, order a certified marriage certificate from the Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records.¹ The county clerk that issued the license also holds marriage license records.² Each certified copy costs $15³. You can order online, by mail, in person or at a local office. Only the people the state lists below can order a certified copy. The fastest published option is in person: same day⁴.

Last checked November 5, 2026 against official sources.

On this page

Ways to order
What a Tennessee marriage certificate costs
How long it takes
Who can order a Tennessee 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	$15³	Up to 3 days⁴	Card⁵
By mail	$15³	Up to 3 days⁴	Check and money order⁵
In person	$15³	Same day⁴	Cash, check, card and money order⁵
At a local office	Set by each office, for example $5.50², $9.02² or $5⁶ + one extra charge	–	–

Not offered: online directly with the vital records office.⁵

Online through VitalChek

Vendor: VitalChek⁵
Vendor status: The state's only authorized vendor⁵
Fees: Per copy $15³
Processing time: Up to 3 days⁴
Payment: Card⁵

Good to know

An estimated date is accepted on VitalChek when the exact date is unknown⁷

Go to the ordering site⁵

By mail

Run by: Tennessee Office of Vital Records⁵
Fees: Per copy $15³
Processing time: Up to 3 days⁴
Payment: Check and money order⁵
Make payable to: Tennessee Vital Records⁵
Mail to: Tennessee Vital Records, 1st Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower, 710 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243
⁵

Good to know

Year or range of years is required when ordering directly from the office⁷

In person

Run by: Tennessee Office of Vital Records⁸
Fees: Per copy $15³
Processing time: Same day⁴
Payment: Cash, check, card and money order⁵
Office: Tennessee Vital Records, 1st Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower, 710 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243
⁸
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.⁸
Appointment: Not required⁵

Good to know

Entrance and parking directions⁸

Open the official page⁸

At a local office

Run by: County clerk of the county that issued the license⁶
Fees: Per copy $5.50²
Per copy $9.02²
Per copy $5⁶
Shipping option $2⁶
Make payable to: Davidson County Clerk’s Office⁶

Good to know

Davidson County printing limit⁶
Older Davidson County records⁶

Find a local office⁶

What a Tennessee marriage certificate costs

First certified copy: $15³
Each additional copy, same order: $15³
If no record is found: The fee is kept as a search fee³

Types of copies

Copy	Accepted for	Fee
Marriage Certificate³	–	$15³
letter certifying that no record was found³	–	$15³
Verification of information⁹	–	$15³

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
Online through VitalChek	Up to 3 days⁴
By mail	Up to 3 days⁴
In person	Same day⁴

Who can order a Tennessee 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, a parent named on the record, child, spouse and legal guardian: Other than the person named on the certificate, certified copies may only be issued to a spouse, parent, legal guardian or child of the person named on the certificate.¹⁰
Proof: Certified copy of the court-ordered guardianship papers¹¹
Attorney or legal representative: These individuals will need to provide documentation.¹¹
Proof: Letter on firm letterhead naming the entitled party and stating representation, copy of Bar card, driver's license, representation agreement¹¹
If you are acting as an authorized representative for one of these people, the Tennessee Office of Vital Records may release the certificate to you under the following conditions¹⁰
Proof: Photocopy of signed government ID for both people, plus a signed statement from the entitled person¹⁰

Records open to the public after: 50 years¹²

ID you need

Photo ID: Required⁵
Accepted ID: Current driver's license, including the issue and expiration date.
Current passport
Military I.D. card
Alien, temporary or permanent resident card
Employment authorization card
U.S. Certificate of Naturalization
Certificate of Citizenship or Citizenship I.D. card¹³
Without that ID: Current pay stub or W2
Vehicle registration with name and current address
Voter Registration card
Military Discharge (DD214)
Utility Bill, Bank Statement or deposit slip with name and current address
Health care coverage card
Medical record
Application page of an insurance policy
Signed Social Security Card
For those persons who have had their I.D. stolen, a copy a police report or other official documents which support the theft.
¹³
Notarization: A signed and notarized application needs no additional ID¹³
ID copy with a mail order: Include a copy of your ID⁵

What the application asks for

Have these details ready before you fill in the form or start an online order.⁷

Year of the event or a range of years

Which office holds a marriage record

Certified copies come from the office that recorded the signed license, and also from the state vital records office³; the years each office holds are listed below. Marriage license vs certificate explains the difference and which copy agencies ask for.

Forms

Years held and older records

Years the issuing office holds: 1976 to today¹
Older records: Tennessee State Library and Archives¹²

Special situations

If no record is found: Single Status Letter: request it on the marriage application¹⁴
Use abroad: The office can forward a new copy for an apostille¹⁵

Warnings from the office

The county fee is lower than the state fee²

The state office

Office: Tennessee Office of Vital Records⁵
Phone: 615-741-1763¹⁶
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]¹⁷
Mailing address: Tennessee Vital Records, 1st Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower, 710 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243
⁵
Walk-in address: Tennessee Vital Records, 1st Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower, 710 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243
⁸
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.⁸
Website: Official website⁸

Questions people ask

How much is a certified Tennessee marriage certificate?

Each certified copy costs $15.³

How long does it take to get a Tennessee marriage certificate?

Online through VitalChek: up to 3 days. By mail: up to 3 days. In person: same day.⁴

Can I order a Tennessee marriage certificate online?

Yes. Online through VitalChek.⁵

Who do I make the check or money order payable to?

Write it exactly as the office prints it: Tennessee Vital Records.⁵

What ID do I need?

The state accepts: Current driver's license, including the issue and expiration date.; Current passport; Military I.D. card; Alien, temporary or permanent resident card; Employment authorization card; U.S. Certificate of Naturalization; and the other documents listed above.¹³

Where are older Tennessee marriage certificates kept?

Tennessee State Library and Archives.¹²

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.

Vital Records at the Library and ArchivesTennessee State Library and Archives
Marriage LicenseKnox County Clerk
Tennessee Department of Health: FeesTennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
How long will it take?Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated June 23, 2026
How do I get my certificate? (In Person, Local County Health Department, Mail, or Online)Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
Certified Copy of Marriage LicenseDavidson County Clerkdated July 9, 2026
How can I order a certificate without exact an known date?Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
Office Hours and LocationTennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
ApplicationsTennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
May I pick up a copy of a certificate for someone else?Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
Entitlement GuidelinesTennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
Genealogy ResearchTennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
Identification RequirementsTennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
How do I obtain a Single Status Letter for TN?Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
I have been told that I need to get an apostille on my certificate. How do I do that?Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
Application for Certified Copy of Certificate of Birth (1401 KCHD)Knox County Health Departmentdated November 16, 2023
I still have a Vital Records related question, who do I email?Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records