Coconino County Marriage Records

Coconino County marriage records are filed with the Clerk of Superior Court in Flagstaff, Arizona. This is the largest county in Arizona by land area, covering over 18,000 square miles of northern Arizona including the Grand Canyon. The clerk office issues new marriage licenses and stores all past marriage certificates for the county. You can apply in person at the main courthouse on San Francisco Street or at two justice court locations in Page and Williams. People often drive from across the region to file here, so the clerk makes licenses available at these satellite locations to cut down on travel time. Staff can help you find old records too.

Where to Get a Coconino Marriage License

The Coconino County Clerk of Superior Court handles all marriage license applications. Both people must show up together at one of the three locations. You cannot send someone else to apply for you. The main office sits in downtown Flagstaff at the county courthouse. This is the busiest location and accepts the most payment types.

The Flagstaff courthouse location accepts cash, cashier's checks, money orders, and credit or debit cards. This is the only Coconino County location that takes card payments. If you plan to pay with a Visa or Mastercard, you need to go to Flagstaff. The other two satellite offices do not have card readers for marriage license payments.

Page Justice Court serves people in the northern part of the county near Lake Powell. Call ahead to check hours at (928) 645-8871. Williams Justice Court covers the western area near Interstate 40. Keep in mind that Williams does not accept cash. You must bring a cashier's check or money order if you apply there. This catches some people off guard, so plan your payment method before you drive out.

Coconino Marriage License Requirements

Arizona law sets the rules for getting a marriage license in Coconino County. Under A.R.S. § 25-121, both people must appear in person. You sign an affidavit under oath. This confirms your name, age, and address. You must give your Social Security number to the clerk. This information stays private and is not part of the public record.

Bring valid photo ID with you. A driver's license works fine. A passport or military ID also works. The clerk needs to confirm who you are and check your date of birth. If you look young, expect them to ask for proof of age even if you are over 21. This is just standard practice at the office.

The legal age to marry is 18. Teens who are 16 or 17 can marry with consent from a parent or guardian. The parent must sign a form at the clerk office. The person they want to marry cannot be more than three years older. Anyone under 16 cannot marry in Arizona at all.

No blood test is needed. There is no waiting period. You can get your license and marry the same day if you want. The license stays valid for 12 months. Use it anywhere in Arizona during that time. It does not have to be used in Coconino County just because you got it here.

Coconino County Marriage License Office

The main office is on San Francisco Street in downtown Flagstaff. This historic building houses the Coconino County Clerk of Superior Court where you can apply for a marriage license, request certified copies, or search old marriage records.

The clerk office is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours. They close for state holidays. If you need to reach them before your visit, call (928) 679-7600. You can also email questions to cococlerk@courts.az.gov. Staff can answer basic questions about fees, ID requirements, and what to bring.

The full mailing address for the Coconino County Clerk of Superior Court is 200 N. San Francisco Street, Flagstaff, AZ 86001. Use this address when sending mail requests for certified copies of past marriage records. Include a money order for the fee and a note with the names and date of marriage you need.

Coconino County Marriage Record Fees

The fee for a new marriage license in Coconino County is $98. You pay this when you apply at the clerk office. This is the same fee charged by most larger Arizona counties. Cash, money orders, and cashier's checks work at all three locations. Credit and debit cards only work at the Flagstaff main office.

Certified copies of existing marriage records cost $30 each. The clerk calls this an Affidavit of Record of Marriage. It shows the names of both spouses, the date of marriage, and the date it was recorded. This document works as proof of marriage for most legal and official purposes. Banks, government agencies, and insurance companies accept it.

If you do not know the year of marriage, there is an extra research fee. The clerk charges $35 to search through records when you cannot provide a specific year. You can avoid this fee by coming to the Flagstaff office and doing the search yourself. The public can look through marriage records at no cost during office hours. You only pay if staff does the searching for you.

Note: Mail requests should include a cashier's check or money order payable to the Clerk of Superior Court for the $30 certified copy fee.

After Your Marriage Ceremony

Once you get married, the person who performed the ceremony must fill out the bottom of the license. They sign it and get two adult witnesses to sign as well. The witnesses must be at least 18 years old. Then the officiant returns the signed license to the Coconino County Clerk.

Coconino County asks that the signed license be returned within 10 days of the ceremony. This is faster than the 30-day window allowed under A.R.S. § 25-123. Getting it back quickly helps the clerk record your marriage sooner. You can then request certified copies right away if you need them for name changes or other purposes.

If the officiant fails to return the license, you may run into problems later. The marriage happened, but there will be no official record on file. Contact the clerk office if more than two weeks pass and you have not heard anything. They can help you figure out next steps.

Who Can Perform Marriages in Coconino County

Arizona law under A.R.S. § 25-124 lists who may officiate a wedding. Clergy members who are licensed or ordained can marry couples. Judges from state courts including Superior Court, Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court are authorized. Justices of the peace work too. So do municipal court judges.

Arizona has a unique rule. Notaries public can perform marriages here. The notary must be a resident of Arizona and hold a current commission. This gives couples more options. You do not have to track down a judge or minister. A notary friend or family member can do it.

Federal judges and magistrates can also perform weddings in Arizona. This includes bankruptcy court judges and U.S. magistrate judges. All of these options work for couples getting married in Coconino County.

Search Coconino County Marriage Records

Looking for old marriage records in Coconino County? Start at the Clerk of Superior Court office in Flagstaff. You can search in person at no charge. Just visit during office hours and ask staff for help finding the records room. Bring the names of both spouses and an approximate date if you have it.

Mail requests are another option. Send a letter to the clerk at 200 N. San Francisco Street, Flagstaff, AZ 86001. Include the full names of both people, the date or year of marriage, and a money order for $30. If you do not know the year, add $35 more for the research fee. The clerk will search and mail back a certified copy.

For very old records, the Arizona State Archives may help. They hold historical marriage records from across the state dating back to 1864. Coverage varies by county and time period. Contact the archives to ask about Coconino County records from the early days of Arizona statehood.

Note: Marriage records in Arizona are public under A.R.S. § 39-121, so anyone can request copies during business hours.

Marriage Records in Flagstaff

Flagstaff is the county seat and largest city in Coconino County. Residents here file for marriage licenses at the main courthouse just blocks from downtown. The city itself does not issue licenses. All marriage matters go through the county clerk.

Flagstaff has a unique feature among Arizona cities. The city offers domestic partnership registration through the City Clerk's Office. This is separate from marriage and does not replace a marriage license. Couples who want to marry still need to visit the Coconino County Clerk at the courthouse on San Francisco Street. The domestic partnership program costs $50 and is handled by the city, not the county.

The Flagstaff location is the most convenient spot for most residents. It is open full business hours on weekdays and has the most payment options. You can walk in during normal hours without an appointment. Staff there handle more marriage license applications than the satellite offices in Page or Williams.

Nearby Counties for Marriage Records

Coconino County shares borders with several other Arizona counties. If you live near a county line, you might find it easier to get your license from a neighboring county. Remember that an Arizona marriage license is valid statewide. You can get it from any county and use it anywhere in Arizona.

• Navajo County is to the east. The clerk office is in Holbrook. They charge $98 for a marriage license.
• Mohave County borders the northwest. Offices are in Kingman, Bullhead City, and Lake Havasu City. Fees are $98.
• Yavapai County is south of Coconino. You can apply in Prescott or Camp Verde. They also charge $98.
• Gila County is to the southeast. Their main office is in Globe with a satellite in Payson. They charge $83.
• Maricopa County is farther south but has multiple locations and an online application option for Arizona residents.

If you plan to marry in a specific location, you may want to get the license from that county. But legally it does not matter. A license from any Arizona county works for a wedding in any part of the state.