Getting a Marriage License in Brown County
The Brown County Clerk issues marriage licenses, not the Clerk of Circuit Court. The office is in the Northern Building, Room 120, at 305 E. Walnut Street in Green Bay, and the phone is 920-448-4016. Both applicants must appear in person. You provide a wedding date, the ceremony location, and the officiant's name, mailing address, and phone. The county marriage license page lists the full checklist.
Timing and documents matter. Apply no earlier than 60 days and no later than four days before the wedding for the standard fee. Bring certified birth certificates, photo ID, Social Security cards if an SSN was issued, and proof of residency. If you were married before, bring a final divorce decree, a divorce certificate, a death certificate, or an annulment. Wisconsin sets a three-day waiting period before the license is issued, and the license is then valid for 60 days.
How to Apply for a Marriage License
A little preparation saves a second trip. Gather every document before you go, and make sure both people can attend together. Hospital birth keepsakes are not accepted, so bring a state certified birth certificate.
- Gather certified birth certificates, photo ID, Social Security cards if issued, and residency proof.
- Bring proof that any prior marriage ended, such as a divorce decree or death certificate.
- Visit the County Clerk office with both applicants present.
- Swear or affirm that the application information is correct, then pay the fee.
- Wait the three-day period before the license is issued, unless a waiver applies.
After the ceremony, the officiant files the worksheet with a Wisconsin Register of Deeds within three business days, which is what makes a certified certificate available later.
Marriage License Application Fields
The application asks for identity, residence, and prior-marriage details for both applicants, plus ceremony and officiant facts. The table lists the main fields you provide.
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Full Legal Name | Yes | Both applicants' legal names. |
| Date of Birth | Yes | Certified birth certificate required. |
| Social Security Number | If issued | Bring the Social Security card. |
| Residence | Yes | Proof of residency required. |
| Prior Marriages | If applicable | Decree, certificate, or death certificate. |
| Officiant Information | Yes | Name, mailing address, and phone. |
| Ceremony Date and Location | Yes | Township, village, or city and county. |
Brown County Marriage and Divorce Fees
Fees depend on timing and on whether you need a certificate copy. The license costs more if you apply with less than four days before the wedding. Certificate copies are priced per copy, with a lower rate for extras ordered at the same time.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Marriage license, apply 4 to 60 days before | $125 |
| Marriage license, less than 4 days or waiver | $150 |
| Vital record certificate, first copy | $20 |
| Each additional certificate copy | $3 |
| Genealogy verification per record | $7 |
A medical or special-circumstance license can carry an extra non-refundable charge. Debit and credit payments add a small processing fee, and personal checks are not accepted for the late application.
How to Look Up Brown County Marriage Records
Marriage certificates are vital records handled by the Register of Deeds, not the courts. Wisconsin uses statewide issuance, so a Register of Deeds can issue marriage certificates for Wisconsin marriages from October 1, 1907 to the present. The Register of Deeds about page describes the office and its vital records role.
To find a record, you generally need the names on the certificate and an approximate date. Genealogy research is by appointment, and the office holds records reaching back to the late 1700s and early 1800s. Certified copies require valid ID and the correct fee.
How to Find Brown County Divorce Records
Divorce is filed in the circuit court under Wisconsin Chapter 767. That means the divorce case file and the final judgment live with the Clerk of Circuit Court, while the divorce certificate is a vital record from the Register of Deeds. For a Brown County divorce decree, contact the Clerk of Circuit Court at 100 S. Jefferson Street, 920-448-4155. The county's divorce certificate page explains the certificate process.
Timing decides the path. Divorce certificates are issued statewide for Wisconsin divorces after January 1, 2016. For a divorce before that date, contact the Clerk of Circuit Court where the divorce occurred for the decree, or Wisconsin DHS Vital Records for a certificate. A divorce case summary may also appear on Wisconsin Circuit Court Access, though sensitive details and minor information are restricted.
A Brown County divorce file can be detailed. Cases follow the Wisconsin Rules of Civil Procedure, and local rules require financial disclosure and property-division documents in contested property cases by the pretrial stage. So a file may hold a petition, financial disclosure statements, a marital settlement agreement, custody and placement orders, support orders, and the final judgment. Court commissioners often handle parts of these cases, including support and injunction matters. Sensitive financial details, minor information, and any sealed documents stay out of the public view even when the case summary is online.
Getting Certified Copies
Certified copies are the version courts, agencies, and benefit programs accept. An uncertified printout will not work for those uses. The Register of Deeds processes vital record copies in person while you wait, with hours that run into the late afternoon on weekdays and a shorter window on Friday. Bring valid ID and the correct fee. Mail requests need a completed application, a photocopy of ID, and payment by cashier's check or money order.
Expedited service is available through VitalChek and Official Records Online for an added fee. The genealogy page lists the copy and verification fees for older records. Only people with a direct and tangible interest can receive certain certified vital records under state law, so the Brown County Register of Deeds may ask how you are related to the record before issuing a certified copy.
Vital Records Offices in Brown County
Two county offices and one state office cover these records. The County Clerk issues marriage licenses. The Register of Deeds issues marriage certificates and post-2016 divorce certificates and keeps birth and death records. Wisconsin DHS Vital Records provides statewide issuance for older divorce certificates. The Register of Deeds FAQ answers common vital record questions.
The marriage license office is the right starting point for a wedding.
Brown County Clerk (Marriage Licenses)
Northern Building, Room 120
305 East Walnut Street
Green Bay, WI 54301
920-448-4016