Applying for an Ada County Marriage License
The Ada County Recorder issues marriage licenses on the first floor of the courthouse, in Room 1207, at 200 W Front Street, Boise. Both applicants must appear together unless a military or incarceration dual-step process applies. The online application must be completed before the visit. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Couples should arrive by 4:45 p.m. to be assisted before closing.
The page above walks through the application path, the in-office identity verification, and the FAQ for special situations.
- Complete the Ada County online marriage license application before visiting.
- Schedule a visit or walk in Monday through Friday, 8:00 to 5:00. Arrive by 4:45.
- Both applicants appear together in front of a deputy clerk.
- Bring a non-expired government photo ID for each applicant.
- Provide a Social Security number or the official denial or legal-entry proof process.
- Sign the Marriage License Affidavit.
- Pay the $30 license fee by cash, check, or credit or debit card (a card service fee applies).
- Take the license to a ceremony performed by an authorized officiant in Idaho.
- Return the completed license in the provided mailing envelope.
- Receive one certified copy by mail. Additional copies are $2 each.
Ada County Marriage License Fee Schedule
Fees and payment options are set by the Recorder and apply countywide. A card service fee is added to credit or debit payments.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Marriage license | $30.00 |
| Initial certified copy after license is returned | Included (one copy by mail) |
| Additional certified marriage copy | $2.00 each |
| Payment methods | Cash, check (payable to Ada County Recorder), credit, or debit (card fee applies) |
| Incarcerated applicant cash fee | $30.00 cash at finalization |
| Vital Statistics late return question | Call (208) 334-5980 for fees and steps |
Marriage License Application Field Inventory
The Ada County marriage license application asks for identity, address, and family-history fields used to fill the license document. Both applicants need to bring documents that match the information typed in the online form.
| Field | Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full legal name (each applicant) | Text | Yes | Matches the photo ID exactly. |
| Date of birth | Date | Yes | Used for age-gap rule for minors. |
| City and state of birth | Text | Yes | Required for vital records data. |
| Social Security number | Text | Yes | SSN or official denial / legal-entry proof for non-SSN applicants. |
| Current address | Text | Yes | For mailing the certified copy. |
| Parents' full names and birth states | Text | Yes | Used on the license certificate. |
| Prior marriages (if any) | Text / date | Conditional | End date and method (divorce, annulment, death). |
| Photo ID | Document | Yes | Non-expired government photo ID brought in person. |
| Affidavit signature | Signature | Yes | Signed in front of deputy clerk. |
Note: The Recorder also handles passports and several permits through the same office, so plan for a short wait during peak hours.
The Recorder's licenses and permits page above lists every license issued at the counter.
Minor and Special-Situation Applicants
Applicants who are 16 or 17 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. The minor presents an original or certified birth certificate and a current driver's license, state ID, or passport. The parent or legal guardian completes an Affidavit of Consent to Marriage of Minor and presents a photo ID for notarization. Idaho law bars a marriage if one applicant is under 18 and the applicants are more than three years apart in age. Applicants under 16 may not get a license.
Incarcerated and dual-military applicants follow a multi-day, two-step process with notarized affidavits and a $30 cash fee at finalization. Translators must be court-approved and scheduled in advance through the Recorder's office.
Authorized Officiants Under Idaho Law
Idaho Code Section 32-303 lists the officials and clergy who can solemnize a marriage in Idaho. The list includes current or retired Idaho appellate, district, and magistrate judges, the governor and former governors, Idaho mayors, federal judges, tribal judges, the lieutenant governor, and clergy or ministers.
The statute screenshot above is the controlling text. The clerk's office does not perform ceremonies. A list of judges willing to officiate may be requested by email through the Recorder's office.
Ada County Divorce Records
Divorce records in Ada County are court records held by the Ada County Clerk of the District Court. Divorce cases sit in the District Court or, more often, the Magistrate Division when assigned. The case file includes the petition, summons, responsive pleadings, financial affidavits, parenting plans, support worksheets, the final decree, and any later modification motions.
The Court Assistance Office breaks the process into three steps. File the petition. Serve the other party. Finalize through default or stipulation. Forms include the family law case information sheet, petition, summons, divorce decree, parenting class information if children are involved, and fee waiver forms.
Searching Ada County Divorce Records
Use the Idaho iCourt Portal Smart Search to find a divorce case by party name or case number. The portal shows the docket and hearings. For a certified copy of the decree or a sealed entry, send a Court Public Records Request to the Ada County Clerk. The countywide records page also identifies divorce decrees under the Clerk / Auditor / Recorder request paths.
Note: Family law files often contain restricted financial affidavits, minors' identifying information, and sealed exhibits, so not every part of the file is available to the public.
Steps to File for Divorce in Ada County
The Court Assistance Office describes the divorce process in three steps that build on each other. The first step opens the case. The second step delivers notice. The third step closes the case with a final order.
- File the petition. Use the Family Law Case Information Sheet, Petition for Divorce, and Summons. Pay the filing fee or submit a fee waiver application. E-file or take the paperwork to the courthouse.
- Serve the other party. Use a sheriff service, a process server, or a stipulated waiver. Service must follow Idaho rules to be valid.
- Finalize. Default if the other party does not respond by the deadline. Stipulation if both parties agree on terms. Trial if disputes remain after pretrial conferences.
If children are involved, parties usually take a parenting class such as Focus on Children. Child custody, support, and visitation orders flow into the final decree. Income, assets, and debts are disclosed through financial affidavits filed with the court.
Common Marriage License Questions
Is Idaho residency required?
No. Idaho residency is not required for a marriage license, but the ceremony must be performed in Idaho. An Idaho license cannot be used for a ceremony in another state.
Can a couple pick up a license and get married the same day?
Yes. There is no waiting period in Idaho. Same-day ceremonies are allowed if an authorized officiant is available. Picking up the license does not include a courthouse ceremony, because Recorder staff do not officiate weddings.
Does the license expire?
The marriage license does not expire. If the completed license is not returned within a year of the marriage date, contact Idaho Vital Statistics at (208) 334-5980 because additional state steps and fees may apply.
Does marriage change a name automatically?
No. A name change is not automatic. The certified marriage copy is the document used at the Social Security Administration and the Idaho Transportation Department to start a name change.
Court Assistance and Self-Help Resources
The Ada County Court Assistance Office at the courthouse hosts a weekly free online Forms Workshop with Family Court Services. The workshop walks self-represented filers through divorce, custody, child support, parenting plans, fee waivers, and other family-law topics. Statewide resources at courtselfhelp.idaho.gov provide the same forms in a single location. Idaho Legal Aid Services offers legal help and topical handouts for low-income families.
Vital Statistics and Late-Returned Licenses
Marriage licenses must be returned to the Recorder's office after the ceremony so the marriage can be recorded with Idaho Vital Statistics. The Recorder mails the completed license back in the envelope provided. If the completed license is not returned within a year of the marriage, Idaho Vital Statistics handles the late-return process. Call (208) 334-5980 to confirm the steps and any added fees.
Note: An unreturned license can complicate later requests for certified copies, so the return step matters even after a private ceremony.