Getting a Marriage License in Harrison County
Marriage licenses in Harrison County run through the Circuit Clerk's Office. Both partners must apply together in person. The county keeps two courthouses, one for each judicial district. District 1 sits in Gulfport at 1801 23rd Avenue, and the marriage counter is on the second floor behind the stairs and elevator. District 2 sits in Biloxi at 730 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Both offices run 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Gulfport marriage line is 228-865-4005 or 228-865-4369. The same Circuit Clerk that records court filings also issues the license.
Each applicant brings proof of age and identity. Mississippi sets a floor on age. A female applicant must be at least 15 years old. A male applicant must be at least 17. Anyone under 21 needs parental consent. A recent divorce adds a step. If either party divorced within the last six months, the clerk asks for a copy of the divorce decree. The clerk keeps a copy of each ID on file. The window stops issuing licenses at 4:45 p.m. sharp. A Harrison County license is good only inside Mississippi.
Acceptable proof of age and identity covers several common documents:
- Driver's license
- Birth certificate
- Military ID or DD-214
- Baptismal certificate
- Life insurance record, school record, or other official age document
Harrison County posts every rule on its official marriage license requirements page before a couple arrives.
The same page repeats the 4:45 p.m. cutoff and the age limits, so it is worth a read the night before the visit.
How to Apply for a Marriage License
A little prep keeps the visit short. The license is issued the same day, but only before the late cutoff. Couples should agree on which district office to use and arrive with everything in hand.
- Choose the Gulfport (District 1) or Biloxi (District 2) Circuit Clerk office.
- Both applicants appear together during clerk hours, leaving time before the 4:45 p.m. license cutoff.
- Bring valid proof of age and identity from the accepted list.
- Bring a copy of the divorce decree if either party divorced within the prior six months.
- Bring parental consent materials if either applicant is under 21.
- Pay the $38 fee by cash or card, adding $1.50 for the card service fee.
- Use the license only in Mississippi, where it stays valid.
Harrison County Marriage License Application Fields
The application is short, but every field matters. A missing document sends a couple home for a second trip. The clerk records each partner's details and checks them against the papers on the counter. Both people sign in front of the clerk.
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Full legal name (both parties) | Yes | Each partner gives a legal name; both must appear and sign together. |
| Proof of age | Yes | Birth certificate or another official document showing date of birth. |
| Valid photo or identity document | Yes | Driver's license, military ID, or DD-214; the clerk keeps a copy on file. |
| Divorce decree | If applicable | Required when either party divorced within the past six months. |
| Parental consent | If under 21 | Needed when either applicant is younger than 21. |
Harrison County Marriage and Divorce Fees
Marriage fees in Harrison County are fixed by the Circuit Clerk and posted on the office fee schedule. The license itself is a flat charge. Copies cost more once they are certified for legal use. Divorce filing fees are a separate matter set by state law.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Marriage license | $38.00 |
| Card payment service fee | Additional $1.50 |
| Certified copy of marriage license | $17.00 (each additional copy $6.00) |
| Certified copy of marriage record | $1.00 |
Divorce filing fees are not flat. The Chancery Court collects them at filing under Mississippi law, and the amount depends on the case category. A contested divorce and a joint uncontested divorce fall under different fee lines.
Note: Card payments add a $1.50 service fee on top of the $38 license, so couples who want to skip it should bring cash.
How to Look Up Harrison County Marriage Records
Harrison County runs an online marriage license search. The county tool asks the user to pick a district first. The select menu then routes the request into the county's online service for that district. A walk-in search also works at either Circuit Clerk counter in Gulfport or Biloxi.
A few details speed up any search. Full names of both spouses help the most. An approximate year of the marriage narrows the index. The district where the license was issued points to the right database, since District 1 and District 2 keep separate records.
The county routes users through its official marriage license search page, which begins with the district select menu.
Picking the wrong district returns nothing, so a searcher who is unsure should try both or call the clerk to confirm where the license was issued.
How to Find Harrison County Divorce Records
Divorce records are not at the Circuit Clerk. Divorce is an equity case, so it belongs to the Harrison County Chancery Court. The Chancery Clerk keeps these files in Gulfport and Biloxi. The Chancery Court page lists divorce alongside a long set of related family categories.
- Divorce - Contested
- Divorce - Uncontested (Joint)
- Child Custody and Visitation
- Child Support
- Separate Maintenance
- Property Division
The free Chancery Court docket search shows scheduled hearings only. It lists the courthouse, courtroom, date and time, case number, parties, and judge. The full divorce file lives with the Chancery Clerk or inside Mississippi Electronic Courts. Estate and guardianship matters share the same Chancery counter, and those appear with Harrison County probate records. Some family files are sealed, including adoptions and sensitive matters, and those never show up in a public search.
Filing a new divorce in Harrison County follows a set order. A joint, uncontested case skips the service step.
- Confirm Harrison County residency and the correct judicial district.
- Prepare the complaint or petition with any custody, support, and property papers.
- File with the Chancery Clerk in the right district, or through Mississippi Electronic Courts if represented.
- Pay the filing fee, which is due when the case is filed.
- Serve the other party, unless the matter is a joint uncontested divorce.
- Request a certified copy of the decree from the Chancery Clerk once it is entered.
Note: The online Chancery docket only lists scheduled hearings, not the full divorce file, so sealed or sensitive family records never appear there.
Divorce stays in state court, never federal court. The federal building in Gulfport, home to offices like the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District, handles unrelated criminal and civil matters.
For a Harrison County divorce decree, the Chancery Clerk remains the right stop, not any federal office down the street.
Certified Copies of Harrison County Records
Certified copies carry the clerk's seal and hold up in court. An uncertified printout does not. A certified marriage record comes from the Circuit Clerk. A certified divorce decree comes from the Chancery Clerk for the district that handled the case. Card payments add the same small service fee.
Processing is usually same day at the counter for indexed records. Older or restricted files may need clerk assistance and extra time. Public divorce documents that are not sealed can also be pulled through Mississippi Electronic Courts or a courthouse public terminal.
Mail requests work too. The Chancery Clerk lists P.O. Drawer CC, Gulfport, MS 39502 for District 1 and P.O. Box 544, Biloxi, MS 39533 for District 2. A mailed request should name the parties, the case or license, the year, and the number of certified copies needed. Include payment and a return address. A phone call to the right counter ahead of time confirms the current fee and the fastest channel.
Mississippi Vital Records Office
The Mississippi State Department of Health handles vital records across the whole state. Its Office of Vital Records issues certified birth and death certificates and verifies many marriage and divorce events. The original Harrison County marriage license record, though, stays with the Circuit Clerk who issued it. A divorce decree stays with the Chancery Clerk. The state office is the right call for statewide verification or for events recorded in another county.
For a Harrison County marriage license, the application and the local record both run through the Circuit Clerk in Gulfport or Biloxi. For a Harrison County divorce decree, the file sits with the Chancery Clerk. Use the state health office only when the event needs statewide confirmation or happened outside the county.
Note: The state health office verifies many vital events, but the original Harrison County marriage record stays with the Circuit Clerk who issued the license.