Marriage Licenses in Gogebic County
The County Clerk holds the authority to issue marriage licenses in Gogebic County. Erin Bunt serves as the Clerk of Court and Register of Deeds, and the office sits inside the county courthouse in Bessemer. Staff there also handle birth certificates, death certificates, and marriage records, so vital records and licensing share one counter. Requests for these records go to the clerk by email at efile@gogebic.gov.
Both applicants must meet the state's basic rules before a license is granted. Each party must be 18 or older, and a minor may apply only with written consent from a parent or guardian. Residents apply in their home county, while a couple from outside Michigan applies in the county where the wedding will happen. One or both applicants must appear in person, since the license cannot be issued by mail.
The Gogebic Range has a long local history, and the county shares some of that background on its facts of the Gogebic Range page.
The courthouse in Bessemer is the same building where couples pick up a license and where clerks pull older marriage records for residents. Contact details for that office appear below.
Gogebic County Clerk / Register of Deeds
200 N. Moore St.
Bessemer, MI 49911
(906) 663-4518
Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CST
How to Apply for a Marriage License
Planning ahead saves a return trip, because the process runs on a fixed timeline. The clerk cannot skip the waiting period, and the license expires if it is not used in time. Work through the steps below in order.
- Confirm that both applicants can appear in person at the County Clerk's office, since the license cannot be requested by mail or online.
- Apply in the correct county. Residents file in their county of residence, and nonresidents file in the county where the ceremony will take place.
- Bring valid photo identification for each applicant, plus written parental or guardian consent if either party is under 18.
- Complete the application and pay the fee, which is $20 for county residents and $30 for nonresidents.
- Wait out the three-day waiting period. The clerk issues the license on the fourth day.
- Use the license within 33 days. It expires once that window closes.
Note: The three-day wait starts when the application is filed, so couples with a set wedding date should apply well before the ceremony.
Gogebic County Marriage License Application Fields
The application asks each couple for a short set of personal details. Most of the fields confirm identity, age, and where the couple lives, which decides the correct county and fee. Have the answers ready before reaching the counter.
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Full legal name of each applicant | Yes | Both parties are named on the license |
| Age or date of birth | Yes | Both must be 18 or older, or a minor with written consent |
| County of residence | Yes | Sets whether the resident or nonresident rule applies |
| Photo identification | Yes | Bring valid ID for each applicant to confirm identity |
| In-person appearance | Yes | One or both applicants must appear at the clerk's office |
| Written parental consent | If a minor | Required when an applicant is under 18 |
How to Look Up Gogebic County Marriage Records
Marriage records for licenses issued in the county stay with the County Clerk. To request a copy, email the clerk at efile@gogebic.gov or visit the office in Bessemer during business hours. Give the full names of both spouses and the approximate date of the marriage, since that speeds up the search.
The county's own clerk and register of deeds page lists the vital records the office handles, including marriage licenses and certificates. A certified copy is the version accepted for legal use, such as a name change or a benefits claim, while a plain copy works only for personal reference.
Do I need the exact wedding date to find a record? No, but a close year or range helps the clerk narrow the search. A full name for each spouse plus an estimated date is usually enough to locate the file.
Gogebic County Marriage and Divorce Fees
License fees are set by the type of applicant, and copy fees depend on what is being reproduced. The table lists the fees the county documents for its clerk and register of deeds counter. Divorce filing fees are set by the circuit court and confirmed with the clerk when a case is opened.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Marriage license (Gogebic County resident) | $20 |
| Marriage license (nonresident) | $30 |
| Certified copy of a recorded document | $5 |
| Photocopy, per page | $1 |
| Record search (minimum) | $5 |
Note: Vital-record copy fees and divorce filing costs are quoted by the clerk or circuit court, so confirm the current amount before sending payment.
Filing for Divorce in Gogebic County
Divorce is not handled by the clerk's vital records counter. It is a civil case filed in the county's circuit court, which serves as the general trial court for Gogebic County and neighboring Ontonagon County as the 32nd Circuit. The court's Family Division hears divorce, custody, and related family matters.
A short overview of the trial court sits on the county's circuit court page, which covers its address, staff, and jurisdiction.
Because the case runs through the circuit court, a completed divorce produces a court file rather than a vital record. That file is where a judgment of divorce and any custody or support orders are recorded.
Divorce Forms and Filing Packets in Gogebic County
The county publishes divorce forms through its court forms document center. A person filing without a lawyer can download the packet for a case with no children and prepare it before filing. The common forms include the following.
- Complaint for Divorce (no children)
- Domestic Relations Verified Financial Information Form, plus the waiver of that form
- Summons and Notice of Hearing
- Record of Divorce form
- Notice of Reconciliation, with the Stipulation and Order Adjourning for reconciliation
- Testimony script for the final divorce hearing
The full set lives on the county's court forms document center, which groups circuit, district, clerk, and family forms in one place.
Reading the testimony script ahead of the final hearing helps a self-represented spouse know what the judge will ask before the divorce is granted.
Gogebic County Friend of the Court
The Friend of the Court office supports families once a divorce or custody case is active. It handles custody, parenting time, child support, and the enforcement of those orders after a judge signs them. Parents dealing with a support dispute usually work through this office rather than the clerk.
Details on these services appear on the county's Friend of the Court page.
The office also flags a limit that surprises many filers, which is worth reading before a hearing.
Important: The county does not provide a court-appointed attorney for a divorce hearing. People who cannot afford a lawyer may qualify for help through Legal Services of Northern Michigan.
How to Find Gogebic County Divorce Records
A divorce record is part of the circuit court case file, so it is searched like any other court case. The statewide Michigan case search lets the public look up trial court cases across the state, including those filed in the 32nd Circuit. A name search on that system can confirm whether a case exists and show its status.
Not every part of a divorce file is open to the public. The judgment and basic case information are generally public, while financial disclosures, records involving children, and certain personal identifiers can be restricted. For a certified copy of a divorce judgment, contact the circuit court clerk directly.
Note: A hearing field marked "REVIEW" in the online system points to an internal case review, not a live courtroom hearing set for that day.
Certified Copies and Statewide Records
Certified copies carry a raised seal or official stamp and are the versions courts, agencies, and other states accept. For a marriage certificate, order the certified copy from the Gogebic County Clerk, either in person or by emailing efile@gogebic.gov with the names and marriage date. For a divorce, order the certified judgment from the circuit court.
Older or out-of-county marriage records may also be held at the state level by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, which keeps statewide vital records. When a marriage happened in another Michigan county, the clerk of that county is the first place to check.
Requests for filings, motions, and copies run through the same office that handles vital records, so the Gogebic County Clerk and Register of Deeds is the main contact for marriage records. Wills, estates, and guardianships are handled separately through Gogebic County probate records.