How to Get Married Online in Montana

By Distant Vows | Updated 2026

If you are trying to figure out how to get married online in Montana, you will find a system that is relatively fast once you are in front of a clerk, but still requires both partners to appear in person together at the Clerk of District Court’s office. Montana has no waiting period, a uniform $53 fee statewide, and a 180-day license window. However, Montana still requires female applicants under the age of 50 to submit to a Rubella blood test or sign a waiver, making it one of the few states in the country with any blood test requirement.

By using Utah’s fully legal online marriage system through Distant Vows, Montana couples can get married online in Montana 100% virtually and receive a U.S. marriage certificate valid in Montana and all 50 states.

If you are comparing rules across the country, you can also review our full guide on how to get married online in all 50 states. It is a helpful starting point if you want to understand how Montana compares with other states and why many couples choose Utah’s online marriage system.

How Montana Marriage Usually Works if You Don’t Get Married Online in Montana

Montana marriages are governed by Montana Code Annotated Title 40, Chapter 1. Marriage licenses in Montana are issued by the Clerk of District Court in each county. Montana residents may apply at the Clerk of District Court’s office in any county in the state, regardless of where they live or where the ceremony will take place. Non-residents of Montana must apply in the county where the ceremony will be held. Both applicants must appear together in person and sign the application. Couples who want to get married online in Montana through Utah skip this step entirely. The Montana license is valid for 180 days from the date of issuance and may be used for a ceremony anywhere in Montana.

Montana has no waiting period. Once the application is complete and the fee paid, the license is issued the same day. The fee is $53 statewide, with cash preferred at most county offices. Some counties accept money orders or credit cards; calling ahead to confirm is recommended. After the ceremony, the officiant must return the completed license to the issuing county’s Clerk of District Court within 30 days. Certified copies of the license, which are needed for name changes and legal purposes, can be requested from the clerk’s office at a separate fee of approximately $7 per copy in most counties.

One requirement that distinguishes Montana from nearly every other state is the Rubella blood test. Under Montana law, female applicants under the age of 50 must either present a Rubella certificate showing they have already tested negative, or they must sign a consent and waiver form at the time of the application to decline the test. The waiver is available at the clerk’s office and simply needs to be signed. No one is forced to undergo the blood test, but the waiver step must be completed before the license can be issued. Female applicants born outside the United States who do not speak English must also have their documents translated by a notary-acknowledged interpreter before the application can be processed.

Montana is one of only a small number of states that still recognizes common-law marriage. A couple that holds themselves out publicly as married and intends to be married may have a valid common-law marriage under Montana law even without a license and ceremony. For couples who want a documented legal record recognized in every state and country, however, a formal license and ceremony, or a Utah online marriage, is strongly preferred over relying on common-law status.

Montana also allows proxy marriages in limited circumstances. Under Montana law, proxy marriage is available when one or both parties are members of the armed forces on federal active duty, or when one or both parties are Montana residents who are unable to appear in person. One party or their legal representative must appear before the clerk, pay the fee, and file a written authorization for the absent party to be represented by a proxy at the ceremony. Proxy marriage is administered by the Clerk of District Court, not available online, and requires advance coordination with the specific county clerk.

Documents, Waiting Period, and Age Requirements in Montana

No person under the age of 16 may marry in Montana under any circumstances. Applicants who are 16 or 17 may apply for a license but must complete a more involved process: both parents must provide written, signed, and notarized consent; the couple must attend two counseling sessions at least 10 days apart with a designated counselor; and a district court judge must grant judicial consent before the Clerk of District Court may issue the license. The counselor’s letter must be on official letterhead and state the names of the couple, their ages, the dates of each counseling session, and the counselor’s opinion of the pending marriage. Applicants 18 and older may apply without any additional authorization.

Standard requirements at the Clerk of District Court’s office at the time of application include the following:

Valid government-issued photo ID for each applicant, such as a driver’s license, passport, state ID, or tribal ID. Proof of age is required, and some counties also request a certified copy of a birth certificate.
Social Security numbers for both applicants. Social Security numbers have been required on Montana marriage license applications since July 1, 1997.
If either applicant was previously married and divorced, a copy of the most recent divorce decree must be presented at the time of application.
For female applicants under the age of 50: either a Rubella certificate showing a negative test result, or a completed and signed Consent and Waiver form available at the clerk’s office.
For applicants born outside the United States whose documents are not in English: a notary-acknowledged English translation of all relevant documents.

Two witnesses must be present at the marriage ceremony. Montana law does not specify a minimum age for witnesses at most counties. After the ceremony, the completed license must be returned to the Clerk of District Court’s office that issued it within 30 days.

Are Online Weddings Allowed Directly if You Want to Get Married Online in Montana?

Gallatin County (Bozeman) offers an online pre-application form at its county website that couples can complete before visiting the clerk’s office. Some other counties also accept pre-completed forms to speed up the in-person visit. However, Montana law requires both applicants to appear in person before the clerk to sign the application. There is no mechanism under Montana law for the license to be issued without an in-person appearance.

Montana allows proxy marriages for active-duty military and Montana residents who cannot appear, but proxy marriage still requires advance coordination with the county clerk and is not an online process. A ceremony conducted entirely by video under a Montana license is not a recognized marriage process under Montana law. These limitations are why couples who want to get married online in Montana choose Utah’s system instead through a live video ceremony and use their Utah marriage certificate in Montana instead.

4 Steps to Get Married Online in Montana with Distant Vows (Through Utah)

With Distant Vows, the same four-step process applies whether you want to get married online in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, or Colorado. The legal engine is always Utah’s online marriage system, which allows couples to apply for a license and hold a ceremony entirely over video while still being recognized nationwide.

Step 1 – Verify Your Eligibility

First, you confirm that you and your partner meet basic Utah requirements and complete Distant Vows’ quick intake form. Typically, you both must be 18 or older, not currently married to anyone else, and able to join a live video call together. This foundation lets couples who want to get married online in Montana do so entirely under Utah law, which Montana recognizes under the full faith and credit principle.

Confirm you are legally free to marry, whether single, divorced, or widowed.
Gather valid government-issued photo IDs, such as a Montana driver’s license, state ID, passport, or military ID.
Make sure you have a stable internet connection and a device with audio and video so you can comfortably get married online in Montana.

Step 2 – Choose Your Package and Ceremony Date

Next, you choose a Distant Vows package and select a ceremony date and time that works for your schedule in Billings, Missoula, Great Falls, Bozeman, Helena, Kalispell, or anywhere else. You can keep the ceremony short and simple or personalize it with vows, readings, and guests watching online as you get married online in Montana.

Select a basic legal-only ceremony or a more personalized experience.
Pick a time that works for your time zone and any guests joining from Montana or overseas.
Tell us if you need witness support, custom vows, religious or civil wording, or language options.

Step 3 – Apply for Your Utah Online Marriage License

After you pick your date, you complete a Utah online marriage license application. Utah County’s system lets you submit everything digitally, including your information, ID uploads, and signatures. You never have to visit a Montana Clerk of District Court, there is no Rubella waiver to complete, and you do not need to schedule around a county clerk’s office hours, because the license is issued by Utah even though your goal is to get married online in Montana.

Fill out the secure Utah County application form online from your home in Montana or anywhere in the world.
Upload clear images of your IDs and any requested documents, such as divorce decrees if applicable.
Respond to any brief follow-up from the Utah clerk if they need clarification before issuing the license.

A Utah online marriage license is valid for 32 days from the date it is issued, and Distant Vows schedules your ceremony within that 32-day window so your marriage is properly created under Utah law.

Step 4 – Attend Your Online Ceremony and Get Your Certificate

On your wedding day, you and your partner join a live video ceremony with a Utah-licensed officiant. Two adult witnesses are required and they can join from anywhere in the world. If you do not have friends or family available, you can invite them at no charge, or use our witness service for a small fee.

Join from your home in Montana or from anywhere in the world, as long as you are both on the same live video call.
Participate in a real-time ceremony where you exchange vows and say your “I dos.” This is the moment you actually get married online in Montana, even though the legal ceremony is taking place under Utah law.
After the ceremony, your officiant files the certificate in Utah and you receive your official Utah County marriage certificate digitally and, if requested, by mail.

Montana Clerk of District Court System vs Online Utah Marriage

Before you decide how to get married online in Montana, it helps to compare the two approaches side by side. The table below shows the key differences between the traditional Montana Clerk of District Court process and using Distant Vows to get married online in Montana through Utah.

Feature	Traditional Montana Marriage	Get Married Online with Distant Vows (Utah)
Issuing office	Clerk of District Court in any Montana county. Residents may apply in any county; non-residents must apply in the county where the ceremony will take place.	Utah County online application. No office visit required in Montana or anywhere else when you choose to get married online in Montana through Distant Vows.
In-person requirement	Both applicants must appear together in person to sign the application. Proxy marriage is available for active-duty military and Montana residents who cannot appear, but requires advance coordination with the county clerk.	No in-person visits required. Everything is completed online.
Waiting period	None. License is issued the same day and valid immediately.	No waiting period. Utah license is issued after online review and Distant Vows schedules your ceremony within the 32-day validity window.
License validity	180 days from issuance. Valid anywhere in Montana. License must be returned to the issuing clerk’s office within 30 days of the ceremony.	Utah license valid for 32 days. Ceremony can be attended from Montana or anywhere in the world.
Blood test / waiver	Female applicants under 50 must present a Rubella certificate or sign a waiver at the clerk’s office. One of the few states with any blood test requirement remaining.	No blood test or waiver required. Utah has no blood test requirement.
Common-law marriage	Recognized in Montana. A couple who holds themselves out as married and intends to be married may have a valid common-law marriage under Montana law.	Not applicable. A Utah online marriage certificate creates a formal, documented legal record recognized in all 50 states.
Witnesses	Two witnesses required at the ceremony. Montana law does not set a minimum age for witnesses in most counties.	Two adult witnesses required under Utah law. Distant Vows can provide them if needed.
Valid in Montana	Yes.	Yes, and in all 50 states once properly issued and filed in Utah, because Montana recognizes marriages that are valid where they were performed.
International use	May require apostille or legalization depending on the foreign country’s rules.	Utah certificates can receive an apostille for use in many countries, even if you get married online in Montana. Learn more at Distant Vows apostille services.

Military Couples in Montana

Malmstrom Air Force Base, located approximately six miles east of Great Falls in Cascade County, is Montana’s primary active-duty military installation and one of only three intercontinental ballistic missile bases in the United States.

For missileers at Malmstrom whose partners live in distant cities, or for Guard members at Fort Harrison whose spouses are stationed elsewhere, Montana’s in-person clerk requirement makes getting married on a military timeline difficult. The remote Ozark-style rotational schedule at Malmstrom, where crews are regularly deployed to isolated launch control facilities for days at a time, creates particular scheduling challenges. Utah online marriage removes the clerk visit entirely for couples who want to get married online in Montana. Both partners join a live video ceremony from wherever they are. You can read more at Distant Vows for Military Couples.

Immigration and Long-Distance Couples in Montana

Montana has one of the smallest immigrant populations of any state, with approximately 24,000 foreign-born residents representing about 2.1 percent of the total population, according to 2024 U.S. Census Bureau data. This is well below the national average of approximately 14.8 percent. Montana’s foreign-born population is concentrated in the state’s larger cities, with Missoula having the highest foreign-born share at 2.8 percent and Billings at approximately 1.8 percent. The most common countries of origin for Montana’s foreign-born residents include Canada, Mexico, Germany, the Philippines, and the United Kingdom.

For binational couples who want to get married online in Montana and where one partner remains abroad, Montana’s in-person clerk requirement is a real barrier. When you choose to get married online in Montana through Utah, your partner can be anywhere in the world. The Utah County certificate is accepted by USCIS for spousal visa and green card applications. Couples who get married online in Montana through Utah use this certificate the same way they would use any Montana-issued license. If you need your marriage recognized in another country, Distant Vows can help you obtain an apostille. You can learn more at Distant Vows apostille services.

Couples researching international marriage recognition may also want to read our guide on whether getting married online affects immigration cases.

Using Your Utah Certificate in Montana

After you get married online in Montana through Utah, your Utah County marriage certificate is your primary legal document for updating your records. Montana agencies accept any valid U.S. marriage certificate and do not require it to be Montana-issued.

Change your name with the Social Security Administration first. Montana’s Motor Vehicle Division checks SSA records for name changes, so updating SSA before visiting the MVD prevents delays.
Update your Montana driver’s license or state ID through the Montana Motor Vehicle Division. This step is the same whether you used a Montana license or got married online in Montana through Distant Vows.
Adjust your name and marital status with banks, employers, schools, and insurance providers.
Use your certificate for USCIS spousal visa and green card applications. The Utah County certificate is treated the same as any Montana-issued license for immigration purposes.

Many couples who get married online in Montana also use their Utah County certificate to complete a legal name change after the ceremony. This process is the same whether you used a Montana license or chose to get married online in Montana through Utah. You can learn more in our guide on how to change your name after getting married online.

Related Online Marriage Guides

If you are researching how to get married online in Montana or nearby states, you may also want to read:

FAQ: Getting Married Online in Montana

Is it legal to get married online in Montana?
Montana recognizes marriages valid where they are performed. When you get married online in Montana through Utah’s system, your marriage is valid in Utah and must be recognized in Montana even though the ceremony happens over video. Montana’s own requirements about in-person clerk appearances, the Rubella waiver, and the 30-day return window apply only to Montana marriage licenses, not to marriages legally performed in Utah.

Do we still need to visit a Montana Clerk of District Court?
No. If you choose the Utah online route, your license is issued by Utah County. You do not need to visit any Montana county office, sign a Rubella waiver, or coordinate with the Clerk of District Court. Every couple who chooses to get married online in Montana through Distant Vows completes the entire process digitally, with no in-person steps anywhere in Montana.

What is the Rubella blood test requirement in Montana?
Montana law requires female applicants under the age of 50 to either present a Rubella (German measles) certificate showing they have tested negative, or sign a Consent and Waiver form at the clerk’s office to decline the test. No one is compelled to take the test, but the waiver must be signed in person at the clerk’s office. Montana is one of a small number of states that still has any blood test requirement in its marriage law. Couples who get married online in Montana through Utah face no blood test or waiver requirement, because Utah has none.

Does Montana recognize common-law marriage?
Yes. Montana is one of only approximately nine states that still recognizes common-law marriage. A couple that holds themselves out publicly as married and intends to be married may have a valid common-law marriage under Montana law without a license or ceremony. However, couples who want to get married online in Montana and need a formal documented record recognized everywhere find the Utah certificate far more reliable than common-law status.

Does Montana allow proxy marriages?
Yes, in limited circumstances. Montana allows proxy marriages for active-duty military members and for Montana residents who are unable to appear. One party or their legal representative must appear before the Clerk of District Court and file a written authorization for the absent party to be represented at the ceremony. Proxy marriage must be coordinated in advance with the county clerk and is not an online process. Utah online marriage requires both partners on the same live video call — a simpler and fully remote solution for couples who want to get married online in Montana without any in-person steps.

Can missileers at Malmstrom AFB get married online in Montana?
Yes. Both partners join the ceremony by video from wherever they are. A missileer on a field rotation at a remote launch control facility, or deployed to a different installation, can participate from any location. Getting married online in Montana through Utah means the other partner can remain in Montana or elsewhere. No clerk visit is required. You can read more at Distant Vows for Military Couples.

Can same-sex couples get married online this way?
Yes. Montana’s ban on same-sex marriage was struck down as part of the Supreme Court’s Obergefell v. Hodges ruling on June 26, 2015. Same-sex marriages are treated identically under Utah and federal law, so same-sex couples who want to get married online in Montana can do so through Utah and receive the same legal certificate as any other couple.

How fast can we get married online from Montana?
Many couples complete all four steps and receive their digital certificate within a few days. Rush options are available for couples who need to get married online in Montana quickly. Whether you are in Billings, Missoula, Great Falls, Bozeman, or a remote rural county, the steps to get married online in Montana through Distant Vows are identical.

For details on Montana’s traditional process for couples who choose not to get married online in Montana, the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services vital records page and your local Clerk of District Court provide official guidance. For couples who want to get married online in Montana without visiting a clerk’s office or dealing with the Rubella waiver, Distant Vows handles everything remotely.

Ready to Get Married Online in Montana?

If you are ready to get married online in Montana, Distant Vows makes the process simple. Every week, couples across the state choose to get married online in Montana through our four-step system walks you from eligibility to your official U.S. marriage certificate, with licensed Utah officiants, witness support, and clear guidance at every stage.

Start today, choose your date, and let us handle the legal details so you can get married online in Montana without leaving home. Every week, couples from Billings, Missoula, Great Falls, Bozeman, Helena, Kalispell, and across Big Sky Country choose Distant Vows to get married online in Montana. The process is the same from any location. You can begin by completing our intake form at get married online. Hundreds of couples have already chosen Distant Vows to get married online in Montana.

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