A Justice of the Peace wedding usually costs between $30 and $120 for the ceremony itself. Once you add the marriage license, a certified copy or two of the certificate afterward, and any travel or after-hours fees, most couples spend $75 to $250 all in. So how much does a Justice of the Peace cost in practice? It depends mostly on where you live, when you schedule the ceremony, and whether the JP comes to you.
The Ceremony Fee
The ceremony fee is what people usually mean when they ask about JP costs, and for most couples it falls between $30 and $120. A bare-bones civil ceremony at a courthouse or government office tends to sit at the low end. A JP who travels to your venue or performs the ceremony outside normal business hours will charge more. Some jurisdictions bundle the ceremony fee into the marriage license cost, so you pay once and get both.
For comparison, the average secular wedding officiant in the United States charges around $240, and more involved ceremonies can climb past $1,000. A JP ceremony is the budget option by a wide margin. You get the same legally binding marriage for a fraction of the cost.
What Pushes the Price Higher
A JP who comes to you instead of performing the ceremony at the courthouse will often add a travel fee. Some charge a flat rate, others bill by the mile. When mileage is the basis, the charge frequently tracks the IRS standard mileage rate, which is $0.725 per mile for 2026.1Internal Revenue Service. 2026 Standard Mileage Rates A JP driving 30 miles round trip to your venue might add $20 to $25 on that basis, though some charge a flat travel fee of $50 or more regardless of distance.
Other common add-ons include rehearsals, custom or personalized ceremony scripts, and after-hours or weekend services. Not every JP offers these, but those who do typically charge $25 to $75 per add-on. A weekday appointment at the courthouse keeps costs at their lowest.
The Marriage License
The marriage license is a separate cost from the ceremony, and you cannot skip it. License fees vary by state and county, with most falling between $20 and $110. A handful of jurisdictions offer discounts if you complete a premarital counseling course. The license must be obtained from the county clerk or equivalent office before the ceremony takes place.
Roughly 18 states impose a waiting period between when you receive your license and when you can use it, ranging from 24 hours to three days. Many can be waived for military personnel or other qualifying circumstances. If you are planning a same-day courthouse wedding, check your state’s rules before showing up.
Costs After the Ceremony
Certified Copies of Your Marriage Certificate
Once the signed marriage license is filed with the county clerk, you can request certified copies of your marriage certificate. You will almost certainly need these for name changes, insurance updates, and tax filing. Certified copies typically cost between $7 and $25 each, and most people need at least two or three.
Witness Fees
Most states require one or two witnesses at a wedding ceremony. If you bring your own, there is no extra charge. If you need the courthouse to provide a witness, expect a fee of around $20 per witness. Not every courthouse offers this service, so call ahead if you are eloping without guests.
Tipping the Officiant
In some states, government-employed civil officiants are legally prohibited from accepting gratuities for services performed during office hours. When the JP is acting in an official government capacity at the courthouse, a tip is generally unnecessary. If your JP is performing a ceremony at an outside venue on personal time, a tip of $50 to $100 is a common gesture but is never required.
Cancellation and Refunds
If you book a JP for an off-site ceremony and need to cancel, policies vary. Many officiants have adopted stricter cancellation clauses in their service agreements in recent years, and some require full payment regardless of whether the ceremony happens. Ask about the refund policy before signing anything, especially if you are paying a deposit for a venue ceremony.
What Drives the Final Price
Geography is the single biggest factor. A JP ceremony in a large metro area with high demand will almost always cost more than one in a rural county where the JP handles a handful of ceremonies per month. Urban courthouses also tend to have higher license fees.
Timing matters too. Weekday courthouse appointments during business hours are cheapest. Saturdays, evenings, and holidays carry premium charges when they are available at all. Customization also affects cost. A five-minute standard ceremony at the courthouse is a different product than a 30-minute personalized ceremony at a park, and the pricing reflects that.
Individual JPs may have some discretion in setting fees within whatever limits state or local law prescribes. If the maximum ceremony fee in your jurisdiction is $100, one JP might charge $50 and another $100. Shopping around is worth the phone calls in an area with multiple JPs.
A Note on Where JPs Still Exist
Not every state still uses the Justice of the Peace title. Texas has roughly 826 JP courts, Louisiana has around 390, and Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, and Vermont maintain the office as well. Many other states have shifted these duties to magistrates, district court judges, or county clerks. If your state no longer has JPs, the cost ranges here still apply to the equivalent civil officiant who performs courthouse marriages.
How to Book and Pay
Your county clerk’s office is the most reliable starting point. Most county websites list authorized civil marriage celebrants, and the clerk’s office can tell you whether your jurisdiction still uses the JP title or has switched to a different designation. State court system websites also maintain directories of JP courts and their contact information.
Payment is almost always expected at the time of service for courthouse ceremonies. Cash, check, and money order are universally accepted. Many court systems now process credit cards or offer online payment portals, but do not assume this is available everywhere. For off-site ceremonies, some JPs require a deposit when you book, with the balance due on the day of the ceremony. Get the total cost and payment terms in writing before your wedding day.