Marriage license

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The information below is provided for personal reference only and is subject to change. Please be sure to contact your local authorities to ensure you have all necessary information. This is not legal advice but for general reference only.

In many countries (including the United States and Canada), a marriage has to be registered with the government there in order to be a legally-binding union. The legal document which generally gives a couple this legally-binding union is called a marriage license or marriage certificate.

1 Marriage Licenses in the United States
2 External Links & Sources by Jurisdiction

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Marriage Licenses in the United States

A marriage license is a state permit that a couple must obtain to legally marry. It is available for a significant fee but usually not over $100. Some states, particularly Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Tennessee, offer a discount for couples who participate in a premarital counseling program approved by that state.

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General Provisions

Marriage laws are different in every state and territory, so different things may be expected. Sometimes the provisions may vary by county or city within certain states. However, you may want to consider the following:

Presence: Both of you need to be present at the time of signing.
Payment: Many court clerks do not take credit cards. If they don't accept cash, then they accept cashier's checks or money orders. Also, you need to buy a certified copy of the license in addition to the license itself.
Venue: You get a marriage license within the jurisdiction where you are marrying, not where you are a resident. For example, whether you are a resident in Nevada or a resident in Florida, if you would like to get married in Las Vegas, you need to get a Nevada marriage license. Also, some counties or even some cities may require you to marry within the same county or city where you obtained your marriage license.
Identification: You may need various forms of identification, especially your birth certificates, photo identification, and Social Security numbers.
Divorce Record: You may be asked for written proof of all of your previous marriages, whether they may have ended by death or divorce or annulment. Some states may not even allow you to re-marry for a certain period of time right after you divorced.
Parental Consent: If either of you are underage, then they must be accompanied by your parents or guardians so they can co-sign the license.
Witnesses: A marriage license may require a few witnesses, usually two of them, and usually of legal age and who know you.
Sexual Orientation: Some states define marriage as between a man and a woman and therefore explicitly prohibit same sex marriage. However, if you are in a gay or lesbian couple, some jurisdictions may allow civil unions or domestic partnerships which legally bind you together as a married couple.

A court clerk may have more or less requirements than above. You should definitely contact the court clerk in the city or county where you wish to marry, as the clerk has specific policies and procedures through which you have to go through.

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Marriage License Requirements by US Jurisdiction

The following are the basic requirements to get a marriage license. For information on civil unions and domestic partnerships for gay and lesbian couples, look under Civil Unions/Domestic Partnerships.

State/territory: The state or territory issuing a license.
License fee: How much you can expect to pay for both the marriage license and a certified copy for your records. This fee may actually change depending on the county or city within the jurisdiction. Marriage license fees that do not include a certified copy fee here are marked with a plus sign (+).
Minimum age: The minimum age at which you can marry, usually expressed as X/Y, where X is the minimum age to get married with parental consent, and Y without.
Waiting period: How long you have to wait before you can actually get married. This waiting period may be in business days (usually Monday through Friday), not calendar days. Sometimes you may not be able to marry right away after you get the license, so it's always good to plan things such as this in advance.
Time limit: How long the marriage license lasts. If it expires, you will have to buy another license, and you may even have to return the license you had before. Contact the court clerk for details.
Blood test: Some jurisdictions require some kind of blood test, usually for syphilis, but most of them have repealed such a requirement.

State/territory	License fee	Minimum age (female)	Minimum age (male)	Waiting period	Time limit	Blood Test
Alabama	$55.50	16/18	16/18	0	30 days	No
Alaska	$60.00	18	18	3 days	90 days	No
American Samoa	$15.00	14/18	18	30 days	90 days	No
Arizona	$68.00	16/18	16/18	0	1 year	No
Arkansas	$63.50	16/18	17/18	0	60 days	No
California	$99.00	18	18	0	90 days	No
Colorado	$13.00	16/18	16/18	0	30 days	No
Connecticut	$35.00	16/18	16/18	0	65 days	No
Delaware	$60.00+	18	18	1 day	30 days	No
District of Columbia	$45.00	16/18	16/18	3 days	10 days	Yes
Florida	$97.50	16/18	16/18	3 days	60 days	No
Georgia	$57.00	16/18	16/18	0	6 months	No
Guam	$20.00	18	18	5 days	60 days	No
Hawaii	$60.00	16/18	16/18	0	30 days	No
Idaho	$30.00	16/18	16/18	0	10 days	No
Illinois	$40.00	16/18	16/18	0	60 days	No
Indiana	$62.00	17/18	17/18	0	60 days	No
Iowa	$35.00	16/18	16/18	3 days	6 months	No
Kansas	$62.00	18	18	3 days	6 months	No
Kentucky	$40.50	16/18	16/18	0	30 days	No
Louisiana	$35.00	16/18	16/18	3 days	30 days	No
Maine	$40.00	16/18	16/18	0	90 days	No
Maryland	$60.50	16/18	16/18	2 days	6 months	No
Massachusetts	$35.00	18	18	3 days	60 days	No
Michigan	$30.00	16/18	16/18	3 days	33 days	No
Minnesota	$100.00	18	18	5 days	6 months	No
Mississippi	$31.00	15/21	17/21	3 days	Forever	Yes
Missouri	$60.00	15/18	15/18	3 days	30 days	No
Montana	$60.00	16/18	16/18	0	180 days	Yes (under 50)
Nebraska	$26.00	17/19	17/19	0	1 year	No
Nevada	$59.00	16/18	16/18	0	1 year	No
New Hampshire	$57.00	18	18	3 days	90 days	No
New Jersey	$33.00	18	18	3 days	30 days	No
New Mexico	$27.50	16/18	16/18	0	Forever	No
New York	$40.00	16/18	16/18	1 day	60 days	No
North Carolina	$60.00	16/18	16/18	0	60 days	No
North Dakota	$65.00+	18	18	0	60 days	No
Ohio	$42.00	18	16/18	0	60 days	No
Oklahoma	$50.00+	16/18	16/18	3 days (under 18)	10 days	Yes
Oregon	$64.25	17/18	17/18	3 days	60 days	No
Pennsylvania	$55.00	16/18	16/18	3 days	60 days	No
Puerto Rico	$34.00	14/21	16/21	1 day	14 days	Yes
Rhode Island	$39.00	16/18	18	0	90 days	No
South Carolina	$105.00	16/18	16/18	1 day	Forever	No
South Dakota	$50.00	16/18	16/18	0	20 days	No
Tennessee	$99.50	16/18	16/18	0	30 days	No
Texas	$48.00	18	18	3 days	30 days	No
Utah	$50.00	16/18	16/18	0	30 days	No
Vermont	$30.00	16/18	16/18	0	60 days	No
Virgin Islands	$102.00	18	18	8 days	1 year	No
Virginia	$32.50	16/18	16/18	0	60 days	No
Washington	$63.00	17/18	17/18	3 days	60 days	No
West Virginia	$41.00	16/18	16/18	3 days (under 18)	60 days	No
Wisconsin	$122.00	16/18	16/18	5 days	30 days	No
Wyoming	$31.00	16/18	16/18	0	Forever	No

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Additional Notes by State

Alaska: Under 18 must get parental consent.

Arizona: Under 16 must get court approval.

Arkansas: An exception for minimum age is made if female had a baby with the male.

California: Must be 18 to purchase a confidential marriage license. Also, all minors must get permission from a California Superior Court judge.

District of Columbia: You must be tested negative for syphilis to get a license. You must take this test no earlier than 30 days before the application.

Delaware: $30.00 for Delaware residents. If you are either on probation or parole, you must be authorized by probation officer.

Florida: $65.00 with approved premarital counseling. The minimum age is waived if minor female is expectant or if the couple are expectant parents.

Georgia: $22.00 with approved premarital counseling.

Guam: $21.00 for non-citizens. Under 18 must have parental consent and court approval.

Hawaii: 15 years old must get court approval.

Idaho: Under 16 must get court approval.

Indiana: $20.00 for Indiana residents. Under 17 must get court approval.

Iowa: Under 18 must get court approval.

Kansas: Under 18 must get court approval and parental consent.

Kentucky: Under 16 must get court approval. Parents of minors must be Kentucky residents.

Louisiana: Under 16 must get court approval.

Maryland: 15 years old can marry with a licensed physician's certification that the bride is pregnant or gave birth to a child. Prince George's County has no waiting period.

Massachusetts: Under 18 must get court approval.

Michigan: $20.00 for Michigan residents. Under 16 must get court approval.

Minnesota: $30.00 with approved premarital counseling. Under 18 must get court approval. Waiting period is 30 days if you have been convicted of a felony since 8/1/00 and requesting a name change.

Mississippi: Under 21 must get parental consent. You must get blood-tested for syphilis no earlier than 30 days before the application.

Montana: Under 18 must get court approval. If under 50, you must get blood-tested for rubella and infertility.

Nevada: Under 16 must get court approval.

New Jersey: Under 18 must get parental consent.

New Mexico: 15 years old must get court approval.

New York: 14 and 15 years old must get court approval.

North Carolina: 14 and 15 years old must get court approval.

Oklahoma: $5.00 with approved premarital counseling. Under 16 requires court approval. 3 day wating period if under 18.

Pennsylvania: Allegheny County charges $3.00 for each subsequent divorce.

Puerto Rico: You must get a VDRL blood test from Puerto Rico physician, no earlier than 14 days before the application.

Rhode Island: Under 16 (females) or 18 (males) must get court approval.

South Carolina: $80.00 for South Carolina residents.

Tennessee: $39.50 with approved premarital counseling.

Texas: Under 18 must get parental consent.

Utah: 15 years old must get court approval.

Vermont: 14 and 15 years old must get court approval.

Virgin Islands: Under 18 must get parental consent.

Washington: Under 17 must get court approval.

West Virginia: Under 18 must get parental consent. 3 day waiting period if under 18.

Wyoming: Under 16 must get court approval.

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Civil Unions/Domestic Partnerships

Many states do not allow same sex marriage, but gay and lesbian couples who wish to legally enter into a relationship as a marriage may request a civil union (aka domestic partnership) in some states. In addition, a gay or lesbian couple may also request a domestic partnership in New York City or Washington, DC. Generally, no one under 18 can apply for a civil union, however.

The Brooklyn Municipal Building has a New York City Clerk office which handles marriages and domestic partnerships.

Jurisdiction	License fee
California	$25.00+
Connecticut	$35.00
New Jersey	$33.00
Vermont	$20.00+
New York, NY	$51.00
Washington, DC	$63.00

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Additional Notes

Connecticut: There is no legal compulsion for an officiant to give a civil union (as some religious groups prohibit gay marriage).

Vermont: There is a time limit of 60 days.

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Changing Your Name

A certified copy of your marriage license usually lets you change your last name to that of your husband's at offices such as your local Social Security Administration and Department of Motor Vehicles, but you might not want to use your license for that just yet until after your honeymoon, to avoid identification hassles during travel. For example, airlines check your ID before accepting your luggage onto your flight, but there might be a problem if a ticket is booked with your maiden name while your ID shows your married name.

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