You Need A Marriage License by Law Unless This Is a Holy Union

Where do you get a marriage license?

Each state has its own unique requirements. Generally, a couple who intends to be married must apply in person for a marriage license to any county or city clerk or prothanotary in the state or county where the marriage will be executed.. The application for a license must be signed by both the bride and groom in the presence of the county or city clerk. A representative cannot apply for the license on behalf of the bride or groom. This applies even if the representative has been given the Power of Attorney. Some states like California have exceptions.

Notarized marriage license affidavits signed by the bride or groom cannot be substituted for their personal appearance. 

Is there a waiting period?

Yes. Although the marriage license is issued immediately, the marriage ceremony may not take place within 24 hours from the exact time that the license was issued. When both applicants are 16 years of age or older, the 24-hour waiting period may be waived by an order of a justice of the Supreme Court or a judge of the County Court of the county in which either the bride or groom resides. If either person is under 16 years of age, the order must be from the County Court judge of the county in which the person under 16 years of age resides. Some states have a 3 day grace period.

How long is the license valid?

A marriage license is  usually valid for 60 days, beginning the day after it is issued.

How much does a license cost?

If the marriage license costs from $25 to $30 on up depending upon the state. If it is issued by the City Clerk of the City of New York, it costs $30. The fee in either case includes the issuance of a Certificate of Marriage Registration. This certificate is automatically sent by the issuing clerk to the applicants within 15 days after the completed license is returned by the officiate (person who performs the marriage ceremony). It serves as notice that a record of the marriage is on file. Couples who do not receive a Certificate of Marriage Registration within four weeks of the wedding should contact the county or city clerk who issued the license.

Is a premarital physical exam required?

No premarital examination or blood test is required to obtain a marriage license in most states.  However, this varies from state to state.  Therefore, contact the country or city clerk for that state for explicit requirements. .

Who can get married?

General Age Requirements

• If either applicant is under 14 years of age, a marriage license cannot be issued.
• If either applicant is 14 or 15 years of age, such applicants must present the written consent of both parents and a justice of the Supreme Court or a judge of the Family Court having jurisdiction over the town or city in which the application is made.
• If either applicant is 16 or 17 years of age, such applicants must present the written consent of both parents.
• If both applicants are 18 years of age or older, no consents are required.

One parent alone may consent to a minor's marriage if:

• the other parent has been missing for one year preceding the application;
• the parents are divorced and the consenting parent was given sole custody of the child when the divorce decree was awarded;
• the other parent has been judged incompetent;
  or
  
• the other parent is deceased.

Parents, guardians or other people consenting to the marriage of a minor must personally appear and acknowledge or execute their consent before the county or city clerk or some other authorized official. If the notarized affidavit is made before an official outside of the state, it must be accompanied by a certificate of authentication when the consent is filed.

Proof of Age

A person may be required to submit documentary proof of age in the form of a birth certificate, baptismal record, passport, driver's license, life insurance policy, employment certificate, school record, immigration record, naturalization record or court record. No other type of proof, such as a statement by parents, may be accepted.

Familial Restrictions

Normally, a marriage may not take place between an ancestor and descendant, a brother and sister (full or half blood), an uncle and niece or an aunt and nephew, regardless of whether or not these persons are legitimate or illegitimate offspring.

Previous Marriages

Information regarding previous marriages must be furnished in the application for a marriage license. This includes whether the former spouse or spouses are living, and whether the applicants are divorced and, if so, when, where and against whom the divorce or divorces were granted. A certified copy of the Decree of Divorce or a Certificate of Dissolution of Marriage may be required by the clerk issuing the marriage license.

Surname Options

Every person has the right to adopt any name by which he or she wishes to be known simply by using that name consistently and without intent to defraud. A person's last name (surname) does not automatically change upon marriage, and neither party to the marriage is required to change his or her last name. The bride and groom need not take the same last name.

One or both parties to a marriage may elect to change the surname by which he or she wishes to be known after the marriage by entering the new name in the appropriate space provided on the marriage license. The new name must consist of one of the following options:

• the surname of the other spouse;
• any former surname of either spouse;
• a name combining into a single surname all or a segment of the pre-marriage surname or any former surname of each spouse.
• a combination name separated by a hyphen, provided that each part of such combination surname is the pre-marriage surname, or any former surname, of each of the spouses.

  The use of this option will provide a record of your change of name. The marriage certificate, containing the new name, if any, is proof that the use of the new name, or the retention of the former name, is lawful. The local Social Security Administration office should be contacted so that its records and your social security identification card reflect the name change. There is no charge for this service.

Whether you decide to use or not use this option at the time of your marriage license application, you still have the right to adopt a different name through usage at some future date. However, your marriage license cannot be changed to record a surname you decide to use after your marriage.

Where can a marriage take place?

A marriage license may be used only within the state that issued the license.

What about the ceremony?

There is no particular form or ceremony required except that the parties must state in the presence of an authorized member of the clergy or public official and at least one or two other witnesses that they take each other as husband and wife. There is no minimum age for a witness. However, in selecting a witness, choose at least one person who you feel would be competent to testify in a court proceeding as to what he or she witnessed.

Who can perform a marriage ceremony?

To be valid, a marriage ceremony must be performed by any of the individuals specified in Section 11 of the New York State Domestic Relations Law. These include:

• the mayor of a city or village;
• the city clerk or one of the deputy city clerks of a city of more than one million inhabitants;
• a marriage officer appointed by the town or village board or the city common council;
• a justice or judge of the following courts: the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Southern, the Court of Appeals, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, the Supreme Court, the Court of Claims, the Family Court, a Surrogates Court, the Civil and Criminal Courts of New York City (including Housing Judges of the Civil Court) and other courts of record;
• a village, town or county justice;
• a member of the clergy or minister who has been officially ordained and granted authority to perform marriage ceremonies from a governing church body in accordance with the rules and regulations of the church body;
• a member of the clergy or minister who is not authorized by a governing church body but who has been chosen by a spiritual group to preside over their spiritual affairs;

The person performing the ceremony must be registered with the City of New York in order to perform a ceremony within the New York City limits. The officiate does not have to be a resident of New York State. Ship captains are not authorized to perform marriage ceremonies in New York State.

Ship captains are not authorized to perform marriage ceremonies in New York State.

Social Security Records

If you plan to use your married name at work, be sure to have your name changed in Social Security records. This way, you will get credit for all your earnings. It's easy and it's absolutely free. Contact any Social Security office. Look in the telephone book for the address and phone number. You will need documentary evidence showing both your old name and new name.

Where can I get copies of my records?

For copies of marriage licenses issued anywhere in, a certified copy of the marriage record may be obtained from the office of the county or city clerk who issued the license for a small fee.