Marriage License Rules in Every State (2026)
Waiting periods, how long a marriage license is valid, and what to bring, in each state and DC.
| State | Getting a marriage license |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Alabama no longer issues marriage licenses or requires a ceremony. Since August 29, 2019, a couple marries by signing a marriage document containing each party's full legal name, identifying information and a notarized affidavit from each party (not currently married, at least 18 or 16-17 with parental consent, legally competent, not too closely related, and marrying voluntarily). The signed affidavits and forms must be recorded with the probate judge within 30 days of the last signature; the marriage is valid as of the date both parties signed. The probate judge collects the recording fees set by statute and forwards the record to the Office of Vital Statistics. Couples may still hold any ceremony they choose, but it has no legal effect on validity. Ala. Code §§ 30-1-9.1, 22-9A-17 |
| Alaska | Marriage licenses are issued by the state's Health Analytics and Vital Records section: apply in person at the Vital Records office in Anchorage or Juneau, at an Alaska court office elsewhere in the state, or by mail. One party files the application at least three days before the license is issued, and both parties make a sworn statement (which may be signed before a notary or postmaster) about names, ages, residences, prior marriages and any relationship; both must be identified to the licensing officer's satisfaction and give Social Security numbers. The Department of Health says the license is available three business days after a completed application is received; the licensing officer may waive the wait for undue hardship. Once issued, the license is valid for 90 days. The application fee is $60, plus a mailing charge if the license is mailed. The signed license must be returned to Vital Records to register the marriage; a certificate of marriage costs $30 more. AS 25.05.091, 25.05.111, 25.05.121, 25.05.161; Alaska Department of Health, Marriage License |
| Arizona | A license must be obtained from the clerk of the superior court in any Arizona county. Both applicants complete and sign under oath an affidavit giving each person's name, age and address, and provide their Social Security numbers separately. The license statutes do not set a waiting period. The statewide clerk fee for a marriage license and its return is $83. After the ceremony, which needs two witnesses at least 18 years old, the officiant must return the signed license to the clerk within 30 days. A.R.S. §§ 25-121, 25-123, 25-125, 25-126, 25-127, 12-284 |
| Arkansas | Couples must first get a license from the county clerk of any Arkansas county (in counties with two judicial districts, circuit clerks may also issue them). The clerk issues the license on application, once satisfied the applicants are legally entitled to marry, and on payment of the fee. The clerk records each applicant's Social Security number (or notes that the applicant has none). If the clerk doubts an applicant's age or a parent's consent, the clerk may require birth certificates or sworn affidavits. For a license issued to a 17-year-old with parental consent, there is a five-business-day waiting period. Ark. Code Ann. §§ 9-11-201, 9-11-203, 9-11-209, 9-11-102(b)(6) |
| California | You apply at the County Clerk's office; you do not need to be a California resident. Both parties must appear in person with valid picture identification showing a photo, date of birth and issue and expiration dates (such as a driver's license, state ID, passport or military ID); some counties also ask for a birth certificate. If you were married before, you need the date and manner your last marriage ended, and some counties require the final judgment. No blood test is required. The license is valid for 90 days from issuance. Fees vary by county. The officiant must return the license to the County Clerk or Recorder within 10 days after the ceremony, and the parties and officiant must be physically together for the ceremony. California Department of Public Health, California Marriage License General Information |
| Colorado | Licenses are issued by the county clerk and recorder. Both parties complete and sign the application, and at least one party appears before the clerk (both may appear remotely where allowed). The clerk needs satisfactory proof of each party's age and that the marriage is not prohibited. The fee is set by statute in parts: a $7 license fee, a $20 fee for the Colorado domestic abuse program fund, and an added amount set under the vital statistics law. The license statutes do not set a waiting period. The license is valid only in Colorado and for 35 days after it is issued; after that it is void. C.R.S. §§ 14-2-106, 14-2-107 |
| Connecticut | Both people must apply in person at the vital records office (town registrar) of the town where the wedding will take place, complete the application, provide identification and swear that the information is true. No blood test is required. According to the Department of Public Health, the town cannot issue the license until at least 48 hours after the second person signs the application. The license is good for 65 days, and the wedding must take place within that time. The Department of Public Health lists a $50 fee for each license. After the ceremony, the officiant files the license with the town registrar, and it becomes the marriage certificate. Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 46b-24, 46b-25; Connecticut Department of Public Health, License to Get Married |
| Delaware | Marriage licenses are issued by the Clerk of the Peace (Marriage Bureau) in each county. Both people must appear together and answer questions under oath on the state application form, which asks for each applicant's Social Security number, birth date, parents' names and previous marriages; a divorced applicant must show a certified copy of the divorce decree (or a court clerk's certificate). If applicants claim Delaware residency but are not known to the clerk, a guarantor may have to vouch for residency. The license must be obtained at least 24 hours before the ceremony and is valid for 30 days; the Clerk of the Peace may shorten the wait or extend validity up to 180 days for good cause. The statute sets the license fee at $10. 13 Del. C. §§ 101(b)(6), 107, 108, 109, 120, 121, 122 |
| District of Columbia | Marriage licenses are issued by the Clerk of the D.C. Superior Court. Before issuing a license, the clerk examines each applicant under oath about their names, ages, any prior marriages and whether they are related (and how closely); false swearing on these matters is perjury. D.C. no longer has a waiting period for issuing a license (the former waiting-period rule, D.C. Code § 46-409, was repealed in 2014). D.C. Code §§ 46-409 (repealed), 46-410 |
| Florida | Licenses are issued by a county court judge or the clerk of the circuit court. Both parties file a signed affidavit, sworn before someone authorized to give oaths, giving each person's Social Security number (or other available identification number) and age. They must also sign a statement saying whether they completed a premarital preparation course and confirm they read the state handbook on the rights and responsibilities of marriage. If the couple does not present course completion certificates, the license takes effect three days after the application; the delay does not apply to non-Florida residents and can be excused for hardship. A license is valid for 60 days after issuance. The statute adds several charges to the license fee and reduces the fee by $25 for couples who completed a registered premarital course within the past year; fee waivers are available to eligible couples. Fla. Stat. §§ 741.01, 741.04, 741.041 |
| Georgia | Licenses are issued by the probate judge or clerk at the county courthouse; if either person lives in Georgia, any county may issue it, otherwise it must come from the county where the ceremony will be held. Both applicants file a written application under oath with names, birth dates, addresses, parents' names and whether they completed premarital education, plus a supplemental report with Social Security numbers. The judge must see documentary proof of age, such as a birth certificate, driver's license, passport or military ID. There is no waiting period for eligible applicants. Couples who are both 18 or older and complete at least six hours of qualifying premarital education within the prior 12 months pay no license fee. The officiant must return the license to the probate judge within 30 days after the wedding. O.C.G.A. §§ 19-3-30, 19-3-30.1, 19-3-33, 19-3-35, 19-3-36 |
| Hawaii | Both people must appear, in person or by live online video, before a Department of Health employee or agent authorized to issue licenses, and file a written application with a sworn statement giving each person's full name, date of birth, Social Security number, residence, parents' names and any prior marriages or civil unions and how they ended. The license is valid for 30 days starting on the date it is issued, and then becomes void. The statutory fee is $60, and agents who are not state employees also collect a $5 surcharge. The officiant, both parties and the ceremony must all be physically in the same place in Hawaii. Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 572-1(6)-(7), 572-5, 572-6 |
| Idaho | Marriage licenses are issued by the county recorder of any Idaho county. If the recorder does not personally know the parties are legally able to marry, the recorder takes a written sworn affidavit from the applicants (and others as needed). Every application must include the parties' Social Security numbers; an applicant without one must provide Social Security Administration verification, a birth certificate, passport or similar document, and proof of lawful presence. The license is issued on payment of the recorder's fee. After the ceremony, the officiant must return the license and certificate to the issuing recorder within 30 days. Idaho Code §§ 32-401, 32-402, 32-403, 32-404 |
| Illinois | Both parties complete and sign the application on the state Department of Public Health form (name, address, Social Security number, birth date and place, prior marriages and how they ended, parents' names, and any relationship between them), both appear before the county clerk, and the license fee is paid. The clerk issues the license on satisfactory proof of age and that the marriage is not prohibited. The license takes effect one day after it is issued (unless a court orders it effective immediately), is effective in the county where issued, and expires 60 days after it becomes effective. The Act does not state the license fee amount. 750 ILCS 5/202, 5/203, 5/207 |
| Indiana | A couple must get a marriage license from the clerk of the circuit court in the county where either of them lives (or, if neither lives in Indiana, the county where the wedding will take place). The written, verified application lists each applicant's full name, birthplace, residence, age, dependent children, parents' names, whether either is a lifetime sex or violent offender, and facts showing there is no legal impediment, and both sign an acknowledgment that they received information on sexually transmitted diseases and HIV test sites. The clerk may not issue a license to someone adjudged mentally incompetent or under the influence of alcohol or drugs. A license expires 60 days after it is issued if no marriage takes place. If the clerk refuses, the couple can ask the circuit court for a hearing. Ind. Code §§ 31-11-4-1, 31-11-4-3, 31-11-4-4, 31-11-4-10, 31-11-4-11, 31-11-4-12 |
| Iowa | A license must be obtained from the county registrar before the marriage. Both parties sign and file a verified application, which includes each applicant's Social Security number and at least one affidavit from a competent, disinterested person stating the facts about the parties' age and qualifications. The license does not become valid until three days after it is issued; a district judge can authorize early validation in an emergency or extraordinary circumstances (there is an extra $5 fee for that application, which can be waived for inability to pay). If a license is not issued within six months after the application, the application is void. The state-set fee for filing the application is $35, which includes one certified copy of the marriage certificate. Iowa Code §§ 595.3, 595.4, 331.605(6)(g) |
| Kansas | A marriage license is issued by the clerk or a judge of the district court; in Kansas you can apply online through the Judicial Branch's statewide marriage license application, and you only need an email address and the personal details the form asks for. The Kansas Judicial Branch says you do not have to submit documents or show identification to apply, and that signing the online application electronically counts as appearing before the clerk. By law the license cannot be issued before the third calendar day after the application is filed, unless a judge allows it sooner in an emergency; the Judicial Branch says to allow at least two weeks for processing. The license expires six months after it is issued. The Judicial Branch lists the license cost as $85.50, plus a card or e-check processing charge. After the ceremony, the officiant must return the license to the issuing court within 10 days. K.S.A. 23-2505, 23-2510, 23-2511; Kansas Judicial Branch Self-Help, Marriage License |
| Kentucky | A license is required before any marriage. Both parties must appear in person before the county clerk and show documentary proof of age, such as a birth record or certificate, passport, driver's license, or other government- or school-issued ID showing date of birth. A Social Security card or other government ID is requested for identification, but the number is not recorded. Any county clerk may issue the license when the female party is 18 or older (or a widow) and applies in person; otherwise it is issued in the county where she lives. The license is valid for 30 days, counting the day it is issued. The statewide county clerk fee for the marriage license, indexing, recording and certificate is $26.50. KRS 402.080, 402.100, 402.105, 402.210, 64.012(1)(n) |
| Louisiana | Marriage licenses are issued by the clerk of court in each parish; in Orleans Parish, by the state registrar of vital records or a city court judge. Both parties sign a sworn application before a notary, deputy clerk or deputy registrar (they need not sign at the same time). The application must be accompanied by a certified copy of each party's birth certificate (or a judge's waiver order) and a valid driver's license, government ID, or passport (or unexpired visa with Form I-94); minors also need the required consent and court authorization. The ceremony may not take place until 24 hours after the license is issued, though a judge or justice of the peace may waive the delay for serious reasons. The license is valid for 30 days from issuance, and two adult witnesses must attend the ceremony. La. R.S. 9:221, 9:224, 9:225, 9:235, 9:241, 9:242, 9:244 |
| Maine | Couples first record a notice of intentions to marry. Maine residents file with the clerk of the municipality where at least one of them lives or with the State Registrar of Vital Statistics; if only one is a resident, they file where that person lives or with the State Registrar. The application includes a signed certification that the information is correct and that each applicant is free to marry, and the clerk must be satisfied as to the applicants' identity. Anyone previously married must bring a certified copy of the divorce or annulment decree or the death record ending the last marriage. The clerk then issues the license, which is void if not used within 90 days after the intentions were filed. The statewide fee for recording intentions and issuing the license is $40. 19-A M.R.S. §§ 651, 652; 30-A M.R.S. § 2652(2) |
| Maryland | A license from the clerk of the circuit court for the county where the ceremony will take place is required. One of the parties applies in person at the clerk's office during regular hours, gives the required information under oath, and provides each party's Social Security number (if any) and a government-issued birth certificate or other official document showing age; nonresidents of the county may use a sworn affidavit instead. The license does not take effect until 6 a.m. on the second calendar day after it is issued, unless a circuit court judge authorizes an earlier time for good cause (one party must be a Maryland resident or a service member). It is valid for 6 months from its effective date and only in the issuing county. The state fee is $10, and counties may add a surcharge for domestic violence programs, so the total varies by county. Md. Code, Fam. Law §§ 2-401, 2-402, 2-403, 2-404, 2-405, 2-406 |
| Massachusetts | Both parties file a notice of intention to marry, under oath, with the clerk or registrar of any city or town in Massachusetts, on state forms that include a statement that there is no legal impediment to the marriage, and pay the town's fee. The notice must be filed at least three days before the marriage (Sundays and holidays count). The clerk issues the marriage certificate (license) on or after the third day and no later than 60 days after filing, and it must be returned if not used within 60 days of filing. A probate or district court judge may grant a certificate allowing the marriage without the three-day delay, and the delay can also be waived in emergencies such as imminent death. A party too ill to appear may have notice given on his or her behalf with a physician's affidavit. M.G.L. c. 207, §§ 19, 20, 28, 30 |
| Michigan | Couples get a license from the county clerk of the county where either party lives; if both live outside Michigan, from the clerk of the county where the wedding will take place. The applicant files a sworn application (affidavit) with the clerk, including each applicant's Social Security number unless exempt, and must show a birth certificate or other proof of age if the clerk asks. The license may not be delivered until 3 days after application (counting the application day), though the clerk may release it immediately for good cause for an extra county-set fee. The license is void unless the marriage takes place within 33 days after the application. The statutory fee is $20 (plus $10 if both parties are nonresidents); a probate court may order the fee waived for undue hardship, and a charter county over 1.5 million people may set a different fee. MCL 551.101, 551.102, 551.103, 551.103a |
| Minnesota | A license from the local registrar of any Minnesota county is required, and the marriage may take place anywhere in Minnesota. Both parties apply on the state form, giving names, addresses, ages, any prior marriage and how it ended, and Social Security numbers (or a certification of none). Both must present proof of age, such as a birth certificate, driver's license or other government or school ID. The registrar examines the parties under oath (in person, by phone or video, or by a signed verified statement); if one party cannot appear, that party must send a notarized verification. The license is valid for six months. The fee is $125, or $50 for couples who complete at least 12 hours of qualifying premarital education. Minn. Stat. §§ 517.07, 517.08 |
| Mississippi | Apply in writing to the circuit clerk of any Mississippi county. Both applicants swear to the application, which lists their names, ages and addresses, their parents' names and addresses, and witness signatures. Proof of age is required, such as a birth certificate, driver's license, school record, military ID or discharge, tribal ID, or other official document, which the clerk examines and keeps a copy of. Applicants under 21 must also provide parental (or guardian) consent and affidavits of age from a parent, guardian or next of kin. The clerk may not issue a license if an applicant appears intoxicated or, because of mental illness or intellectual disability, does not seem to understand the application. Miss. Code Ann. § 93-1-5 |
| Missouri | A license from the county recorder of deeds is required before any marriage. Both parties sign the application in the recorder's presence or through the recorder's online process (online applications require identity verification and at least one applicant living in that county); incarcerated or deployed military applicants may use a sworn form. Each application includes the applicant's Social Security number (or a statement that he or she has none), and applicants must prove age with a certified birth certificate, passport or other government-issued ID. The license is void 30 days after it is issued. State law adds a $20 fee on top of any other license fee. Common-law marriages are void in Missouri. RSMo §§ 451.040, 451.090, 451.151 |
| Montana | Both parties complete and sign a marriage application, and at least one of them appears before the clerk of the district court and pays the $53 license fee. Each applicant must provide a birth certificate or other satisfactory evidence of age, and proof that the marriage is not prohibited. The license takes effect when issued and expires after 180 days. Mont. Code Ann. §§ 40-1-202, 40-1-203, 40-1-212 |
| Nebraska | A license from a county clerk in Nebraska is required before the ceremony. Each party must present satisfactory documentary proof of, and swear or affirm to, his or her full name, residence, and place and date of birth. The license must be used within one year from the date it is issued. The county clerk's fee for issuing the license, administering the oaths and recording the marriage certificate is $50. Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 42-104, 42-106, 33-110 |
| Nevada | A license from the county clerk of any Nevada county is required (issued at the county seat or an authorized branch office). Each applicant must show proof of name and age, such as a driver's license or state ID, passport, military ID, immigration document, or a birth certificate with a secondary photo document; an applicant who clearly appears over 25 does not need proof of age. Applicants answer the license questions under oath and give a Social Security number or state that they have none. The license form states that it expires 1 year after issuance. By statute, the clerk collects a $21 license fee plus $10 for recording the certificate, $4 for the State and $50 for a domestic and sexual violence victims account, and counties may add other authorized fees. NRS 122.040, 122.050, 122.060 |
| New Hampshire | Couples complete a marriage license application with a town or city clerk in New Hampshire. Before the license is issued, each applicant must show proof of age, plus a certified copy of the final divorce decree if divorced, or the death record of the former spouse if widowed. The license is valid for no more than 90 days from the date the application is filed. The fee is $50. RSA 457:22, 457:23, 457:26, 457:29 |
| New Jersey | Apply at the local registrar in the New Jersey municipality where either party lives (the license is then valid statewide); if neither party is a New Jersey resident, apply where the ceremony will take place (the license is valid only in that municipality). Both applicants sign the application under oath before the registrar and bring proof of identity (driver's license, passport or state/federal ID), proof of residency for a New Jersey resident applicant, Social Security numbers, a witness 18 or older, and the $28 application fee. There is a 72-hour waiting period, starting when the application is filed, before the license is issued (no wait for a remarriage). The application is valid for six months from acceptance unless the registrar approves an extension up to one year. New Jersey Department of Health, Vital Statistics, Marriage License |
| New Mexico | A couple must get a license from a county clerk in New Mexico and, after a ceremony in New Mexico, file it for recording in the county that issued it. Both parties must appear in person at the clerk's office with identification that satisfies the clerk as to identity and eligibility; a district judge may, for good cause, allow a person who cannot appear to obtain a license. The clerk's fee for issuing and recording the license and certificate is $55. NMSA 1978, §§ 40-1-10, 40-1-11 |
| New York | Both parties must apply in person to any town or city clerk in New York State and sign the application in the clerk's presence; a representative or power of attorney cannot substitute. Both must show documentary proof of age, such as a birth certificate or a government- or school-issued photo ID, and give information about prior marriages (a certified divorce decree may be required). The license is issued immediately, but the ceremony cannot take place within 24 hours after issuance unless a Supreme Court justice or county judge waives the wait. The license is valid for 60 days starting the day after issuance (up to 180 days if a party is on active military duty) and only in New York State. Outside New York City the fee is $40, including the Certificate of Marriage Registration; New York City sets its own fee. No blood test is required. N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 13; NYS Department of Health, Getting Married in New York State (Publication 4210) |
| North Carolina | A county register of deeds issues the license to two people who can answer questions about age, marital status and intent to marry and who the register determines are eligible to marry. The register may require certified birth certificates or other evidence and may put applicants under oath. Each applicant must give a Social Security number, or a sworn statement that he or she does not have one and is ineligible. The license authorizes the marriage at any place in North Carolina within 60 days of issuance. The register of deeds' fee for issuing a license is $60. N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 51-8, 51-16, 161-10(a)(2) |
| North Dakota | Apply to the county recorder (or another official the county commissioners designate) in the county where either party lives, where a parent of either party lives, or where the wedding will take place. Each applicant must show a birth certificate or other satisfactory evidence of age, sign an affidavit about age and any prior divorce (with a certified copy of any divorce decree), and give a Social Security number. The law sets no waiting period, but the license must have been issued no more than 60 days before the wedding. The license fee is up to $30, plus a $35 supplemental fee for the domestic violence prevention fund. N.D. Cent. Code §§ 14-03-10, 14-03-17, 14-03-22 |
| Ohio | Both people must apply in person at the probate court in the county where either lives (or, if neither lives in Ohio, where the wedding will take place; the wedding must then happen in that county). Each applicant states under oath their name, age, residence, place of birth, occupation and parents' names, plus details of any prior marriage and divorce, and gives a Social Security number. Each must show proof of age, such as a birth certificate, passport, driver's license, or other government- or school-issued ID showing date of birth. The judge may grant the license at any time after the application is made, so there is no waiting period for adults. Ohio Rev. Code § 3101.05 |
| Oklahoma | Both parties sign and swear to a written application in person before the court clerk of the district court. The application lists each party's residence and full legal name and age as shown on a certified birth certificate, current driver's license or ID card, passport or visa, or similar official document, and the name each will use after the marriage. The license is valid anywhere in Oklahoma for 30 days, and the ceremony must take place within 30 days of issuance. There is no waiting period for adults; if either party is under 18, the application must be on file at least 72 hours before the license issues. The clerk's fee is $50, or $5 for couples who present a certificate of completing a qualifying premarital counseling program. Okla. Stat. tit. 43, §§ 5, 5.1, 20; tit. 28, § 31 |
| Oregon | Get a marriage license from a county clerk by filing a written application on the state form; it includes each applicant's Social Security number (kept confidential) and basic statistical information. The clerk may accept any reasonable proof of age. The license becomes effective three days after the applicants sign the application and is valid for 60 days after that; a judge may waive the three-day wait for good and sufficient cause. By statute the county clerk charges $25 for taking the affidavit, issuing the license and registering its return, plus a separate $25 fee that goes to the Domestic Violence Fund. The ceremony needs at least two witnesses. Or. Rev. Stat. §§ 106.041, 106.045, 106.050, 106.077, 106.150, 205.320 |
| Pennsylvania | Both parties must file a written, verified application and appear in person to be examined under oath about the legality of the marriage and any prior marriages (an affidavit is allowed for someone on active military service or when the register of wills office is closed by an emergency). The issuing official must be satisfied as to both applicants' identity. The license cannot be issued until the third day after the later of the two applications, unless a court allows it sooner for an emergency or for a reservist called to active duty. The license is valid for 60 days and may be used anywhere in Pennsylvania. 23 Pa.C.S. §§ 1301, 1302, 1303, 1306, 1307, 1310 |
| Rhode Island | Get a license from the clerk of the city or town where either party lives (or, if both live outside Rhode Island, where the wedding will take place). Anyone previously married or in a civil union must show an authenticated copy of the divorce decree or dissolution. The license is valid for three months and must be returned if unused. The clerk charges a $14 license fee plus an additional $10 fee for the family and children trust fund. The marriage-license chapter sets no waiting period. R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 15-2-1, 15-2-8, 15-2-9, 15-2-9.1 |
| South Carolina | Both parties sign a written application filed with the county probate judge (in Darlington and Georgetown counties, the clerk of court), including Social Security numbers (or alien identification numbers). The license may not be issued until at least 24 hours after the application is filed, and the applicants must give a sworn statement that they are legally entitled to marry, with their full names, ages and residences. Applicants aged 18 to 24 must show documentary proof of age; applicants under 18 must file a birth certificate or similar record. A $20 fee for the Domestic Violence Fund is added to the license fee; the base license fee is not set in these sections. Couples who complete a qualifying premarital preparation course may claim a one-time $50 state income tax credit. S.C. Code Ann. §§ 20-1-220, 20-1-230, 20-1-260, 20-1-270, 20-1-375 |
| South Dakota | Get a license from the register of deeds of any county. Each applicant must sign the application in person and show valid ID and proof of age: a passport; a federal, state, military or tribal photo ID; or a certified birth certificate plus a current school or employment photo ID (or a completed IRS Form 4029). A power of attorney cannot be used. The fee is $40. The license becomes void unless the marriage is solemnized within 90 days after it is issued. The statutes reviewed set no waiting period for adults. S.D. Codified Laws §§ 25-1-10, 25-1-10.1, 25-1-24 |
| Tennessee | Get a license from a county clerk. Both applicants must give a sworn written application with their names, ages, current addresses and Social Security numbers (applicants under 18 also list a parent, guardian or next of kin); incarcerated or disabled applicants and deployed service members may submit notarized statements instead of appearing. The license is valid for 30 days from issuance. In addition to the clerk's license fee, state law imposes a $62.50 fee on each license, of which $60 is waived for couples who present a certificate of completing a premarital preparation course (and, in certain tourist-resort counties, for couples who are both nonresidents). Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 36-3-103, 36-3-104, 36-6-413 |
| Texas | Apply to a county clerk on the state form. The clerk must see proof of identity and age for each applicant, such as a current (or expired less than two years) driver's license or ID card, a U.S. or foreign passport, a certified birth certificate, a military ID, or certain federal immigration documents. An adult who cannot appear may have someone apply for them with a notarized affidavit. The ceremony may not take place during the 72 hours after the license is issued, unless an applicant is active-duty military or a Defense Department employee or contractor, gets a judge's written waiver, or completed a qualifying premarital education course within the past year. The license expires if the ceremony is not held before the 90th day after issuance. The county clerk's fee is $60; it is waived for Texas residents who complete an eight-hour premarital education course, and a $100 additional fee may be charged if neither applicant is a Texas resident. Tex. Fam. Code §§ 2.005, 2.006, 2.013, 2.201, 2.204; Tex. Loc. Gov't Code §§ 118.011, 118.018 |
| Utah | Get a license from the county clerk of any Utah county; it can only be used for a wedding in Utah (special warnings apply to online ceremonies). The application lists each applicant's full name, Social Security number, address, date and place of birth, and parents' names and birthplaces, and the clerk must verify each applicant's age, legal name and identity. Each applicant must file an affidavit that there is no lawful reason preventing the marriage; a power of attorney cannot be used. The ceremony needs two adult witnesses. A license not used within 32 days after issuance is invalid. Counties that use the state premarital counseling program must reduce the license fee by $20 for couples who certify completing premarital counseling or education. Utah Code §§ 81-2-206, 81-2-302, 81-2-303 |
| Vermont | Any Vermont town clerk may issue a civil marriage license. Both parties sign an application on the State Registrar's form certifying that the facts are accurate, and at least one party must sign the license in front of the clerk. The license must be delivered to an authorized officiant and the marriage solemnized within 60 days of issue, or it becomes void. The marriage chapter sets no waiting period. 18 V.S.A. §§ 5131, 5137, 5141 |
| Virginia | Every marriage requires a license issued by the clerk or deputy clerk of the circuit court of any Virginia county or city. The parties must state under oath the information needed for the application (false statements are perjury), and may designate themselves as spouse, bride or groom. The license is valid for 60 days; if the marriage is not solemnized within that time it expires and a new license is needed. The statutes reviewed set no waiting period. Va. Code §§ 20-13, 20-14, 20-14.1, 20-16 |
| Washington | Apply to the county auditor and pay the license fee set by state law (RCW 36.18.010). Each applicant files a sworn affidavit that both are 18 or older and that any contagious sexually transmitted disease is known to both. The auditor may issue the license at the time of application (and no later than the third full day after), but it cannot be used until three days after the application date. It becomes void if the marriage is not solemnized within 60 days of issuance. An applicant refused a license may appeal to the superior court. RCW 26.04.180, 26.04.190, 26.04.210 |
| West Virginia | Apply to the clerk of the county commission in any West Virginia county, regardless of where you live. Both parties sign the application under oath before the clerk (or another person who can administer oaths), giving full names, Social Security numbers (or a visa or equivalent number for a legal alien without one), dates and places of birth and addresses. The clerk must see proof of age, such as a certified birth certificate, a voter registration certificate, a driver's license, or other good and sufficient evidence. The former waiting-period section has been repealed. The license fee is $55, reduced to $35 for couples who present a premarital education course completion certificate dated within one year. W. Va. Code §§ 48-2-102, 48-2-103, 48-2-104, 48-2-105, 48-2-106, 59-1-10 |
| Wisconsin | Get a license from the county clerk of any Wisconsin county (a nonresident may complete their part of the application where they live). Both parties sign the application, give Social Security numbers if they have them, present documentary proof of identification and residence, swear to the application before the clerk, and show a certified copy of a birth record plus any divorce judgment or death record affecting marital status. The license cannot be issued within 3 days of application, unless the clerk agrees to issue it sooner for an extra fee of up to $25. The license authorizes a ceremony anywhere in Wisconsin within 60 days of issuance. The state fee is $49.50, which county boards may increase. A person who was a party to a divorce may not remarry until 6 months after the divorce judgment. Wis. Stat. §§ 765.03(2), 765.05, 765.08, 765.09, 765.12, 765.15 |
| Wyoming | Get a license from any Wyoming county clerk; one of the parties applies. The clerk confirms, through testimony of a competent witness and the applicant, the parties' names, Social Security numbers (if they have them), residences and ages, and whether there is any legal impediment. The license expires one year after issuance if the marriage has not been solemnized. The statutes reviewed set no waiting period. A district judge may order a license issued if the clerk refuses or a requirement needs to be waived. Wyo. Stat. §§ 20-1-103, 20-1-105 |
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.