How To Get A Marriage License

Have you and your partner decided to get married? If so, you are probably thinking about getting a marriage license. This license is a requirement before you can get married in most states. However, there are different laws governing marriage licenses based on where you live. If you are a bit sketchy about the details and you want more information about how you can go about getting a license here are some tips to help you.

The Marriage Application 

One of the spouses will need to be present to complete the application process. They must appear at the city hall, a courthouse, or wherever the state requires them to secure the marriage license. 

A payment fee is usually required and can vary depending on the state. The marriage license must be collected at the place where the application is done or in some cases it may be mailed to the applicants.

Documents for a Marriage License

To get a marriage license you will need a photo ID, passport, or birth certificate. If you are under age you will need to show proof that your parents have given consent for you to marry. If you have already been married and divorced you need to show your decree of divorce. If you are widowed you will need to show the death certificates of your former spouse.

Getting Married

Once you have applied for a marriage license you must find out exactly how long you will need to wait before you can get married. There might be a waiting period. 

The waiting period may differ based on where you plan to get married. If you want to get married in a hurry the best thing you can do is use the waiting period to your advantage. Get your witnesses ready, start preparing your venue and guests. 

This will mean that as soon as you get the go-ahead to get married you can do so. If you are not in a hurry to marry then you should pay attention to the expiration date on the license. You want to make sure that you use it long before that date has passed.

Plan Your Wedding

Planning your wedding is an exciting time and getting a marriage license is the first step towards becoming newlyweds. Making sure that you understand the marriage licensing laws governing where you live is essential if you want the process to go off without a hitch.