When a couple decides to get married, there are some legal requirements they must fulfill beforehand. The main legal documents involved in getting married are the marriage license and the marriage certificate. Here is an overview of what these are and how to obtain them:
A marriage license is a legal document that gives a couple permission to marry. This document is issued by a local government authority, usually the county or city clerk’s office. To get a marriage license, both members of the couple need to appear together at the county clerk’s office and provide the following:
- Photo ID such as a driver’s license or passport
- Proof of age: In most states, you must be at least 18 years old to get married without parental or court approval (the only exceptions to this rule are Nebraska, where that age in 19, and Mississippi, which has the highest marriage age of 21).
- Social Security numbers
- Parental consent if underage (state law varies on the lowest age at which an individual can get married with parental and/or court approval. In some states, such as California, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Washington, there is no minimum limit; in most other states, this age is set at 16 or 17).
- Marriage license fee
There is often a waiting period between 1-6 days to get your marriage license after you apply. This gives time for any objections to be filed or for either party to change their mind. Once issued, marriage licenses are valid for a certain time period—commonly 30-90 days—during which the marriage ceremony must take place. Check the expiration date as you’ll need to obtain a new license if yours expires before the wedding date.
Once the marriage ceremony is performed, the person who officiates (such as a judge, magistrate, minister, or other authorized individual) will complete the required section on the marriage license. Note that in Florida, Maine, and South Carolina, notaries public can also officiate marriages. This document serves as official proof that the marriage took place. It contains information such as:
- Names of the married couple
- Date and location of the wedding ceremony
- Name and title of the officiant
- Witness signatures
The married couple, officiant, and witnesses must generally also sign the marriage license on the wedding day. Afterwards, the officiant files the completed license with the appropriate city, county, or state authority. The authority will then issue a marriage certificate to serve as proof of marriage for the couple. The newlyweds can also obtain certified copies of the marriage certificate if they lose the original copy or needs extra copies.
Getting these important documents in order is part of the process of making your marriage legal and official. With the proper licenses and certificates, you can enjoy the rights and responsibilities of married life. If you need to present your US marriage documents to a foreign authority, additional steps need to be undertaken to make sure that the marriage certificate is duly legalized.
A&M Logos International is here to help you file your marriage paperwork and to legalize it for use abroad. Our Florida notaries can officiate your marriage, and we can then help you apostille or authenticate your marriage certificate if you need to present it in a foreign country. Call us today at (212) 233-7061 or e-mail us at info@apostille.us. You may also wish to apply for certified copies of marriage records at https://apostille.us/Documents/Document_Marriage_Certificate.shtml