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Obtaining a Marriage License
By Leah Steenstra
The florist has been set for months, the favors are
wrapped and the polish from your bridal manicure is
drying. Those details are important, but don’t
forget about the piece of paper that makes
everything official: The Marriage License. While
rules vary from place to place, here are some
general guidelines on what to expect.
Plan ahead. Unless it’s Las Vegas, where
spur-of-the-moment weddings are commonplace, figure
on a waiting time before the license is issued. A
safe estimation is 3-5 business days, with the
certificate good for at least 30 days.
Medical Records. Some municipalities require blood
tests or other medical records. Check to see what
the policy is in your area.
Bring ID. Commonly accepted forms of ID are birth
certificates, drivers’ licenses and passports. Your
Social Security number is also often required.
Carry Cash. Expect to pay a cost for the license.
While it usually isn’t a sizeable fee, be prepared
-- some places will only accept cash in the exact
amount.
Go Together. Many places expect both bride and groom
to be there, so plan to go on a day where both of
you can be present.
Special Rules. There are often additional rules for
two groups of people: Minors and Divorcees. If you
are under 18, figure you’ll need some kind of
parental permission. (Sixteen or younger? You’ll
probably need a judge’s consent). If you are
divorced, see if you need to bring a divorce decree.
Again, this is only meant to be a guideline. Check
with your municipality to see what all the
requirements are in your area for sure.
Not sure which municipality to contact? Generally
speaking, if the bride’s resident state and the
state of the wedding are the same, then an
application is usually made at her municipality. If
only the groom lives in that state, then it would be
his municipality; if neither one of you lives there,
the application is filled out in the municipality of
the ceremony location.
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