Marriage License

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Marriage License Information

What Is Marriage License?

A marriage license is permission from a legal authority for the marriage of two people to be performed. The requirements differ depending on the time and place: licenses to marry have been granted since the Middle Ages. Valid marriages can occur without a license (for example, by obtaining pardon for having married without license, or by cohabitation and representation as husband and wife in jurisdictions permitting common-law marriages).

Every state in the United States issues marriage licenses. After the marriage ceremony, both spouses and the officiant sign the marriage license (some states require a witness). The officiant or couple then files for a certified copy of the marriage license and a marriage certificate with the government.

The requirements for getting a marriage license varies from state to state.

State Age Cost for license Waiting period between
applying & receiving license Waiting period to marry after receiving license
License valid
Blood test

Alabama 18 yrs $25 none none 30 days yes

Alaska 18 yrs $25 3 days none 90 days no

Arizona 18 yrs $50 none none 1 year no

Arkansas 18 yrs $35 none none 60 days no

California 18 yrs $50-80 none none 90 days no

Colorado 18 yrs $20 none none 30 days no

Connecticut 18 yrs $30 none none 65 days yes

Delaware 18 yrs $30 none 1 day if resident 30 days no

District Columbia 18 yrs $35 3 days none none yes

Florida 18 yrs $88.50
$56 if couple takes 4hr course none 3 days (Florida
residents only) 60 days no

Georgia 18 yrs $30 average none none none yes

Hawaii 18yrs $50 none none 30 days no

Idaho 18yrs $28 none none 1 year yes

Illinois 18yrs $15-30 none 1 day 60 days no

Indiana 18 yrs $18 none none 60 days yes

Iowa 18 yrs $30 3 days none 20 days no

Kansas 18 yrs $50 3 days none 6 months no

Kentucky 18 yrs $34 3 days none 30 days no

Louisiana 18 yrs $25 none 3 days 30 days yes

Maine 18 yrs $20 3 days none 90 days no

Maryland 18 yrs $35 2 days none 6 months no

Massachusetts 18 yrs $4 3 days none 60 days yes & medical certificate

Michigan 18 yrs $20 3 days none 33 days no

Minnesota 18 yrs $70 5 days none 6 months no

Mississippi 21 yrs $20 3 days none 90 days yes

Missouri 18 yrs $50 3 days none 30 days no

Montana 18 yrs $30 none none 180 days yes

Nebraska 19 yrs $15 none none 1 year no

Nevada 18 yrs $35 none none 1 year no

New Hampshire 18 yrs $45 3 days 3 days 90 days no

New Jersey 18 yrs $28 3 days none 30 days no

New Mexico 18 yrs $25 none none 1 year no

New York 18 yrs $25-30 none 1 day 60 days no

North Carolina 18 yrs $40 none none 60 days no

North Dakota 18 yrs $35 none none 60 days no

Ohio 18 yrs $30 5 days none 60 days no

Oklahoma 18 yrs $25 none none 30 days yes

Oregon 18 yrs $60 3 days none 60 days no

Pennsylvania 18 yrs $25-40 3 days none 60 days no

Rhode Island 18 yrs $24 none none 90 days no

South Carolina 18 yrs $25 1 day none none no

South Dakota 18 yrs $40 none none 20 days no

Tennessee 18 yrs $31-39 none none 30 days no

Texas 18 yrs $31 none 72 hours 30 days no

Utah 18 yrs $40 none none 60 days no

Vermont 18 yrs $20 none 1 day 60 days no

Virginia 18 yrs $20 none none 60 days no

West Virginia 18 yrs $23 none 3 days 60 days yes

Washington 18 yrs $51 3 days none 60 days no

Wisconsin 18 yrs $50-80 6 days none 30 days no

Wyoming 18 yrs $25 none none none no

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