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.
Courtesy USABride www.usabride.com
For information on obtaining a marriage license in San Diego
County, see www.sdcounty.ca.gov/arcc/services/marriage_licenses.html
Brookside Farm is operated by Family
Care Foundation.
All proceeds from weddings support the charity
work of Family Care Foundation, as do car donations. Click
here to make a car donation, truck donation, RV donation or
boat donation to Donate
Car to Charity |
