To get a certified copy of your marriage license, contact the vital records office in the state where the marriage took place, submit an application with a government-issued photo ID, and pay the required fee. Most offices charge between $10 and $30 per copy, and processing runs from same-day at a walk-in counter to several weeks by mail.1USAGov. How to Get a Copy of a Marriage Certificate or a Marriage License Before you order, confirm which document you actually need, because a marriage license and a marriage certificate are not the same thing.
License or Certificate: Which One Do You Actually Need
A marriage license is the permission slip you obtain before the wedding; it authorizes the officiant to perform the ceremony. A marriage certificate is the record created afterward proving the marriage took place, and it is the permanent legal document that banks, courts, and government agencies accept as proof of marriage.2USAGov. Get Copies of Vital Records and ID Cards
When people say they need a “certified copy of a marriage license,” they almost always need a certified copy of the marriage certificate. The ordering process is essentially the same for either document, and if you are unsure which one you need, the state’s vital records office can tell you.
Who Can Request a Copy
The individuals named on the record can always request a certified copy. Immediate family — parents or adult children — can usually request one too, especially when the named parties are deceased. An attorney or other legal representative acting under a power of attorney can submit the request on someone’s behalf. Eligibility rules vary by state, so confirm with the issuing office before you apply.
What to Gather Before You Apply
Have this ready before you start the application:
- Both parties’ full legal names as they appeared on the original record, including any maiden names.
- The exact date of the marriage and the city and county where it took place. If you don’t remember the exact date, some offices will do a broader search for an extra $5 to $10.
- A current government-issued photo ID such as a driver’s license, state ID, or passport. Expired or unreadable ID will usually cause your request to be returned unprocessed.
- The purpose of the request. Application forms often ask why you need the copy, with common answers being a name change, spousal benefits, or immigration proceedings.
- Proof of relationship if you are not one of the people named on the record — typically a birth certificate or court order tying you to one of the parties.
Finding the Right Office
Marriage records are held at the state or local level. The federal government does not keep copies of marriage certificates or other vital records.3CDC. Where to Write for Vital Records – Homepage Depending on the state, the custodian may be a county clerk, a county recorder, or a centralized state vital records division inside a health department.
The quickest way to find the correct office is the CDC’s “Where to Write for Vital Records” directory, which links to every state and territory’s vital records agency.3CDC. Where to Write for Vital Records – Homepage USA.gov also lists state-by-state contact information.1USAGov. How to Get a Copy of a Marriage Certificate or a Marriage License Start with one of those rather than guessing which local office to call.
How to Submit the Request
Most vital records offices accept requests three ways: in person, by mail, and online. The choice comes down to how quickly you need the copy and how you prefer to pay.
In Person
Walking in is usually the fastest option. Bring your completed application, original photo ID, and payment. Many offices produce a certified copy the same day or within a few business days. Some accept credit cards, others take only checks or money orders, so call ahead to confirm.
By Mail
Download and complete the application from the office’s website, enclose a photocopy of your ID, and include payment — almost always a check or money order, never cash. Mail requests typically take two to six weeks depending on the office’s backlog and delivery time. If speed matters, pay extra for trackable return shipping.
Online
Many offices now take requests through their own websites or an authorized third-party service. You fill in an electronic form, upload a scan of your ID, and pay by card. Processing times are similar to mail because the office still has to pull and verify the record, but the submission itself is instant.
Third-Party Ordering Services
You may run into VitalChek or a similar vendor when searching for a state’s records online. VitalChek partners with more than 450 government agencies and forwards your request to the issuing office, which then prints and ships the certified copy.4VitalChek. Order Vital Records Online – Official Government Exclusive Online Vital Records Partner You pay the agency’s standard fee plus a processing fee and a shipping fee on top.5VitalChek. Timing and Pricing
These services are worth considering when the office doesn’t accept online orders directly or when you want package tracking for a time-sensitive request. If the office runs its own online portal, ordering directly will almost always cost less. The certified copy itself is identical either way, because it comes from the government office rather than the vendor.
What to Check When the Copy Arrives
Verify two things when the document shows up: authenticity and accuracy. A legitimate certified copy carries an official raised seal, an embossed stamp, or a registrar’s signature, and sometimes all three. Those markings are what separate a certified copy from a plain photocopy, and without them the document won’t be accepted for legal purposes.
Then read every detail against what you know is correct: both names and their spellings, the date of the ceremony, and the location. A misspelled name or a wrong date can get your document rejected when you hand it to another agency. Catching an error now spares you a second trip through the correction process later.
Correcting Errors on the Record
If you find a mistake, contact the same vital records office that issued the document and request an amendment. Rules vary by state, but you should expect to file a formal correction application with supporting documents that prove the correct information, such as a birth certificate, passport, or other official record showing the accurate spelling or date.
Amendment requests are usually handled by mail and can take several weeks. Some offices charge a separate fee for the correction on top of the fee for a new certified copy reflecting the change. Don’t put it off. The longer a wrong record sits, the more places the wrong information may already have spread.
If You Were Married Outside the United States
The process is different for marriages that took place abroad. Contact the embassy or consulate of the country where the marriage occurred, since that country holds the record, not a U.S. state office. If you were married abroad before November 9, 1989, you can contact the U.S. State Department for a copy of the Certificate of Witness to Marriage Abroad.1USAGov. How to Get a Copy of a Marriage Certificate or a Marriage License
A foreign marriage certificate may also need to be translated and authenticated before U.S. agencies will accept it. The specific requirements depend on the agency you’re dealing with and the country that issued the certificate.
Using a U.S. Marriage Certificate in Another Country
If you need to present your marriage certificate in a foreign country that belongs to the Hague Apostille Convention, the document needs an apostille. For a state-issued vital record, the apostille comes from the secretary of state in the state that issued the document, not from the federal government.6USAGov. Authenticate an Official Document for Use Outside the U.S.
The U.S. State Department issues apostilles only for federally issued documents. For a marriage certificate, submit the certified copy to the relevant state’s secretary of state office, pay the apostille fee, and you’ll receive the document back with the apostille certificate attached.7U.S. Department of State. Preparing a Document for an Apostille Certificate If the destination country is not a Hague Convention member, a different form of authentication may apply, so check with that country’s embassy first.