To get married in the military, you follow the same civilian process as anyone else: apply for a marriage license at the county clerk’s office where the ceremony will take place, hold a legal ceremony, and get a signed certificate. The military does not issue marriage licenses and cannot marry you. What’s different is what comes after the wedding — enrolling your spouse in DEERS within 30 days, updating your housing allowance, and picking up health coverage that starts on the wedding date whether you file paperwork immediately or not.
Get the Marriage License From the County
There is no military marriage license. You apply at the county clerk’s office in the jurisdiction where you plan to marry, meet local rules for age, ID, and waiting periods, and pay the fee. Fees run roughly $10 to $115 depending on the state and county, and some jurisdictions discount the fee for couples who complete a premarital education course. Overseas, you follow the host country’s marriage laws, and your installation’s legal assistance office can walk you through them.
After the ceremony, the officiant signs the license, the county records it, and the vital records office issues a certified marriage certificate. Order at least two or three certified copies right away. You’ll need originals for DEERS, insurance, and any name change, and extra certified copies typically cost $10 to $30 each.
Getting Married on Base
Most installations have a chapel available for weddings, and military chaplains officiate at no charge; they cannot accept honorariums. Contact the chaplain’s office well in advance because chapels are shared with regular services and other events. Expect premarital counseling before a chaplain agrees to officiate. It is standard across the branches, and each chaplain sets the number of sessions.
A civilian officiant is usually allowed with approval from the installation chaplain’s office. The couple typically pays a small facility reservation fee plus whatever the civilian clergy charges, and the officiant will need base access arranged ahead of time.
If You’re Deployed: Double Proxy Marriage
When deployment or a remote assignment keeps one or both people from attending the ceremony, Montana is the only state that permits double proxy marriage, where neither party has to be physically present. Two stand-ins appear before the officiant on the couple’s behalf. At least one party must be a Montana resident or a member of the armed forces on federal active duty at the time of the license application.1Montana State Legislature. Montana Code 40-1-301 – Solemnization and Registration Each absent party signs a written authorization allowing a third person to act as proxy, and the officiant must be satisfied that the absent party consents. Companies that specialize in military proxy weddings handle the filings and coordination for roughly $500 to $1,000. Once the county records the certificate, the marriage carries the same legal weight as an in-person ceremony.
If You’re Marrying a Foreign National
Marrying a non-U.S. citizen adds security review that can stretch timelines by months. Notify your chain of command, and if you hold a clearance, give advance written notification to your unit security manager.2501st Combat Support Wing. Marriage to a Foreign National Failing to report can lead to suspension of a clearance or administrative action.
You’ll update your Standard Form 86 to reflect your spouse’s personal history and foreign contacts, and the government may run a background investigation on your intended spouse to evaluate foreign influence concerns. Each branch has its own timeline and approval requirements, so start at least several months before the wedding date, especially if you’re stationed overseas.
After the marriage, your spouse will need immigration status to live in the United States. The typical route begins with Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative); a spouse who is overseas goes through consular processing to obtain an immigrant visa. For spouses of service members regularly stationed overseas, INA Section 319(b) allows the spouse to file Form N-400 for naturalization without meeting the normal continuous residence and physical presence requirements.3U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Chapter 4 – Spouses of U.S. Citizens Employed Abroad The spouse must be a lawful permanent resident, show good moral character for at least three years before filing, and intend to reside abroad with the service member until the overseas assignment ends.
Enroll Your Spouse in DEERS Within 30 Days
DEERS enrollment is the most important step after the wedding. Until your spouse is in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System, they have no military health coverage, no base privileges, and no ID card. Official guidance is to enroll within 30 days of the marriage to avoid payroll issues and benefit gaps.4milConnect. Marriage – milConnect FAQ
What to Bring
Bring originals. Photocopies and notarized copies are not accepted:
- The certified original marriage certificate with a file number from the issuing office.
- Your spouse’s original birth certificate with a file number.
- Your spouse’s original Social Security card, not laminated.
- Two forms of ID for each of you, at least one a current photo ID such as a driver’s license or passport.
- DD Form 1172-2 (Application for Identification Card/DEERS Enrollment). The sponsor fills out Section I; the spouse’s information goes in Section II.
The sponsor must sign the DD Form 1172-2. If the sponsor is deployed or otherwise unavailable, the form can be signed electronically with a CAC or DS Logon, notarized with the sponsor’s signature, or accompanied by a valid power of attorney. Names must match exactly across every document. A mismatch between the marriage certificate and Social Security card will send you home.
Booking the RAPIDS Appointment
Book through the ID Card Office Online at the RAPIDS Appointment Scheduler.5ID Card Office Online. ID Card Office Online A verifying official reviews your originals, scans them, and takes a digital photo of your spouse. A Uniformed Services ID card is printed on the spot, and the visit usually takes 30 to 60 minutes.
If your spouse’s address or contact information changes later, you can update DEERS through the milConnect web portal using a CAC, myAuth, or myPay account.6milConnect. About Your Information in DEERS Outdated information can delay referrals, prescriptions, and mail from Tricare.
Tricare Coverage Is Automatic. Dental Is Not.
For active duty families, Tricare coverage is automatic once the spouse is in DEERS. A spouse in a stateside Prime service area is enrolled in Tricare Prime; a spouse stateside outside a Prime area goes into Tricare Select; an overseas spouse is enrolled in Tricare Select Overseas.7TRICARE. New Spouses
Coverage starts on the date of the marriage, not the date the paperwork gets processed, so a spouse is retroactively covered back to the wedding day. Your spouse has 90 days from the automatic enrollment date to switch to a different plan.8TRICARE. Qualifying Life Events Miss the 90-day window and you’re locked into the default plan until the next qualifying life event or open enrollment period.
Dental works differently. Active duty family members are eligible for dental coverage through the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP), but enrollment is not automatic. You generally sign up during the annual Federal Benefits Open Season in late November through early December.9BENEFEDS. BENEFEDS Welcomes Members of the Uniformed Services Vision coverage is available if the spouse is enrolled in a Tricare health plan. If you miss the open season, mid-year enrollment options are limited.
Update Your Pay and Allowances
Marriage changes your paycheck, and most of the changes are in your favor. Bring your marriage certificate to your finance office and update your dependency status so the changes take effect.
Basic Allowance for Housing
Once married, you qualify for the “with dependents” BAH rate, which is higher than the single rate at every pay grade and duty station.10Military Compensation and Financial Readiness. Basic Allowance for Housing The increase depends on your rank and location. Rates are recalculated each January. The change should take effect from the date of the marriage, though delays in submitting paperwork can delay the adjustment in your paycheck. If you were living in the barracks, marriage is typically what authorizes you to move off-base and start receiving BAH, subject to housing availability and local waitlists.
Family Separation Allowance
When military orders separate you from your spouse for more than 30 continuous days — deployments, temporary duty away from your permanent station, or shipboard duty away from home port — you qualify for Family Separation Allowance of $300 per month.11Military Compensation and Financial Readiness. Family Separation Allowance Submit a DD Form 1561 to start it.
Dislocation Allowance
If your marriage coincides with a Permanent Change of Station and you’re authorized to move with dependents, you may qualify for Dislocation Allowance (DLA) toward the costs of relocating your household. Rates are based on pay grade and dependent status. You generally won’t receive DLA for your first PCS from civilian life to your initial duty station unless you’re authorized to move with dependents.
Update Life Insurance and Survivor Benefits
Marriage changes your life insurance picture. Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) covers the service member, and Family SGLI (FSGLI) covers spouses for up to $100,000, though the amount cannot exceed the service member’s own SGLI coverage.12MyArmyBenefits. Family Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (FSGLI) The service member pays the premium, and it’s based on the spouse’s age. Review your SGLI beneficiary designation after the wedding. If you don’t update it, the payout may go to a previously designated beneficiary.
For those approaching retirement, the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) gives your spouse a portion of your retired pay if you die. Active duty members who retire with a spouse are automatically enrolled in spouse SBP coverage unless both spouses agree in writing to decline or reduce it. If you’re unmarried at retirement and marry afterward, you must notify the Defense Finance and Accounting Service before the first anniversary of the marriage to elect spouse SBP coverage. Miss that one-year window and DFAS cannot process the request.
Cap Pre-Service Debt Interest Under the SCRA
The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act caps interest at 6% per year on debts incurred before entering military service. It applies to obligations taken on by the service member alone or jointly with a spouse. Debts in only the spouse’s name do not qualify.13Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 50 USC 3937 – Maximum Rate of Interest on Debts Incurred Before Military Service For mortgages and similar security interests, the cap lasts through the period of service plus one year afterward. For credit cards, car loans, and other debts, it lasts through the period of service. To invoke the cap, send the creditor a written request along with a copy of your military orders. The creditor must reduce the rate for the qualifying period and forgive excess interest already charged.
If You’re Changing Your Name, Do It in Order
If either spouse is changing their name, notify the Social Security Administration first, before touching military records. The SSA requires the original marriage certificate as proof of the legal name change, and documents must be originals or copies certified by the issuing agency.14Social Security Administration. Learn What Documents You Will Need to Get a Social Security Card Your new Social Security card keeps the same number but shows the updated name. Delaying this step can cause wages to post incorrectly to your Social Security record and create problems at tax time.
Once the SSA processes the change, bring the new Social Security card and updated ID to your RAPIDS appointment to update DEERS, then update your driver’s license, bank accounts, and any other records. Military records go through your personnel office. Handling these in order — SSA first, then everything else — prevents the mismatches that cause administrative problems for months afterward.